Your leadership philosophy is how you view yourself in the role of a leader. It’s a role many of us take in a variety of different capacities, whether at work or at home.
But, regardless of the type of leader you are or how many people you lead, your leadership philosophy is actually a very personal viewpoint.
Creating one requires clarity and a depth of character that allows for quiet contemplation and looking inward at your own personal values, beliefs, skills and assumptions.
It requires you being honest about your weaknesses and proud of your unique attributes and strengths. And, once you create your leadership philosophy, you can use it to guide you as you manage your day-to-day life.
What is a Leadership Philosophy?
Your leadership philosophy is a state of mind, but it should also be a written statement, something you can refer to when you need to remind yourself about your leadership goals.
Anytime you’re in a difficult position, you can keep your philosophy close to you as a reminder of what’s most important. You should do this whether you manage a team of 100 people or whether you’re a parent, trying to lead your family into a better future. After all, leaders come in all forms. You might be a leader of a group of volunteers. Or, you might be a fitness instructor leading your class through a tough workout.
No matter how big or small your role is as a leader, a leadership philosophy can guide your decision making and serve as a reminder of your personal values.
Related: 15 Leadership Principles to Become a Successful Leader
How Do You Write a Leadership Philosophy?
In order to write a leadership philosophy, start by thinking of the personal attributes you value most. Here are a few examples:
- Kindness
- Strength
- Bravery
- Authoritative
- Respectful
- Integrity
- Loyalty
- Hard-working
- Collaborative
- Adventurous
This is not a comprehensive list, but it hopefully gives you an idea of the values and attributes you can include in your leadership philosophy. These can be values you have personally but also the values you want to inspire in your team.
Once you have 4-5 values you believe define you as a person, spend some time writing about each one, explaining how you want that to impact or influence your team. And then, take it one step further.
Write down what your team would look like or what the end result would be if your team took on those values too.
Would your sales team beat all records? Would your fitness class come back every week for more? Would your kids start to show qualities like kindness and bravery in their day-to-day lives?
Once you have these answers, you’ll know your end result goals. Then, when you have a hard day or you’re experiencing a personnel issue, you remind yourself of the end goals by re-reading your leadership philosophy.
Related: How to Write a Touching Farewell and Thank You Letter to Colleagues
Leadership Philosophy Templates
Here are some templates you can use to create your own leadership philosophy. These are like a leadership philosophy generator, if you will. Simply take your time filling in the blanks.
Template 1: Defining Your Leadership Philosophy
To me, leadership means _______, ________, and ________. I believe, as a leader I should _______, _______, and ________ in order to be effective.
I will inspire my team to _______, ________, and _______. In myself and in my team members, I value ______, _______, and _________. I will not tolerate _________ from myself or those I lead. My ultimate goal as a leader is ______________.
Template 2: The Team-Centric Leader
My role as a leader is to create an environment where my team can ______, ______, and ______. I will empower them by ______, ______, and ______.
When faced with a challenge, I will first look to my team’s strengths, which are ______, and their ability to ______. I believe honest communication involves ______, ______, and ______. I will measure my success not just by results, but also by my team’s ______, ______, and ______. My ultimate responsibility is to ensure my team is ______________.
Template 3: The Resilient Leader
I lead with a foundation of ______, ______, and ______. I believe that our collective resilience comes from our ability to ______, ______, and ______.
When mistakes happen, I will respond with ______, ______, and ______. I encourage my team to take smart risks, and I will support them by ______. In moments of uncertainty or change, I will provide ______, ______, and ______. My commitment is to foster a culture of ______, where everyone feels safe to ______________.
Keep in mind, populating these leadership philosophies isn’t shouldn’t be something you complete in 10 minutes. In order for the exercise to be truly effective, really take the time to think about your values and your team. You can even include bullet points if that helps you.
Really, there is no right or wrong way to do this. As mentioned previously, a leadership philosophy is personal and unique to each individual. So, write down what feels right for you.
Personal Leadership Philosophy Example
I thought it might be helpful to include a leadership philosophy example because I know some people struggle with writing a leadership philosophy statement.
That way you can see what it looks like if you expand the template above and incorporate some of your own personal goals and beliefs.
Template 1: Defining Your Leadership Philosophy
To me leadership means loyalty, courage, and respect for all human beings. I believe as a leader I should be loyal to my mission and to my team. I will take responsibility if I don’t communicate with my team effectively. If someone on my team makes a mistake, it is my mistake. I believe I should set an example, communicate clearly, and exhibit a strong work ethic in order to be effective.
My goal is to inspire my team to have faith in our mission. I will help them by inspiring them and showing them what it means to do their best. My goal is to guide them, to encourage them to fulfill their greatest potential, and be someone they can come to if they have a problem or complaint.
In my team members and myself, I value honesty, work ethic, loyalty, and respect. I strive to be a leader who is approachable. My goal is to lead with strength, not instill fear. At the same time, I will not tolerate lying or laziness from those I lead or myself.
My ultimate goal as a leader is to leave a legacy, to inspire those I lead to better their lives and the lives of their families, and to have a positive impact on my workplace and on the world.
Template 2: The Team-Centric Leader
My role as a leader is to create an environment where my team can collaborate, innovate, and grow. I will empower them by providing clear goals, offering continuous feedback, and trusting their expertise.
When faced with a challenge, I will first look to my team’s strengths, which are their diverse perspectives, and their ability to adapt to change. I believe honest communication involves active listening, transparency, and constructive feedback. I will measure my success not just by results, but also by my team’s growth, well-being, and collective achievements. My ultimate responsibility is to ensure my team is inspired, supported, and successful.
Template 3: The Resilient Leader
I lead with a foundation of integrity, empathy, and courage. I believe that our collective resilience comes from our ability to learn from failures, persevere through challenges, and support each other.
When mistakes happen, I will respond with curiosity, understanding, and a focus on solutions. I encourage my team to take smart risks, and I will support them by celebrating their efforts. In moments of uncertainty or change, I will provide clear direction, stability, and calm. My commitment is to foster a culture of psychological safety, where everyone feels safe to speak their mind.
Why is a Leadership Philosophy Important?
Having a leadership philosophy like this is important because it helps keep your values in perspective. If you respect other people in your workplace or at home, then they will respect you. This will remain true regardless of how high up you go or how much influence you eventually have.
A leadership philosophy also reminds you of what you won’t tolerate both in yourself and in your team. So, if one of your team members, who you might like as a person, is not showing a strong work-ethic, you can refer to your leadership philosophy.
If your philosophy statement says you don’t tolerate laziness, that gives you permission to correct behaviors without feeling like a bad person or a bad leader. Essentially, having that philosophy written down reminds you that you have to hold yourself to a certain standard in order to inspire everyone else to reach high standards too.
It also reminds you that you have certain values, and if the team and you don’t exude those values, you can’t reach your goals.
What is Your Definition of Leadership?
At the end of the day, your leadership philosophy demonstrates your own personal definition of leadership. And, that’s going to be different for everyone. The way we lead can impact many, many people, so it’s important to take the time and define what that looks like.
Again, there is no right or wrong way to write a leadership philosophy statement. But, having one on hand can be helpful in reminding you of what really matters as you navigate both your work and home life.
