Write - “I believe…” and Then Share Your Beliefs
Write - I believe…
A philosophy of leadership is your ennoble idea of what it means to lead. It’s not just about whether we think it’s okay to bring your dog to work or how much free swag you give out. Rather, it’s what you believe about the transformational power of leadership. It’s what you have a conviction about.
Jim Kouzes and Barry Posner, authors of The Leadership Challenge contend that to inspire a share division you have to speak with conviction about the meaning and purpose of your work. I’d add to that, you have to have conviction about how you lead. That’s why we start our leadership philosophy creation with “I believe…”
Share - Articulate to Motivate
It’s considered a best practice to share our expectations of those we lead. In order to do their best work our team members need those expectations, and our teams are more successful. But do we share with others what they should expect of us as leaders?
What would happen if your manager shared what she expected of herself as a leader? What they have a conviction about in how they lead?
Perhaps, like when we read part of this construction leader’s philosophy, they would respect your vulnerability and passion about what you belive in:
“I believe that we set a personal example of hard work, honest talk, and integrity in our actions that team members can see.”
As the definition of “believe” reveals, when you have belief, conviction - and you share it with others - people will see you as “true, genuine, real.” That will motivate them to want to work beside you as their leader.
Interested to learn more? Join us in our workshop for Creating a Compelling Leadership Philosophy - three two-hour sessions in July - by signing up on Eventbrite. You can read more about these first two Essentials of Creating a Compelling Leadership Philosophy, along with leaders’ examples in the eBook, newly available in our store in the Products tab. Enjoy!