Writing Your Personal Leadership Philosophy (Opinion)

Great leaders spend time in introspection; they are students of life. They take time to think and reflect — to deeply understand the essence of their personal leadership philosophy. 

A personal leadership philosophy, often referred to as a PLP, is a set of beliefs and principles that strongly influence how one interprets the world. A clear leadership philosophy guides one’s actions and affects how one responds to people and situations.

A PLP can be written in any format (from bullet point to paragraph narration), but generally includes the following components:

• Mission / Vision — what you believe is your purpose and the path that it will take

• Core Values — commitments that determine your decisions and actions

• Ethics — guidelines for behavior

• Leadership Principles — guidelines that govern your beliefs and your actions

• Personal Idiosyncrasies — your likes and dislikes, and “hot buttons”

Here are four steps to writing a good PLP: 

1.) Think about where your perspective comes from — how do you interpret reality? Most of us have gained our perspectives from:

• Friends and family

• Traditions

• Religion/spirituality

• Athletics/sports

• Hobbies (band/choir)

• Environment (farm/city/suburbs)

• Stories and through storytelling

• Travels

• Hardships/privileges

• Organizations (Scouting, clubs)

• Services (United Way,/Red Cross)

• Jobs/work experiences

• Books/movies/quotations/poems

• Education

• Watching other leaders/role models

• Military service

• Current events/world events

2.) Think about what voice you are writing in. Are you describing for others your natural demeanor, or are you expressing expectations for the work environment? Ideally it’s a mix of the two.

3.) Set aside some quiet time and write your PLP. There is no right or wrong way to craft this message — it’s your personal philosophy. Give yourself permission to let it reflect the essence of who you are. 

This is where the rubber meets the road. Post your PLP for others to see.

For those who may not know you well, this provides an incredible peek inside who you are and how you intend to lead others. For those who are familiar with your leadership style, it should be a confirmation of what they already know.

If the document is not warmly embraced, it could suggest a disconnect between how you see yourself and what others experience. And that’s an interesting place for the next conversation. Feedback is a gift. 

My personal leadership philosophy is posted on my website if you need a point of reference while drafting yours. Or perhaps you’re just curious. Either way, once you complete this exercise, I’d love to read what you wrote. 

I’ll end here by sharing a few PLP entries I’ve read recently:

“I believe that the world would be quieter and kinder if we asked ourselves ‘helpful or hurtful?’ before we spoke or wrote anything.”

“I believe in the power of forgiveness. Do not beat down your people for the small storms when you know that hurricanes are coming and they’ll need their strength.”

“When it comes to trustworthiness, everyone deserves a shot, most everyone deserves a second chance, but not everyone deserves a third.”

“There is a time for ideas, a time for speed, and a time to stop. Knowing when to do which one takes true leadership.”

“Success does not look the same for all people so don’t treat people like it does.”

“Favorite colors, birthdays, names of pets and weekend plans matter — perhaps not to the business, but they matter to me.”

Ancora Imparo (Still, I am learning). w

Stacey Mason is the owner of Mason on Leadership and uses insight, perspective and humor to move people toward greater self-awareness and thought leadership. More information is available at masononleadership.com.