Leadership is complicated.

A leadership philosophy is very personal. Given the various successful styles, I find it challenging to articulate mine.

There isn’t a single best philosophy but a collection of pros & cons to consider within a specific context. Depending on the context, a particular leadership style will fail miserably while another will flourish.

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

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

Principles

Principles are a guiding light in the darkness. Without principles, you’ll find chaos.

I follow these principles.

Be Authentic

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

Prioritize Collaboration

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

Amplify Integrity

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

Reinforce Confidence

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

Be Humble

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

Cultivate Empathy

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

Be Proactive

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

Release Control

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

The Struggle

Is anyone born a leader?

Leadership is a lifelong pursuit. It was challenging when people looked to me for answers. I’ve felt like a deer in headlights. 🦌

However, all experiences lead to confidence; everything is easy when you’ve done it all.

I’ve grown into leadership. I’ve dug deep, done the work, and now I lead with confidence and humility. I forge paths to improve experiences within my control. I do it for you—my family—and my friends.

If you are an aspiring or struggling leader, with time, you will succeed. Believe in yourself like you do your heroes. 🦸🏻‍♂️

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, an expert in your field, and many more, you’re a leader.

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

How This Philosophy Connects

This leadership philosophy represents the interpersonal application of my personal principles and operationalizes my professional principles in team and organizational contexts. While my personal principles guide my individual growth and decision-making, and my professional principles focus on technical and business excellence, this leadership philosophy shows how I bring both together when working with people and teams.

Further Reading

Free Rein Leadership: Definition, Characteristics and Benefits

References