When developing a leadership practice, look first to individual values.

The practice of effective leadership is multi-faceted and complex. The effective leader must be capable of balancing his or her personal interests with those of his or her staff, and with those of his or her organization. At times, effective leadership means challenging paradigms and finding innovative solutions to reach the optimal satisfaction of all interests.

  • An effective leader is dedicated to finding synergy where others see only compromise.
  • Leaders must break new ground in business, develop ever stronger relationships within his or her team, and be perennially reflective and mindful of his or her personal growth.
  • An effective leader is a hub of information; he or she is charged with creating, absorbing, filtering, and disseminating data, when and as appropriate.
  • An effective leader is mindful of the decisions he or she makes, and is aware of the impacts of those decisions.
  • An effective leader is responsible for motivating, rewarding, admonishing, correcting, apologizing, appreciating, and leading through example.

The practice of leadership, and the qualities that denote an effective leader, are changing and morphing with the same speed that business and the world at large are changing and morphing. Today’s effective leader may be tomorrow’s barrier to progress. With all of these things in mind, an effective leader is always, first and foremost, adaptable.

A key responsibility of every leader is motivating those that work for him or her, and being personally motivated.

The propensity for motivating colleagues and staff is probably the most valuable asset that a leader can have. There are myriad theories on the most effective method to motivate a person, and each situation must be approached individually; in motivation, as in almost all other facets of effective leadership, there is no simple panacea. The happiest people are engaged and motivated in their work.

My personal leadership philosophy is centered on the idea that the only constant in our universe is change. I’m dedicated to being the sort of leader that people look to and admire; I try my best to lead by example, inspire others to be passionate about their work, and build an organizational culture that values the people involved. I recognize that the means I use to reach this goal are constantly going to change. Balance between work, life, opportunities to use skills, and opportunities to learn are essential in an engaged employee population; I strive to promote this balance in my leadership practice.