Leadership is complicated.

A leadership philosophy is personal. With many successful styles, I find it hard to define mine.

There’s no single best philosophy but a range of pros and cons to consider in specific contexts. Depending on the situation, one leadership style may succeed while another may fail.

In this post, I share my leadership style as a Principal Engineer.

My leadership approach is built on the foundation of my personal principles. It guides how I apply my professional principles when working with teams and organizations.

Principles

Principles guide us; without them, chaos ensues.

I follow these principles.

Be Authentic

  • I am who I am.
  • I share my opinions.
  • I’m consistent.

Prioritize Collaboration

  • I’m only as good as my team.
  • I foster effective communication.
  • I build trust by doing.

Amplify Integrity

  • I own my mistakes.
  • I hold myself accountable.
  • I lead with facts over feelings.

Reinforce Confidence

  • I directly face adversity.
  • I commit to my decisions.
  • I know we can do it.

Be Humble

  • I only know some things.
  • My team knows best.
  • I listen to all feedback.

Cultivate Empathy

  • I care about you.
  • I want you to succeed.
  • I believe in you.

Be Proactive

  • I know change is constant.
  • I anticipate problems.
  • I look for opportunities.

Release Control

  • I stay out of the way and know when to lead.
  • I trust my team.
  • I’m available as-needed.

The Struggle

Is anyone born a leader?

Leadership is a lifelong pursuit. It’s challenging when people seek answers, and I sometimes feel like a deer in headlights. 🦌

However, all experiences build confidence; everything becomes easy once you’ve done it all.

I’ve grown into leadership, dug deep, and now lead with confidence and humility. I forge paths to improve experiences for my family and friends.

If you’re an aspiring or struggling leader, you’ll succeed with time. Believe in yourself as much as your heroes and be the hero you need. 🦸🏻‍♂️

What’s Your Philosophy?

We need leaders now more than ever. Navigating our world during unprecedented change is challenging, but someone must.

If you’re a parent, elder sibling, manager, entrepreneur, public servant, or expert in your field, you’re a leader.

If you haven’t pondered your philosophy, now is a good time to lead yourself into this new era.

How This Philosophy Connects

This leadership philosophy reflects how I apply my personal principles and professional principles in team and organizational settings. While personal principles guide my growth and decision-making, and professional principles focus on technical and business excellence, this philosophy demonstrates how I integrate both in my work with people and teams.

Further Reading

Free Rein Leadership: Definition, Characteristics and Benefits

References