Leadership Philosophy

Everyone on the planet lives by their own moral code, a certain philosophy that they live by. Their ideas can be influenced by outside forces such as parents, peers, and religion, yet everyone is unique. The combination of these individual forces is what creates the diverse society that we live in today; yet, since everyone’s personal philosophies are influenced by the ideas of others, it is important for leaders to have a clear idea of their own philosophy. People look to leaders for guidance and, if they like what they see, will come to adapt those characteristics as well. This is where my own leadership philosophy comes in. I believe that the followers choose who is a leader, and a good leader has a strong since of their own morals.

The leaders are determined by the followers of the group. Someone can have a multitude of great ideas, but if the followers do not believe in the message (or even the person giving the message), then the leader will not be a leader. In my personal leadership philosophy, I believe that it is crucial that a leader make a connection with their peers (after all, most followers are simply the peers of the leader). If a leader were to act all high and mighty, then no one will want to listen to them. To me, a leader must be kind and compassionate. They have to have the ability to accept everyone, no matter the nature or the amount of their faults. One of the leaders that I admire the most is Pope Francis. He is compassionate to all, regardless if they agree with his religious doctrines or not. People are willing to follow him because he puts himself on the level of his followers and shows love and kindness to all.

Similarly, I also admire Pope Francis (and those like him) because he has a clear set of morals and he sticks to him. He has different morals than many, but he is open to all ideas. This connects to my personal leadership philosophy because I feel all leaders need a strong set of morals. These morals, whatever they may be, are instrumental in governing their actions. One of the most important things to me is that if one finds an issue they believe in (say helping those who are affected by the refugee crisis, for example), then they have a duty to stick to it. Yes, ideas can change, but they do not just change on a whim. They change after a long time of careful consideration, and if your morals are changing on a regular basis, then you do not really have any morals at all.

            My leadership philosophy closely models that of the Participative Leadership style. In participative leadership, the leader has integrated themselves into their group of followers. They are a cohesive unit and not two separate entities. I feel that everyone should participate, even the leader. Also, participative leadership breeds compassionate leaders. Compassionate leaders frequently communicate with their followers and build strong relationships with them. These strong relationships are very important to me, as they are a great stepping stone to success in the endeavors of a group.

Me with my fellow leadership cohort at LAS on Ice. Photo credit to Lauren Comstock.


Solid leadership is important for the success of a group of people, no matter the size. In my personal leadership philosophy, I believe that it is the followers who chose the leaders. They know who will work for their group and who will not, so it is key for every leader to be able to make a connection with their peers. Additionally, a leader must have a strong sense of their own morals is crucial. I believe a leader must know what they stand for, or they do not stand for anything at all. By following my own leadership philosophy, I believe that I can be an effective leader, not just in the future, but today as well.