Army Leadership Philosophy

Leadership is not a simple, static concept. It does not form overnight. Instead, it develops alongside experiences which form a person’s character. It is as dynamic as the events that shape our lives. My life experiences equip me with the knowledge to form my own leadership philosophy. As a Noncommissioned Officer, I ensure my subordinates understand my philosophy. I ensure they understand what I expect of them. The basis of my leadership philosophy is promoting self-development, serving others, being proactive, and being an example of effective leadership.

At the end of the day, a true leader “in the army will do these three things live by the army core values, know the warrior ethos, and lead by example”-MSI textbook. Leaders both in and out of the army are held to a higher standard holding themselves in a professional manner at all times. The success of the group is attributed to the leadership styles and core values instilled in the solider to do his job effectively. General Eisenhower once

My leadership philosophy revolves entirely around the Army Values. In every action I take as a leader, I assess whether or not it lines up with the Army Values and the potential impacts. I have had a variety of leadership assignments during my career, all requiring a different leadership approach, spanning from team leader through platoon sergeant. My conflict resolution skills have greatly evolved through my twelve years in the Army, from rudimentary conversations to in depth problem solving. My professional development has had a profound effect on my leadership abilities, from NCOPD’s to mentorship from senior non-commissioned officers (NCO’s).

Every leader in the U.S. Army have a different leadership style. During my thirteen years in the Army I have seen several leaders placed in positions where it was obvious that they were born for that position, performing admirably and making very real contributions. In other situations leaders were placed in positions of leadership appearing unprepared for the role. These leaders over time were soon surrounded by other leaders that ensured their success. Several leaders in my career have left a lifelong mark on my leadership style. Every one of them left me with knowledge that have built a foundation for my leadership beliefs and style. There is also what we call in the Army, “toxic leadership” which produce harm to the organization, leaders

My leadership philosophy stems from my experience in the Army. As a leader, I believe in honesty, commitment, and respect for others. All responsibilities should be carried out in a timely manner. My main priority is the well-being of my Soldiers. My Soldiers can expect me a leader that is caring, dedicated, and upholds the standards.

Throughout my life and my military career I have experienced various leadership styles, from civilian employers to military Officers and Non-Commissioned officers alike. Each had their own approach to leadership, some I found to be effective and others I did not. I have attempted to create a leadership philosophy based on a fusion of the leaders I have encountered and my own personal experiences.

What is my leadership philosophy? That is a very good question which made me think for a while. First, what does the word philosophy really mean? The dictionary says the word philosophy comes from the Greek roots philo- meaning "love" and -sophos, or "wisdom." But what does it mean to me? Is it a way of life? Or simply what my values and beliefs are and the fact that I have control over it and it can be changed. After pondering over this question I can say my leadership philosophy is to make sure Soldiers are not being used as a

In order to be an effective leader, you have to be able to recognize your own strengths and weaknesses. You have to be able to lead by example and never require a Soldier to attempt any task you would not do yourself. You have to possess traits that you would like to see in others; such as, respect, discipline, honesty, commitment, trust, and understanding. I try to carry out my responsibilities by always placing my Soldiers needs above my own. I not only take care of my Soldiers administratively, but I discipline and reward when applicable. I am sensitive to the needs of my Soldiers as well as that of their families. Families play a vital role in the success of the mission. If a Soldier is not happy at home then he/she will not be able to focus and train to standard in garrison or the battlefield. I provide support systems and resources to all Soldiers who feel that they may need some extra assistance, or even a listening ear. The Army has many protocols in place to assist Soldiers when in need. I work relentlessly to ensure that Soldiers are well developed, effectively trained, and properly

“All Soldiers are entitled to outstanding leadership; I will provide that leadership; I know my Soldiers and I will always place their needs above my own; I will communicate consistently with my Soldiers and never leave them uninformed; I will be fair and impartial when recommending rewards and punishment (US Army).” These are excerpts from the Army’s basic mission statement. When Leaders within my organization follow this guidance, you earn the respect to influence those around you.

Personal Leadership Philosophy My leadership philosophy has been developed over many years of service: service to the Coast Guard, service to my family, and service to myself. The foundation of my leadership philosophy is built upon respect, family, love, and beauty; values not usually the first to come to mind when leading a workforce.

This is my personal presentation of my leadership philosophy that spans my 22 plus years of Coast Guard service. I’ve never precisely thought of who my leadership influences would be, I never felt like I could live up to the transformational leadership figures like George Washington and other notable history figures. I’ve had allot of disappointments in my life, maybe someone I did look up to in a leadership capacity that turned into a disappointment. Then again, no one is perfect so maybe my rationalization of no perfection has caused me not to have a specific leadership influence. As allot of experienced Coast Guard members know, we learn valuable lessons about raw leadership over time, with certain experiences, trials, tribulations, and the like. We all form assumptions and generic wisdom which we believe works well with those below us in the chain of command, and those above us. My opinion is that leadership encompasses everyone around us from CO-workers, to family, to people we interact with in public. I believe that true influence is a 24-hour, 7 days per week life undertaking that people that are thrust into certain positions in the Coast Guard start to assume over a long period of time. A vast number of leaders throughout military and U.S. History have inwardly reflected the subject of leadership, many have written extensively regarding their personal style, or the style of other historical figures they have looked to for an example. I feel like I am a simple person

Leadership is best defined by Colin Powell “Leadership is solving problems. The day soldiers stop bringing you their problems is the day you have stopped leading. They have either lost confidence that you can help or concluded you do not care. Either case is a failure of leadership” This statement is simple and concise, unlike the actions of solving problems. Being a great leader is the ability to tackle difficult problems by facilitating actions through others. The leadership lessons I have had during my career have had an overwhelming impact on my character; these moments, were life altering. Leadership styles differ from person-to-person but, the few I truly admire know themselves well. This trait is very rare, and

Beginning in boot camp and continuing throughout my career, I’ve seen the Coast Guard promote the leadership model to be: “You” influencing “Others” to achieve a “Goal”. With all the different ways leadership can be defined, this simplistic model which has been permanently engrained in my thinking definition still rings true for me. As such, when defining my own personal definition of leadership, I align it to this same model. More specifically, while I support the fact that leadership involves influencing others to achieve a common end I propose that is not the whole story. Leaders must not be stagnant in their vision and must lend themselves to the possibility they may have to adjust their leadership styles depending on the goal. The best leaders are the ones that understand their own personality traits as well as those traits of the people they are trying to lead.

Throughout my career I have experienced both good and bad types of leadership. My leadership philosophy began to develop through my first deployment. Prior to deployment, as a junior enlisted soldier, I had no concept of leadership. But through these experiences, I built my own leadership philosophy. A leader should be out front and setting examples for soldiers.

My definition of leadership has been influenced by training and education, personal interaction and my belief that a vast majority of people once given direction will produce good work. I believe that leadership is the ability to encourage people to work toward a common goal, by giving them the tools, training and freedom to make that goal a very real possibility. This definition has been shaped over the years by many different people, both inside and outside of the Coast Guard by good and poor leaders. I feel that the one thing that is most important in a leader is their vision. The leaders that I have had that have influenced me the most are always the ones that have been able to show me the end goal up front and then given me the freedom to make that goal, my goal. I have always wanted to be able to my job with as little interference as possible and the best way for me to accomplish this is by my leaders knowing exactly they wanted to have as a final product. With a clear direction, I was able to go about the task knowing what was expected and knowing that if I had questions I was free to ask, if more guidance was needed that it would be given but not with someone breathing down my neck. Being given that chance to handle tasks on my own or with a small team was always the way I thrived as a junior Petty Officer and that continued as I grew throughout the years.