My Leadership Philosophy According To Col William Demarco

What is leadership philosophy? According to Col William DeMarco, a leadership philosophy is similar to an organizational mission statement but on a singular level. “It lets people know what you expect, what you value, and how you will act; with the additional benefit of making the organization more productive like a compass it helps keep you, the leader, on course.” This paper will cover three elements. I will begin by discussing my leadership philosophy and my opinion on “a boss vs. a leader.” I will then provide a summary followed by an analysis of an interview I conducted with an Army battalion-level commander concerning his most challenging leadership issue. My leadership philosophy is, “Your duty title makes you a commander; your people will decide if you are a leader.” Prior to becoming a commissioned officer, I was an enlisted member in the Air National Guard for seven years. In that time, I witnessed both good and bad leadership styles and developed my own ideas regarding what traits a worthy leader should possess. I determined that

Simple actions, such as saying “we” instead of “I” and demonstrating how to perform instead of demanding tasks be executed will encourage people to follow you. Acknowledging your subordinates’ accomplishments, instead of taking the credit yourself, will inspire your people to work to the best of their abilities. In the past, a commander would demand leadership by instilling fear in his/her people. Today, it is much more effective to generate enthusiasm instead. I agree with Col Goldfein in that, “Military discipline, handled with fairness, timeliness, and compassion is always positive.” Experience has shown that using fear tactics and not taking the time to understand the situation stifles productivity and does not encourage