My Leadership Philosophy Essay

1. Leadership is when a person gives another person or group of people the motivation, direction, and purpose to accomplish a desired goal. My leadership style can be summarized by a quote attributed to President Theodore Roosevelt, “No one cares how much you know, until they know how much you care,” as seen in reference (a). The tenets of my personal leadership philosophy include Build Trust, Care for Your People, and Encourage Development.

a. Build Trust: Followers are not immediately sold on one’s leadership from the first interaction. Leaders must first establish a foundation of trust. Without trust, a leader cannot expect to succeed in accomplishing the organization’s or his/her goals. If a leader believes they have the right to direct

In reflecting on my time at DCO, I have come to realize I will need to modify my approach as a leader and subordinate. In the Army, where I spent 5 years, I became accustomed to being the experienced and proficient leader in my organization who was sought out for guidance and advice. As a newly appointed officer in the United States Coast Guard, I lack the experience of my peers as well as that of my senior enlisted subordinates. Throughout this course, I have been impressed by the knowledge and experience of my peers, most of whom have some sort of pre-existing background and expertise in their Coast Guard officer specialty. I will need to set aside my pride and be a humble, flexible leader in order to be successful in my first billet. I no longer have the knowledge and expertise that I had in my previous Army field, and I will now have to learn as much as I can from my junior and senior enlisted subordinates, my peers, and my superiors to be a valuable team member to my ship and the Coast

One of the initial tasks at my first unit will be to establish a professional relationship with the other members of my department. I will seek advice from my enlisted personnel, learn the knowledge necessary to be proficient at the job, and get to know those around me concerning both their workplace responsibilities and outside activities. The quickest way to establish trust is to be a valued contributor to the ship’s operations by acquiring the necessary qualifications, and to be actively involved in the attainment of the mission and not just a delegator. I believe if I am successful at this, I will be recognized for my hard work and as someone dedicated to making the workplace better for everyone. I will encourage others to better themselves in every aspect of their lives, whether that is at work, at home, or while engaged in a hobby. If I can accomplish these things, I believe I can help create a positive climate and culture at my first unit along with my fellow officers and senior enlisted