There is beauty in the transformation and the growth we see in leadership-no matter how great we may think we are as a leader there will always be room for learning, growth and change. I have seen this growth flourish from first discovering what my foundational values as a leader are, to how I enact those values in my leadership roles. At the beginning of this journey, I laid out a foundation of what traits I needed to uphold in myself to be a successful leader. My four pillars for being a great leader are positivity, honesty, trustworthiness, and transparency. Throughout this program I still believe sticking to these foundational values will give me strength as a leader. This foundation of leadership comes from my heart as I care deeply about the connections, impact, and impression I leave upon others. 

Fostering relationships and conflict through positivity and reinforcement: 

 

I feel the most fulfilled when I help lift others in their own personal growth while also on my own path to personal growth. I believe in teamwork and collaboration. Senge states “the great leader is she of who the people say, we did it ourselves,” (Senge, 1990, p. 328). I may be the leader of the team, but I want everyone to know they are valued, and respected.. I lead with empathy- I care deeply about the other and their own growth. Through support, positive reinforcement and interactions I will work as a leader to inspire and empower those around me. To me this starts with vulnerability. In a leadership position I believe it is important to be vulnerable, to share with others your experiences, failures, strengths and weaknesses. This dialogue and communication open the doorway to an environment built on trust.  

 

Creating an environment of trust: 

 

Building trust with peers and subordinates is the most important aspect of leadership. Without trust you won’t be successful. Being vulnerable lays the foundation for trust to be fostered in relationships. Consistency, commitment and honesty reinforce the environment that trust is built around. Yamin Durarani said “A relationship characterized by mutual respect and confidence will overcome the greatest adversities and leave a legacy of significance,” (Kouzes, 2017, p. 61). This quote relates directly to the actions I want to project in my leadership positions. I recognize my strengths and weaknesses. As a leader of a team, I know other people may have more knowledge or experience- I want to always give people the opportunity for their strengths shine. As a leader I know I can’t do it all alone, I want others to know that it is okay to ask for help. With that I also know to build trust I need to be an honest and transparent leader even among conflict or with giving feedback. 

 

Being an honest and transparent Leader: 

 

Honesty and transparency go hand in hand when it comes to being a successful leader. I will never be a great leader without th help of others around me. This is part of my leadership philosophy that I will continue to develop and grow. I don’t love conflict, but I know how important it is to be honest with someone when they make a mistake or don’t produce great work. How I give feedback in my tone, and body language makes all the difference. With conflict I want to stay honest and show the other person my point of view, by being as transparent as possible. In turn I will listen to their side. Communication goes both ways, always. Honesty in conflict or when someone has upset you can be dealt with in a positive way. Being transparent and honest in turn opens the door for feedback. Taking feedback, learning from the feedback then implementing positive change goes hand in hand with building and keeping that trust. This circles back to the first two pillars of my leadership philosophy. 

 

Final Thoughts 

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All in all, my program has shown me that you can possess many great traits that would make you an excellent leader. It is your actions, character, and how you use those traits to better yourself and others around you that make you an excellent leader. I know these traits are and will continue to be my foundation, but I have a lifelong journey of growth. The job of a leader is never done. 

 

 

Sources 

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Kouzes, James M.; Posner, Barry Z.;(2017) The Leadership Challenge: How to Make Extraordianry Things Happen in Organizations; New Jersey; Wiley. 

 

Senge, P.M. (1990). The Fifth Discipline: The art & practices of the learning organization. Currency-Double Day.