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My Leadership Philosophy

Explanation of Personal Values and Beliefs

I was raised in the south by a true southern lady, my grandmother, and a hardworking,

get-your-hands-dirty gentleman, my grandfather. It was instilled in me at an incredibly young

age that hard work pays off. I would go to work with my grandfather on the weekends to sweep

up the sawdust in the houses he built. I saw how hard he worked to provide for our family and

that grit has always been at the forefront of everything that I do. My grandparents also taught me

about a little thing called integrity. They always taught me to do the right thing – even when no

one was watching. I teach this same concept to the students in my classroom. My grandmother

taught me that you catch more flies with honey and to always be polite and courteous. She raised

me to believe that if you have more than you need, give some back. I was encouraged to be a

leader; someone who could make decisions and stick with them. Not follow the crowd, instead

follow my own moral compass. All these little things, paired with my love of God, have shaped

who I am today and have helped me to develop my own personal belief system.

These principles from my childhood have guided me through many tough choices I have

had to make. I tend to over analyze things. I take the time to consider all angles when I make

decisions. I think about how the decision will affect me, how it will affect others involved, and if

it is the “right” thing to do. It is important for me that I do not step on others in order to succeed.

However, once I make the choice, I own it. Much of decision making in leadership boils down to

problem solving. Finding the best solution for a given situation. Good decision making,

according to Tarter and Hoy (1998), entails “rational, deliberate, purposeful action, beginning

with the development of a decision strategy and moving through implementation and appraisal of

results” (p. 212) Once I land on a decision, it is important that I see it through. If I am ever in a

situation where I am unable to make that decision, I look to those around me for support.
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My Leadership Philosophy

Humility is also something that I learned from my grandparents. It is always okay to ask for help

if you need it. I employ my colleagues, friends, family, and especially God for help with those

tough dilemmas.

Part of making a decision is beginning with the end in mind. I ask myself “What do I

want to come from this?” Determining a realistic goal and bringing it to fruition has always come

naturally to me. I know what I want, and I go for it. It may take time, but I work toward that goal

with persistence. My grandparents, as well as many of my teachers, have always set high

expectations for me. Slowly, those high expectations became a part of who I am. I continue to

carry on those high expectations today. I hold my self to a high standard. In turn, I tend to hold

other to those same high standards.

Doing right by people is something that has always been impressed upon me. Kindness,

generosity, and empathy are characteristics that I have always strived to demonstrate. As I grow

in this profession, I will be learning from so many others who have a great deal to bring to the

table. The key will be using my belief system, as well as my listening skills, so that I can

continue to learn and grow.

Leadership Style Aligned

Servant leadership is based on the idea that serving followers first is the key to effective

leadership. It is based on a high level of ethics, integrity, and honesty. A servant leader is humble

and compassionate. However, its biggest criticism is the apparent lack of authority that seems to

derive from putting followers first. Transformational Leadership inspires subordinates to achieve

the overall mission of the group. It encourages followers to look passed their own self-interest

and empowers them to accomplish a specific objective. Its biggest criticism is the lack of

concern for the followers’ interests, and it requires them to work harder to reach the collective
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My Leadership Philosophy

goal causing poor attitudes and unwanted stress. (Brown et al., 2020, p.70) My personal belief

system most closely aligns with the Servant Leadership style. My values include hard work,

integrity, honesty, humility, and kindness. All innate characteristics of a servant leader.

However, I believe that my emerging leadership style includes both Servant and

Transformational. I aspire to pair these styles to lead more effectively. According to Brown et al.

(2020, p. 70), servant leadership affectively eases the stress and other burdens that are brought on

by transformational leadership through compassion and empowerment. Organizational change is

a given, it is important for a leader to be able to positively guide his or her subordinates through

these changes. This can be done through a synchronous relationship between both leadership

styles. “Servant leaders help their followers to grow and succeed, which in turn aids in

accomplishing the organizational mission,” (Gandolfi & Stone, 2018, p. 265). The organizational

mission is the driving force behind transformational leadership. Together, these leadership styles

will make for an effective, and ethical leader. I know that I can lead more effectively by serving

others (McGee-Cooper et al., 2013, p. 8).

Integrity and Fairness

Integrity is engrained in my nature. I have witnessed and practiced this ethical standard

since birth. As a school leader, I plan to create a safe and fair environment for both students and

staff. I will model these principles and keep myself up to date on the moral issues that face

education today. I must hold students and staff accountable by being consistent and transparent

with them and setting clear expectations. Providing equity and fairness, while still achieving

differentiation, will lead to both academic and social success for my students. According to

Gandolfi & Stone (2018, p. 266), servant leadership acts as a failsafe against moral and ethical
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My Leadership Philosophy

transgressions. Its very nature suggests that the leader acts with humility and high ethical

standards.

Model of Effective and Inspirational Leadership

A primary focus in my style of leadership will be to empower my followers to become

effective, servant leaders. It is important to listen to my staff so that they know I only want what

is best for them and for our students. The goal is to inspire them to achieve greatness. A servant-

lead school, paired with an effective transformational style of leadership will do just that. This

model of leadership will include a foundation of ethical, thoughtful behaviors and will seek to

add value to the community. I will demonstrate hard work and determination as instrumental

factors in overall success. My followers will know that I will do all that I can to help them grow

and succeed so that they may reach their fullest potential (Northouse, 2018, p. 304). My model of

leadership will allow me to create a culture of strong academic success. School culture is

undeniably linked to the behaviors of not only the organization itself, but the leader at the helm

(Atasoy, 2020, p. 258). Overall, the founding principles of my philosophy will dictate the

success of my school, my staff, and the students we are privileged to teach.

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My Leadership Philosophy

References

Atasoy, R. (2020). The Relationship Between School Principals’ Leadership Styles, School

Culture and Organizational Change. International Journal of Progressive Education,

16(5), 256–274. https://doi.org/10.29329/ijpe.2020.277.16

Benson, D., MD. (2018, May 29). How to Determine Your Personal Leadership Philosophy.

American Association for Physician Leadership.

https://www.physicianleaders.org/news/how-determine-your-personal-leadership-

philosophy

Brown, S., Marinan, J., & Partridge, M. A. (2020). The Moderating Effect of Servant Leadership

on Transformational, Transactional, Authentic, and Charismatic Leadership. Journal of

International Business Disciplines, 15(2), 67–86.

Gandolfi, F., & Stone, S. (2018). Leadership, Leadership Styles, and Servant Leadership.

Journal of Management Research (09725814), 18(4), 261–269.

McGee-Cooper, A., Trammell, D., & Kosec, M. (2013). The Essentials of Servant Leadership:

Principles in Practice. Ann McGee-Cooper & Associates, Inc. http://amca.com/amca/wp-

content/uploads/The-Essentials-of-Servant-Leadership-Final.pdf

Northouse, P. G. (2018). Leadership: Theory and Practice (8th ed.). SAGE Publications, Inc.

Tarter, C. J., & Hoy, W. E. (1998). Toward a contingency theory of decision making. Journal of

Educational Administration, 36(3), 212-228.