Full stop. Whether it is learning, changing, doing their best, or simply trying, anyone willing is capable of succeeding. Capability is not static; it is dynamic and shaped by each person’s circumstances. The support or lack of support a person receives deeply influences their success, and given the chance, people often surprise you. A strong leadership style only amplifies that potential.
A strong leader sets clear, achievable goals and objectives, makes tough choices during difficult times, and facilitates clear communication. ( Landry, 2018)
As a leader, I strive to be both strong and positive in every space I occupy, whether in the workplace, through volunteer organizations, or within my family. Growing up in a Christian church, I was taught values such as goodness, justice, love, and kindness, which became the foundation of who I am today. Having a firm foundation in faith allows me to see others through a compassionate and empathetic lens, offering more grace and less judgment, qualities I believe are essential in any leader.
While faith is not the only characteristic that defines my leadership philosophy, it remains one of my core foundational values. Other values include:
Curiosity - "Genuine curiosity is the cornerstone of empathetic leadership [that] strengthens relationships [and] fuels innovation and creativity." (Hacking HR Team, 2024). As a leader, I believe in everyone having the confidence to ask questions for clarity and understanding as well as for finding ways to illuminate change. Curiosity is a skill that I am proud to have and I think as a leader it should be encouraged as often as possible.
Adaptability - For me adaptability is two-fold. It is having the ability to adjust to the changing environment as society grows and evolves, but also it is being able to within the day to day situations.
Patience - I pride myself on being extremely patient in stressful situations. There is a clarity and calmness that comes with taking a beat in high-stress situations.
Trust and Psychological Safety - Trust is vital in building lasting relationships. As a leader, you have to respect the opinions, values, work, etc. of those around you and encourage others to do the same. creating an atmosphere where people know they will not be punished or humiliated for speaking up is key. (Hacking HR Team, 2024)
Innovation - Due to the ever changing world, as a leader it is important to not shy away from innovation. It is not good to just embrace it, but it is imperative to also seek it out. Finding ways to improve processes and improve the quality of services or goods provided should always be a goal.
Transparency - While it is not necessary for a leader to share all the details of a situation, it is important for those around you to have a baseline understanding of all situations. Being transparent and open builds trust and allows for those around you to understand how they fit in and contribute to the overall success. (Landry, 2018.)
Understanding - Last but not least, having a common understanding of what the overall goals of the team are and roles that each person needs to play in order to achieve them helps to foster an environment where everyone can feel comfortable, respected, and heard.
These values are what make me a good leader, but they are also what I expect to see in those I lead. I believe teams should share characteristics that collectively guide us toward success. In addition to sharing these characteristics and values, I encourage a shared leadership model when appropriate.
My leadership philosophy promotes collaboration and mutual respect by leveraging the strengths of each team member (Crayon, n.d.). I believe that building a strong team grounded in shared values allows everyone to feel heard, respected, and empowered to step into leadership roles as situations call for it.
References:
Crayon, K. (n.d.). When to lead, when to follow: The art of shared leadership. Entrepreneurship. https://entrepreneurship.tips/shared-leadership/.
Hacking HR Team (2024, May 30). Empathy in action: A leadership toolkit for the modern workplace. Hacking HR. https://hackinghrlab.io/blogs/empathy-leadership/.
Landry, L. (2018, October 4). 6 characteristics of an effective leader. Harvard Business School Online. https://online.hbs.edu/blog/post/characteristics-of-an-effective-leader.