The Power Of A Leadership Philosophy

One of my clients was recently promoted to the C-Suite, and some of our conversations have centered on leadership identity. 

Leadership identity, or philosophy, is an aspirational statement of the culture we want to create and our expectations of our team and ourselves. It reflects our strengths and values and should provide a high-level framework for how we get work done. It's not the infamous "user guide," which I view as a laundry list of pet peeves, communication preferences, and personality assessments that employees need a cipher to decode. It's the foundation for your vision and strategy—authentic and supportive of the company's objectives. Ideally, it evolves if a leader is open to learning from feedback. 

Now that my client is part of the executive team, they are finding evidence that their beloved predecessor, whom they respect and model themselves after, has leadership flaws that unintentionally contribute to an unhealthy and unsustainable work culture. Decisions as significant as market expansion and as small as meeting prioritization are causing mistakes that could impact investment, burnout, and a sense of hopelessness. When I asked my client what this insight called them to do, they said, "I have to break the cycle." 

A leadership philosophy alone will not solve the challenge of a culture transformation effort or a strategy refresh. However, it can help be a foundation for who you are in challenging moments. It's your guidepost or North Star. For this client, a powerful and authentic leadership philosophy is also a statement about what they value (people), how they will work (challenge organizational norms and the status quo with analytical rigor), and what is required of them (courage and a willingness to use their voice). 

Let's talk if you need help refreshing your leadership approach or if your team could benefit from an outside perspective. I offer individual and team coaching to help unlock success https://calendly.com/kristenarterburn/intro-call