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My Personal Leadership Philosophy

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What is your Leadership Philosophy? Guide & Examples in 2024

What is a good leader? Your answer to this question is your leadership philosophy. Learn how to write one with a template and practical examples.

November 3, 2023

I recently read that we may be facing a crisis in leadership quality.

The DDI's 2023 Global Leadership Forecast shows that we're facing the lowest point of leadership quality in a decade. 

Only 40% of those surveyed said their company had high-quality leaders. 

At the same time, Paul Michelman, the Editor-in-chief of MIT Sloan Management Review, said , “The world does not lack for management ideas.” 

Thousands of books and articles tell you how to become a good leader.

But to be a good leader, you’ll need more than external guidance; you also need to search inside yourself. 

Having a leadership philosophy can help with this. 

Let’s start by understanding the concept.

What is Leadership Philosophy?

There are many ways to define leadership philosophy. 

I love how George Ambler, a former Senior Executive Partner with Gartner Executive Programs, describes it: “a set of beliefs, values, and principles that strongly influences how we interpret reality and guide our understanding of influencing humans.” 

“Leadership philosophy is a set of beliefs, values, and principles that strongly influences how we interpret reality and guide our understanding of influencing humans. It’s our philosophy, our understanding, and interpretation of leadership, that affects how we react to people, events, and situations around us.” - George Ambler, former Senior Executive Partner with Gartner Executive Programs.

A leadership philosophy is the guidance you give yourself on how to be a good leader. 

Writing a leadership philosophy helps you reflect on your values and the leader you want to become. 

When complete, the philosophy will be the compass for your decision-making as a leader. 

With that in mind, in this article, I will share the benefits of having a leadership philosophy and how to write one for yourself, with complete guides and examples!

Why is it Important to Have a Leadership Philosophy?

For the Leader

Having a leadership philosophy is helpful for any leader for several key reasons:

• A chance to reflect: To write a leadership philosophy, you will need to take the time to sit down and think hard about what truly matters to you as a leader.
• Guide decision-making: When facing difficult choices, having a leadership philosophy written down will help you make decisions that align with your values.
• Job promotion: When you can clearly state your leadership values with your management (and, of course, act accordingly!), there's a higher chance that they'll find you capable of a higher position (This even applies to people who want to become first-time managers ).

For the Team

A team will always benefit from a conscious and consistent leader with clear values and goals:

• Build trust: Leaders who can merge their personal values with their professional role receive greater trust from their team members. This is especially important in remote and hybrid work, where building team connections is often challenging .
• Deliver better results: Because trust is the foundation of great team collaboration, communication, and team dynamics .

The Difference between a Leadership Philosophy and Leadership Styles

Leadership styles are a well-studied subject, and you probably have come across or identified yourself with some of the most common leadership styles , such as authoritarian, democratic, laissez-faire, or transactional.

On the other hand, a leadership philosophy should be highly personalized . There are no categories to choose from, and you write your own leadership manifesto.

While leadership styles describe how a leader makes decisions and delegates tasks, a leadership philosophy tells you its owner's values, beliefs, and goals.

But with all those differences, there is one thing they have in common:

Both leadership styles and philosophies are fluid and change over time as the leader grows. 

Essential Components of Leadership Philosophy (+ Template)

If you're new to leadership philosophies and don't know where to start, below are some suggested components:

• Your definition of leadership
• Your core values in making decisions
• Your core values in managing people

When putting these components together, we can have a template like this:

As a leadership philosophy should be personalized to each person, I encourage you to customize the template as much as you want until it truly feels authentic to you!

If you don’t know how to fill out the blanks in the template, no worries. (For inspiration, consider visiting one of the top 2024 leadership conferences .)

In the next section, I will guide you in reflecting on your leadership journey and developing your ideas for your first leadership philosophy!

10 Steps to Write Your Own Leadership Philosophy Statement

The first three steps will help you reflect on your leadership values:

1. Think about the leaders in your life

Sometimes, it's easier to look into another person's behaviors than ourselves, so as a warm-up, think about the leaders you have encountered in your life. 

Some leaders you met may have positively influenced you:

• Who is a leader you admire? 
• What about them that inspires you?

Others may show you how not to be a leader:

• What is a negative experience you had with another leader?
• If you were them, what would you do differently? 

Try to note your answers to the above questions before moving to the next steps!

2. Reflect on your three developmental points

There are major events in our lives that shape who we are, our beliefs, and our values. So, in the next step, let's write down your defining moments in life, including:

• Two lows: Two significant challenges you have gone through.
• One high: A positive experience you hold close to your heart.

For each of these moments, think about how they have:

• Changed you as a person
• Influenced your leadership 

3. Vision the leader the future world needs

A leadership philosophy is not just about your past and present but also about your future. This makes it worth wondering, “What types of leaders does the future world need?”

In his insightful book Leading in the Digital World: How to Foster Creativity, Collaboration and Inclusivity , Dr. Amit Mukherjee points out the key attributes of a future Leader of Creativity:

• Have strong ethical principles
• Value knowledge, imagination, and fast learning
• A contributing member of creative efforts, not a facilitator
• Inclusive and empathetic
• Embrace different opinions
• Let information flow freely through their network
• Provide psychological safety to their team members

If you're a leader of a hybrid or remote team building a digital product, you may find the above characteristics highly relevant to you. 

So, which ones would you emphasize in your leadership philosophy?

Steps 4 to 7 will guide you to come up with the answers for the blanks in our leadership philosophy template:

4. Define leadership in your own words

The first sentence of your leadership philosophy is your definition of leadership. What does it mean to lead? 

The answer may depend on your leadership style:

• For democratic leaders , you may think leading is to guide your team members to a common goal by listening to and combining everyone's perspectives.
• For transformational leaders , you may consider leadership as motivating and inspiring your team members to achieve their full potential.
• For delegative leaders , you may think to be a leader is to trust your people to do their best work and let the group make decisions without much involvement. 

5. What are the achievements you want to be remembered for?

Amit's book states that the average manager spends two or three years in each position, with the 2022 US Bureau of Labor Statistics reporting up to 6 years.

What achievements do you want people to remember about you after those years? 

What are the goals you want to achieve as a leader?

These goals can be work-related, such as:

• Leading the team to achieve a certain KPI ( key performance indicators )
• Restructuring the team in a way that makes it more efficient

Or they can be more people-oriented, like:

• Upgrading the skills of all team members
• Building a positive team dynamics

6. Your core values when making decisions:

No matter how new your company's product or service is, you're impacting others' lives through your product or service. 

You want to ensure you always have the correct guiding principles when making decisions. 

What are your core values that relate to your team's product or service?

They can be:

• Honesty: To always tell the truth to your customers
• Inclusivity: To design for disadvantaged minorities
• Curiosity: To always learn new things and question what you have known
• Responsibility: To build products that genuinely do good for people and for the planet
• And many more!

List of Core Value Words

7. Your core values when managing people

Now, let's turn towards your team:

What are the fundamentals of creating an effective relationship with your team? 

For example, you may say:

• Respect: To treat your team members the way you want to be treated
• Care: To show that you care beyond words and make decisions with compassion 
• The belief in the best in people: To forgive your people and not hold on to their mistakes

Here is an example of more management values .

After you have a draft of your leadership philosophy, you can go to the last three steps:

8. Seek feedback

No matter how well we know ourselves, there will be things we can't be completely objective about.

Before you complete your leadership philosophy, send it to your mentors, close friends, or team members for input.

The feedback may not be easy to read, but it will improve your philosophy.

Remember that you don't have to change everything according to people's feedback. After all, this is your philosophy.

9. Perfect your leadership philosophy and share it with your team 

You can keep your leadership philosophy private, but sharing it with the team offers great benefits:

• Firstly, you create a better understanding between you and your team members.
• Secondly, your team may find you more authentic and trustworthy .
• Thirdly, your people can remind you to act according to your words. 

Before you share your leadership philosophy with the team, check the common issues below:

• Using too many buzzwords may be deemed insincere.
• Be aware of the current atmosphere within the team to ensure you share at a suitable time.
• Be careful when using phrases like “I promise to” because many things may not be within your control.
• Ask yourself what you want your people to think and feel after reading your leadership philosophy.

10. Review and revise from time to time

Your leadership philosophy is alive and constantly changing, just as you are!

So look back at your philosophy occasionally and edit it over time.

To give you more guidance, take a look at the leadership philosophy examples below:

Leadership Philosophy Examples

Below are three leadership philosophies examples based on our template.

Please note that we keep the goal part of these philosophy examples general as it depends on you and your team’s vision.

A remote manager of a startup

In this leadership philosophy example, we see a startup manager forming their personal leadership philosophy.

As a startup manager, you may want to emphasize the design thinking process: ideation, prototyping, and feedback.

Besides, to develop a unique product, your core values may include words like “curiosity” and “originality.” 

I believe to be a leader is to inspire my people to do their best work and assist them along the way.  My goals are to achieve unconventional ideation, rapid prototyping, and a fast feedback loop with my team.  On the journey to accomplish those goals, I believe curiosity, social responsibility, and originality should be the guiding principles for my decisions.  Most importantly, I want to always treat my people with understanding, respect, and trust.

A fully remote manager of a tech company

In this leadership philosophy example, a remote manager contemplates how they want to support their team from a distance.

Since team communication and collaboration are often the challenges of hybrid and remote teams, you can make them the focus of your leadership philosophy.

I believe to be a leader is to ensure my people know how to do their jobs well and that they can grow while doing it. My goals are to achieve seamless collaboration, great team dynamics, and high-quality work outcomes with my team.  On the journey to accomplish those goals, I believe honesty, inclusivity, and creating real value should be the guiding principles for my decisions.  Most importantly, I want to treat my people with kindness, cultural sensitivity, and respect at all times.

Manager for creativity in building a digital product

Is your goal to foster creativity in your organization?

Then, you may find this example, inspired by the book Leading in the Digital World: How to Foster Creativity, Collaboration and Inclusivity , helpful.

I believe to be a leader is to maximize the creative capacity of my team to build a responsible and competitive digital product.  My goals are to achieve a fast flow of exchanged information, a pool of diverse perspectives, and high productivity together with my team.  On the journey to accomplish those goals, I believe ethical values, an emphasis on speed, and continuous learning should be the guiding principles for my decisions.  Most importantly, I want to treat my people with inclusivity, empathy, and respect at all times.

Write Your Own Leadership Philosophy

Having a leadership philosophy will remind you of the leader you aspire to be and guide you when making difficult decisions.

Our world is constantly evolving, and more research tells leaders what they should be every day.

Still, having a clear philosophy about good leadership will help you stay calm and determined in the sea of information.

more research tells leaders what they should be every day

As Donald McGannon said, "Leadership is not a position or a title. It is action and example." I fully agree.

Leadership Philosophy: Frequently Asked Questions

What is a leadership philosophy.

A leadership philosophy is a set of beliefs, values, and principles that influence how a leader interprets reality and guides their interactions with others.

It acts as a personal manifesto for making decisions and leading people, reflecting the leader's vision, goals, and core values in both decision-making and people management.

Why is having a leadership philosophy important?

For leaders, it allows them to reflect on their values, guides decision-making, and can assist in career progression.

It ensures consistent and value-driven leadership for teams, fostering trust and improving performance.

How does a leadership philosophy differ from leadership styles?

While leadership styles focus on how leaders delegate and make decisions, a leadership philosophy is deeply personal, outlining a leader's values, beliefs, and goals.

It's more about the leader's inner guiding principles than their outward managerial methods.

What are the essential components of a leadership philosophy?

Key components include a personal definition of leadership, the leader's goals, core values for decision-making and managing people, and any additional principles that guide their leadership approach.

How can I write my own leadership philosophy?

Follow these steps to write your leadership philosophy:

• Begin by reflecting on influential leaders in your life, your personal experiences, and the kind of leader the future world needs.
• Define your leadership in your own words, outline your goals, and identify your core values in decision-making and people management.
• Customize a template to fit your authentic self, seek feedback, and be willing to revise your philosophy over time.

How often should I review and revise my leadership philosophy?

Leadership philosophies should evolve as you grow as a leader.

Regularly reviewing and updating it ensures that it remains aligned with your current beliefs, values, and your team's and organization's needs.

Can I share my leadership philosophy with my team?

Sharing your leadership philosophy with your team can enhance understanding, authenticity, and trust.

It allows your team to align with your values and reminds you to act according to your principles.

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Developing a leadership philosophy will help you become a better and more effective leader . There are several main leadership philosophies that most people follow to determine their leadership style. You might know of these leadership philosophies and decide to model your leadership off of them, or you naturally developed your leadership style, and it matches one of these methods.

No matter what stage of your career you’re in, what industry you’re in, or what your career goals are, knowing the leadership philosophy you follow is an important tool. In this article, we’ll go over how to develop a leadership philosophy, provide leadership philosophy examples, as well as some tips to keep in mind when writing your philosophy.

Key Takeaways:

A leadership philosophy depends on your personal values as well as environmental factors

Clarifying your leadership philosophy will make you a better leader.

Leadership philosophy examples include: solution-based leadership, democratic leadership, and transactional leadership.

To develop your leadership philosophy consider how you work currently, what your goals are, and examine leaders you admire.

What is a leadership philosophy?

How to develop a leadership philosophy, leadership philosophy examples, examples of personal leadership philosophies, why should you review examples of leadership philosophies, leadership philosophy faq.

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Leadership philosophies are based on several things, including character, beliefs, emotions, and principles. To create an outline of how someone acts as a leader, you can follow a leadership principle on a personal level, referring to how you are as a leader. This can also be mandated on a company or organizational level, meaning an organization encourages employees to lead in a certain way.

Leadership has different ways of approaching and tackling different situations. Each person views it differently and acts as a leader in different ways. Using leadership philosophies is a way to distill those differences and make sense of the ways people can act as leaders.

Though it seems technical or advanced, leadership philosophies are more like guidelines than rules set in stone. You can relate to multiple leadership styles and switch up your leadership since the philosophies don’t have to be adhered to. Think of it as a way to classify types of leadership and a method to help you frame how you approach leadership.

While they’re not formalized in nature, you should take time to consider your leadership philosophy and write it down. Sometimes a potential employer will ask to know your leadership philosophy, but it’s still mainly a tool for you. Taking the time to sit down, think, and write about your take on leadership can prepare you for tackling a leadership role in the future.

You can use it as a reference when you need to figure out how to approach a challenging leadership problem .

To develop a leadership philosophy, you should first figure out your leadership style, think about how you work currently, and think about what you want your future to be. Below is a more detailed list of how to develop a leadership style.

Find your leadership style. Along with leadership philosophies, leadership styles are important in understanding how you lead.

Think about how you work currently. To start, you should consider how you lead presently or how you’ve led in the past. Your most effective leadership philosophy will be one that feels natural to you, so starting with what you already do is a great start.

Think about your future. How do you want to be perceived as a leader? Thinking about the future of your leadership and skills is a good way to get on a path that will lead you there. Consider how you would like to lead in the future and how you want to work with your team.

Talk with other leaders. Getting advice from other leaders is a great way to think about your leadership values. Ask them about how they lead and what general principles they bring to all of their leadership roles .

Consider your goals . Think about where you want to be in the future and how you can get there. Your leadership goals should fall in line with your broader career and life goals, so make sure everything is consistent.

Think about your personal values. At the end of the day, leadership philosophies are extremely personal and reflect who you are. Turning to your values is a good way to incorporate your beliefs into the way you lead others.

Find leaders you admire. Just like looking at leadership philosophies can help you determine your personal perspective. Looking at the leadership styles of leaders you admire can help you find what you like.

Some examples of leadership examples include solution-based leadership and democratic leadership. You can deviate from these and develop something new, or you can choose to incorporate elements of one or a few in your personal statement .

There’s no wrong way to lead, and these are just a few common examples of leadership philosophies:

Solution-based leadership. You can look at a challenge as a problem or an opportunity to find a great solution . People who see it the second way can be solution-based leaders who look for good solutions instead of worrying about the problem at hand.

Democratic leadership. If you believe in hearing every voice in the room, democratic leadership might be for you. As the leader, you can consult everyone and weigh their opinions equally before making a decision. But, since you’re in charge, you can ultimately decide the next step.

Transformational leadership. Setting goals, finding paths to success, and working collaboratively with a team are central to transformational leadership. These leaders want to help their team grow and evolve as everyone works together.

Learning leadership. Some people like to approach leadership as an opportunity to learn. Instead of acting like a leader who got there because of their existing knowledge, they approach every situation as a chance to learn more and expand their horizons.

Laissez-faire leadership. If you like being hands-off and leaving people to do what they do best, laissez-faire leadership might be your style. Typically, these leaders act as a final “okay” or a resource for help when team members get stuck, but they don’t hover or force people to do things their way.

Transactional leadership. Sometimes people work harder when they know they’ll get something good in the end. This is the basis for transactional leadership, which uses rewards to motivate people to work toward a common goal. Think of things like bonuses , promotions, raises , and other rewards for employees who contribute to a project or goal.

Autocratic leadership. Almost the opposite of laissez-faire leadership is autocratic leadership, where the leader wants to oversee most, if not all, of a team’s work. People who are control freaks tend toward this style, but that’s not a bad thing.

Take a look over these personal leadership philosophy examples to see which one resonates with you the most. Note that your personal leadership style doesn’t have to adhere to the exact language of these examples. Instead, use them as inspiration for writing your own leadership philosophy.

Solutions-based leadership philosophy example

Challenges at work represent new opportunities for growth and development. I consider the long-term goals of our company and team, then reverse-engineer a plan for how to get there. I look forward to solving problems together by applying our collective knowledge.

Democratic leadership philosophy example

While it’s important to have clear guidelines and definitive goals, I believe that everyone on my team should have a voice in determining those guidelines and goals. Furthermore, I encourage a diversity of opinions on any topic and think that the best results come from people who have a say on what they’re working on and how they work on it.

Transformational leadership philosophy example

Failure to evolve leads to stagnation and eventually depreciation. New ideas are the life blood success. I motivate my team members with long-shot goal setting to encourage a belief in radical transformation. Additionally, I commit myself to providing the necessary tools and time to allow for my team to grow their skill sets.

Learning leadership philosophy example

Being a leader means being a jack-of-all-trades who can adapt quickly to new ideas. I approach new challenges as exciting opportunities to expand the skill set of my team and myself. I encourage my employees to explore extra learning opportunities outside of their normal responsibilities and provide resources for them to do so.

Laissez-faire leadership philosophy example

I trust my team to know how to do their jobs correctly. They’re experts who make great decisions and can solve problems on their own. I like to set big-picture goals and provide a vision that everyone can get behind, but I stay out of the way when it’s time for tasks to be carried out.

Transactional leadership philosophy example

My team responds to financial incentives more than anything else, so I use bonuses, commissions, raises, and promotions to motivate my team to success. I foster a competitive spirit that pushes everyone to reach for their highest potential. Finally, I make sure that the metrics I institute make sense and incentivize the right sort of behavior.

Autocratic leadership philosophy example

Decision-making takes too long and ends up with soft, difficult-to-apply polices when too many people are involved. I will make all of the important decisions and delegate a handful of other key stakeholders as decision-makers as well. Most employees will have to follow our examples and guidelines and trust that we’ll lead them to a successful outcome.

Reviewing examples of leadership philosophies will not only will you better understand the format of leadership philosophies when you review examples, but you’ll also get a chance to see how other people see leadership. You might find points you agree with or some that you hate, and they’re all valuable.

You can choose to model your personal philosophy after others or decide that you want to do the opposite of what someone else did.

Having access to other people’s leadership philosophies can help you formulate your own better than if you were on your own. Taking inspiration from others can help you decide how you want to be as a leader. It’s like thinking back to a leader you admire and trying to capture what you love about them in your own leadership style.

This doesn’t mean you should take your leadership style from someone else. It’s actually the opposite. You should strive to create a unique leadership philosophy that feels like your own, but of course, you can take inspiration from other people.

Why is a leadership philosophy important?

A leadership philosophy is important because it clarifies the objectives of a leader. A leadership philosophy is a framework which you can build off of. This helps provide consistency, that is a huge factor in good leadership. Knowing your leadership philosophy can also help during difficult times, especially in situations where you may need to either adjust or reinforce your leadership style.

What makes a good leader philosophy?

Regardless of philosophy, a good leader will help everyone produce their best work possible. To do this, a good leader must combine the skills of delegation, communication, structure, vision, decision-making, empathy, and inspiration. All of these skills combine to make a leader who can move their team to success.

Do I need a leadership philosophy?

Yes, if you are a leader, you should have a leadership philosophy. Not only will the philosophy provide you with direction or allow you to answer leadership-based interview questions , but it will also give you a great way to communicate with your team. By knowing your philosophy you can set clear goals and expectations.

What does a leadership philosophy look like?

A leadership philosophy is a belief system that helps guide your decision-making. Since leadership has different ways of approaching and tackling different situations, leadership philosophies will help people use their own personal viewpoints to lead. They are more like guidelines than a set of rules you have to follow.

PennState Extension – Tips for Developing a Personal leadership Philosophy

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Amanda is a writer with experience in various industries, including travel, real estate, and career advice. After taking on internships and entry-level jobs, she is familiar with the job search process and landing that crucial first job. Included in her experience is work at an employer/intern matching startup where she marketed an intern database to employers and supported college interns looking for work experience.

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Tips for Developing a Personal Leadership Philosophy

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A leadership philosophy has been defined as "a set of beliefs, values, and principles that strongly influence[s] how we interpret reality and guide our understanding of influencing humans" (Ambler, 2012, p. 77, as cited in Speranza & Pierce, 2019). A leadership philosophy promotes communicative actions and helps a leader develop the capability and capacity cultivate the best human potential.  Reflecting on 10 questions related to personal leader development that we shared in first article ( Preparing to Engage in Leader Development of the Developing the Leader in You series) will help you to better prepare to write a personal leadership philosophy. Below we will discuss why a leadership philosophy is important and provide you with tips that will help you to write your leadership philosophy.

Why a Personal Leadership Philosophy is Important

A leadership philosophy is a "personal roadmap" that translates your beliefs, values, and principles. A leadership philosophy is a foundation for ethical decision-making. Moreover, it guides person's life and work-related concerns.

Tips for how to Develop a Personal Leadership Philosophy

We adapted some strategies from Leadership Paradigms' (2009), Ziskin's (2015), and Speranza and Pierce's (2019) works.

• Consider who your role models are. How did your role models impact the development of the leader in you?
• Consider the life events that impacted your leadership style.
• Identify the leader qualities you are proud of.
• Determine what is impeding your leader development (i.e., knowledge, people, resources)
• Reflect on your success in past. How efficient are you at living out your beliefs in your daily life?
• Consider the SMART goals you set. Determine how you will incorporate these goals into your leadership philosophy. See our previous article .
• Reflect on your vision of teamwork and team success. Do you see yourself as a team coach? What does teamwork mean to you?
• Think about different styles of leadership . What leadership approach fits your values, beliefs, and principles? For example, servant leadership, transformational leadership, or others?

Deierlein (2015) recommended the following essential components of a personal leadership philosophy:

• Your core values (includes your purpose)
• Your work style (includes your communication style)
• Your expectations
• Behavior you will not tolerate
• Your professional priorities
• How you want to receive feedback

Be creative when developing your leadership philosophy. Use essential components of the leadership philosophy recommended by Deierlein (2015) as a start. Add additional components that reflect your values, beliefs, and principles.

We hope this article helped you to begin developing your own personal leadership philosophy. For more resources related to this topic, please contact us.

Deierlein, T. (2015). Why you should have a written leadership philosophy .  Leader to leader ,  2015 (77), 13-18.

Leadership Paradigms, Inc. (2009). Developing a personal leadership philosophy.

Newlon, K. (2017) Leadership in teams and in community organizations (COMLDR 4430) Course. Columbus, OH: The Ohio State University.

Speranza, C.R., & Pierce, A. (2019). Development of a personal leadership philosophy: an experiential and reflective opportunity in the graduate classroom .  Journal of leadership education ,  18 (3), 167-175.

Ziskin, I. (2015).  Three: The human resources emerging executive . Hoboken NJ: John Wiley & Sons.

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The importance of having a personal leadership philosophy

Good leaders should have a leadership philosophy

Holding a position of authority comes with its fair share of challenges and responsibilities. As a leader, it’s your job to ensure your team is productive and feels supported – especially during unprecedented times. Establishing a personal leadership philosophy (PLP) can help you build trust with your direct reports and guide your decisions when unexpected obstacles arise. But what is a PLP, and how does it work? Keep reading to learn how this essential element can help equip you as a successful leader.

What is a PLP?

Taking the time to create a personal leadership philosophy (PLP) enables leaders to be more intentional. PLPs are clear, written statements about what’s important . It defines who the leader is, how they lead, and what people expect. Actions are clear and constant. Day-to-day management is consistent. A PLP is a reflective explanation of a strong leader’s core values, attitudes and real-life experiences that guide their leadership qualities.

Every leader has their unique leadership style. Types of leadership include authoritarian, democratic or laissez-faire. Whatever combination of style and traits you possess may shift over a lifetime. Knowing “who” you are and “what’s important” will make the difference. Whether decisions are straightforward or complicated, having the clarity of a PLP will keep you sane during demanding times. Transformational leadership is a leader who knows their purpose and lives it.

Clarity is a valuable commodity during times of challenge.

Personal leadership philosophy: How it works and why it matters

At a high level, a PLP reveals details about your leadership style. It touches on your core values and your attitudes. A PLP should be reviewed and shared with others. A leader must convey their intent to help others understand their leadership principles.

The development of a PLP is part of the Creighton University Master of Science in Organizational Leadership (MSOL) degree , according to assistant professor Tony Williams, PhD As part of the program, students are assigned to create and share their personal leadership philosophy.

“This comes towards the end of the curriculum when students learn leadership styles plus study the Jesuit Charisms,” Williams explains. A charism is a gift of grace, not for personal gain, but for the benefit of others. Examples would include education of the whole person, Magis (or more), plus helpful leadership insights. Students analyze their core values, attitudes, and real-life experiences during their degree studies and develop a personal leadership philosophy that can help them become more effective leaders and grow in their professional lives. Finally, students are asked to apply their unique leadership philosophies in their everyday lives.

“Your personal leadership philosophy is not abstract ,” Williams says. “Students are encouraged to write a clear and concise statement, so they have it down in a physical form.” He adds:

Publishing a PLP can occur informally, such as sharing within a leadership team or formally posting on a LinkedIn profile or at the top of a resume. In addition, the accountability found when sharing the PLP helps the leader maintain a realistic approach to how they behave and respond while leading in action.

How to write your personal leadership philosophy

Start by thinking of the personal traits you value most. For example, do you favor kindness over strength? Do you consider yourself brave and loyal or respectful and hard-working? Collaborative or adventurous? That should give you an idea of some values and attributes to include in your leadership philosophy. These can be your values or your team’s values you want to inspire.

Spend some time writing about each one, explaining how you expect it to influence your team. Then, take it one step further and imagine what your team would look like if they adopted those values.

Another helpful idea is to follow a set of questions that can help you identify what’s important to include in your personal philosophy statement. In an article entitled These 8 Answers Will Fill Your Leadership Philosophy , author Molly Fletcher shares the following prompts:

• I spend time …
• I am curious about …
• I respect …
• I listen with …
• I care about …
• I inspire …

By finishing these statements, you can start to craft your own unique PLP. Fletcher says you may borrow from various influences, “but your most real philosophy is as individual as your fingerprint.”

The benefits of establishing a PLP are that it provides insight for both the leader and the followers. First, a PLP demonstrates reflective practices and self-awareness. It can provide a framework to help leaders remain consistent in their leadership behaviors. Lastly, it can establish a standard that leaders can turn to when faced with a challenging situation.

What goes into a personal leadership philosophy?

Once you have the words and statements you want to make a part of your PLP, you can follow a template to get to your goal. It becomes a personal touchstone for those days when you’re not experiencing your best or challenged by those issues that can often surface when you least expect them. Reflect and remind yourself of the end goals by revisiting your leadership philosophy.

Here’s a “mad libs” version to help you see how it can flow, as suggested in an article by Cat Alford :

To me, leadership is _____, _____, and _____. I believe that as a leader I need to _____, _____, and _____ in order to be my best. I will inspire my team to _____, _____, and _____. I want my team and myself to value _____, _____, and _____. I do not tolerate _____ from those around me. My ultimate goal is to _____.

Keep in mind there is no right or wrong way to accomplish this. Nor should it be “from the hip.” Take the time to think about your values. Then, design it in any way that it becomes easily understandable for anyone. Your leadership philosophy statement is unique to you. So, write down what authentic leadership feels right for you.

Personal leadership philosophy examples

It might be helpful to see some actual personal leadership examples, as some people might struggle with crafting their first PLP. See what it looks like if you expand the template above and incorporate some of your personal goals and beliefs.

Consider these personal leadership philosophy samples:

• “Leadership is clarity, compassion and collaboration with those I work with and for. As a leader, I should communicate our mission to others well. I take responsibility when I don’t live up to my best self. If someone makes a mistake, it’s an opportunity to demonstrate Grace and work together to correct it. I believe I am a great listener, possess character, and exhibit a strong work ethic to be effective.”
• “My goal is to guide my team, encourage them to fulfill their true potential, and be an available leader. I value honesty, work ethic, loyalty, and respect, and I strive to be an approachable leader. My goal is to lead with strength, not to instill fear. At the same time, I will not tolerate lying or laziness from those I lead.”

Amplify your impact as a leader

You may feel like you have a firm grasp on your personal leadership philosophy, but taking the time to put it into words and keep it in a place where you’re routinely reminded of it can make all the difference. Sharing it with your team can also instill a sense of trust and accountability.

If you are interested in all areas of effective leadership, including developing true leadership skills to last a lifetime, consider Creighton's MS in Organizational Leadership . We even offer game-changing graduate certificates in leadership if you're not ready to commit to a full degree program. Our goal is to develop moral and ethical leaders who use their skills to promote social justice and societal and organizational change globally and in your local community. Learn more today!

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• February 2, 2023

6 Tips for Writing a Leadership Philosophy (and Why You Should)

Only half of employees report that leaders provide a clear vision for the future , and only half of leaders feel confident enough to guide their teams. Writing a leadership philosophy is an effective way for both new and established leaders to close this confidence gap — providing clear direction, articulating their values and expectations, and developing their personal brands.

In this blog, we’ll take a closer look at the benefits of leadership statements and provide a few tips for creating one.

What is a leadership philosophy?

The word “philosophy” might make this sound more complex than it is. A leadership philosophy is simply a statement about who someone is as a leader, including their values, goals, and expectations.

It could even be a one-liner. EX: “I will lead with empathy and respect for others.” More often, though, a leadership philosophy is about one page, which keeps it in the “just right” range for communicating enough about one’s leadership style, without overloading the reader .

Note: it’s important that leadership philosophies exist as written documents — not just states of mind — that can be shared, referenced, and revised as both the leader and the organization grows and changes.

In the essay, “Why You Should Have a Written Leadership Philosophy,” Tom Deirlein refers to a leadership statement as a “leader’s compass” because it provides direction for future decision-making. It also helps leaders be more effective and experience less stress.

Writing a leadership philosophy also means less stress for employees . When leaders fail to communicate their values and beliefs, employees are left to second-guess company priorities and expectations, and it may take longer to establish trust and confidence in the organization — if it happens at all. As Deirlein explains, with a clear leadership philosophy, “You will energize your people and set them free. Your people will admire you for being authentic.”

Adrienne Couch, Human Resources Analyst at LLC.Services , agrees. In her words, “Ultimately, a well-developed leadership philosophy can help create a culture of success and growth in the organization.”

Tips for writing a leadership philosophy

Tip 1: identify your values.

According to Rajesh Namase, Co-Founder at TechRT , creating a leadership philosophy starts with self-reflection: “Take some time to think about the values that are most important to you, both in terms of learning and in general.”

Ask yourself: how do you want others to perceive you? What do you want to be known for? Then list all the values that come to mind, such as collaboration, empathy , honesty, decision-making, patience, resiliency , respect, and so on.

Joe Aherne, CEO of Leading Edge Group , recommends from there, prioritizing the list. “Write down your top 3 values, and be sure that while you’re developing your philosophy of leadership, your goals align well with these characteristics.” (More on that in tip #3.)

Tip 2: Assess your role models

To better define your own leadership style, think about leaders who you look up to and those you disapprove of. Reflect on how these leaders have impacted how you lead and what you value.

Nebojsa Savicic, co-founder of Plainly , suggests doing research on well-known industry leaders, and then evaluating their virtues and flaws. “You can learn a great deal from other people’s mistakes,” he says.

Reminder: While role models provide excellent examples of what to do or don’t do, this is your unique philosophy. According to Sharon Heather, Business Development Director of EasyMerchant, “one of the biggest don’ts of writing a leadership philosophy is to not be afraid to be yourself .”

Tip 3: Clarify your goals and priorities

Your leadership philosophy should identify where you want you and your organization to be in the future, as well as what you currently consider your most important priorities.

As Aherne recommends, your philosophy should clearly connect how your values and beliefs will help you hit those goals and support your team in doing the same. Connecting beliefs and values to specific outcomes provides transparency to employees and saves everyone a lot of guesswork.

Pro tip: develop one or two SMART goals and then incorporate them into your leadership philosophy. Make sure your priorities are clear, time-bound, and easy to follow.

Tip 4: Step away and gather feedback

Once you have a first draft written, Deirlein suggests stepping away for at least a week. Time away gives you space for deeper reflection on your values and goals, and a refreshed perspective on your initial instincts. Refine the statement, and then step away again if needed. It’s not something that’s meant to be rushed!

This is also an opportunity to gather feedback from trusted mentors and advisors, and to listen to the needs of employees and think about how your philosophy could benefit them and the organization.

Tip 5: Share it

Once you have a final draft you’re confident in, it’s time to share it with your team. “This will help them understand your vision and follow your lead,” as CEO of Rephrasely , Matthew Ramirez explains.

Remember that a leadership statement is not an unyielding set of commandments you deliver from on high. According to Deirlein, it’s about creating dialogue , empowering employees, and establishing accountability for all levels of an organization.

For example, on Satya Nadella’s first day as CEO of Microsoft, he emailed all employees at the company with an introduction to who he was, why he was there, and where he wanted the company to go. He then invited everyone to join him as collaborators in meeting those goals.

Better yet: set aside time to talk through your philosophy to avoid any perception gaps and demonstrate your willingness to collaborate versus asking employees to read through on their own time.

Tip 6: Live it

Once a leadership philosophy is written and out in the world, it’s time to put theory into practice.

Heather stresses that “one of the most important things to do is to be consistent in your leadership style and to practice what you preach . It’s also important to be open to feedback and to continuously reflect on and evaluate your philosophy to ensure that it remains relevant and effective.”

You’ve written a leadership philosophy. Now what?

Consider your leadership philosophy a living document. You might start each quarter by refreshing your statement as needed to better reflect your current values and priorities.

Lisa Dietrich, Partner at girokonto.io , offers this advice:

“Be willing to adjust your own views when necessary and always incorporate new information into your personal philosophy so that it evolves with the changing environment of your business. Leadership philosophies should be seen not necessarily as rigid guidelines, but rather as ideals that facilitate growth for both individuals and businesses alike . ”

Bottom line: new or seasoned leaders who take the time to clearly articulate their leadership philosophies provide better direction to their organizations and their people, and that means better business success.

To learn more about how The Forem can help level up the emerging leaders at your organization, reach out to a member of our team and explore our suite of leadership training programs with a live demo.

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Molly Fletcher

These 8 Answers Will Fill Your Leadership Philosophy

Example: At the Johnson Space Flight Center, director Ellen Ochoa’s leadership philosophy is simple: accomplish the mission and take care of her people. “It boils everything down to two straightforward and important goals,” she says , and she learned it from fellow astronauts who were Marines.

I believe the most authentic leadership is organic. Yes, it may borrow from various influences, but your most real philosophy is as individual as your fingerprint.

Your philosophy shapes your personal leadership statement. The statement can cover how you lead and influence, what you value, what you expect from team members, what you do not accept, and/or what type of environment you are committed to creating.

Let’s look at how to get there.

8 Prompts to Your Core Beliefs and Behaviors

The following prompts can help drill down to your core beliefs and behaviors, as you can see by the examples that I have included from notable leaders.

By answering these, you will collect valuable insight that can help point to your unique leadership philosophy.

1. I always ….. (fill in the blank)

Example: “Always be fair and consistent in the principles that guide your decisions, because there will be people who disagree. If you are consistent, they will at least respect you when you make your decisions.”– Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases

2. I spend time….

Example: “I’ve made a point of spending a lot of time walking the building at HUD and listening to employees.”– Julián Castro, secretary of Housing and Urban Development, who describes himself as a ‘man in the crowd’ type of leader.

3. I value….

Example: “Because I have known despair, I value hope,” actor/director/author Leonard Nimoy wrote as a poem . “Because I have tasted frustration, I value fulfillment. Because I have been lonely, I value love.”

4. I am curious about…

Example: “By nature I am curious about life, and this extends to my business.”–business magnate Richard Branson.

5. I respect….

Example: “[I] respect employees [by] making myself available to try to answer questions they have. It gives me a chance to educate, but it also gives me a chance to be educated.”– U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack.

6. I listen with….

Example: ““I listen with my eyes as well as my ears.”–Rural physician Ferrol Sams , who became a celebrated novelist at age 60.

7. I care about….

Example: “The only thing I care about is winning. That’s all. If you don’t want to win, you don’t want to be around me.”–Los Angeles Laker legend Jerry West

8.  I inspire….

Example: “I inspire youth by being that example every day of my life and sharing the consequences of poor choices and the rewards of good ones.”– Chef Jeff Henderson , the first African-American executive chef at the Bellagio hotel in Las Vegas and the New York Times best-selling author of   Cooked: My Journey from the Streets to the Stove.

Your Game Changer Takeaway

Be inspired to fill in the blanks! Go deep with your 8 answers. Which ones resonate? Hone your philosophy to its simplest form, and practice it daily. You are taking a big step closer to your leadership potential, and that benefits everyone on your team.

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Writing an Educational Leadership Philosophy Statement

Dr. natasha kenny, phd, & dr. carol berenson, phd, taylor institute for teaching and learning .

December 2016

We often support instructors in creating teaching philosophy statements, and various resources exist to support their development (e.g. Chism, 1998; Kenny, Jeffs, and Berenson, 2015; Schonwetter et al., 2002).  However, few resources are available to help faculty in preparing educational leadership philosophy statements.

We recently created a resource to help faculty preparing educational leadership philosophy statements as part of their nomination dossiers for institutional and national awards, such as the University of Calgary Teaching Award for Educational Leadership and the  3M National Teaching Fellowship .

Similar in format to a teaching philosophy statement, an educational leadership philosophy statement “clearly communicate[s] what our beliefs are about educational leadership, why we hold these beliefs and how we translate our beliefs into practice” (Berenson and Kenny, 2015).  An example structure for an educational leadership philosophy statement and guiding questions to help those preparing a statement are presented in Table 1 below.  While every statement will uniquely articulate the educational leadership beliefs and practices of each author, these questions provide a foundational guide for helping to support faculty in creating an educational leadership philosophy statement.

Dr. Ken MacMillan, 3M National Teaching Fellow, and the 2015 recipient of the UCalgary Award for Educational Leadership has shared an  example educational leadership philosophy statement here .

Philosophy statement components

Developing an educational leadership philosophy statement provides an opportunity for individuals to reflect on their own leadership beliefs and activities. This process also makes visible the many ways in which leadership is formally and informally enacted by individuals on our campus.

Beliefs about educational leadership

What are my beliefs about educational leadership in post-secondary education? Why do I hold these beliefs?   Who or what has most informed my leadership approaches? How have my beliefs been influenced by my experiences postsecondary educator and/or scholarly literature related to leadership? What difference do I hope to make as a leader? What does it mean to be a good leader in a post-secondary context?

Educational leadership activities and initiatives

What educational leadership activities, practices and initiatives have I implemented? How do these align with my beliefs? When have I felt most engaged and affirmed as an educational leader? What are my key strengths and skills as a leader? What am I most proud of? What sets me apart? What are some of my accomplishments as a post-secondary leader?

Impact and influence

What difference have I made, and how do I know? What has been the impact and influence of my educational leadership (on me, on students, on colleagues, on my department, on my faculty, on the institution and beyond)? What have others learned from my leadership approaches?

Future aspirations

How will I continue to develop, grow, and improve as a leader? What interests me most about teaching and learning in post-secondary education? What changes do I most hope to see and inspire? What are my future goals and aspirations as a leader in post-secondary education?

Guiding questions adapted from: Kearns, K.D. & Sullivan, C.S. (2011); Kenny, Jeffs & Berenson (2015); Stavros & Hinrichs (2011); Schonwetter et al. (2002); Seldin, P., Miller, J. E., & Seldin, C. A. (2010).

Related content

Sample teaching philosophy statements .

Read more >>

What Makes a Great Teaching Award Nomination Dossier? 

Berenson, C. & Kenny, N.A. (2016).  Preparing an Educational Leadership Philosophy Statement . Calgary, AB: Taylor Institute for Teaching and Learning.

Chism, Nancy. (1998). Developing a philosophy of teaching statement.  Essays on Teaching Excellence: Toward the Best in the Academy, 9,  1-3.  Retrieved from http://podnetwork.org/content/uploads/V9-N3-Chism.pdf

Kearns, K.D. and Sullivan, C.S. (2011). Resources and practices to help graduate students and postdoctoral fellows write statements of teaching philosophy.  Advances in Physiology Education , 35, 136-145.

Kenny, N.A., Jeffs, C., & Berenson, C. (2015).  Preparing a Teaching Philosophy Statement.  Calgary, AB: Taylor Institute for Teaching and Learning.

Schonwetter, D.J., Sokal, L., Friesen, M., & Taylor, L.K. (2002). Teaching philosophies reconsidered: A conceptual model for the development and evaluation of teaching philosophy statements.  International Journal for Academic Development,  7(1), 83-97

Seldin, P., Miller, J. E., & Seldin, C. A. (2010). The teaching portfolio: A practical guide to improved performance and promotion/tenure decisions. John Wiley & Sons.

Stavros, Jacqueline M, & Hinrichs, Gina. (2011). The Thin Book Of SOAR: Building Strengths-Based Strategy: Thin Book Publishing.

How to Write a Philosophy Essay: Ultimate Guide

What Is a Philosophy Essay: Definition

Philosophical writing isn't your typical assignment. Its aim isn't to provide an overview of professional philosophers' works and say whether you agree with them.

Philosophy demands becoming a philosopher for the time of writing, thinking analytically and critically of ideas, pondering the Big Questions, and asking 'Why?'. That's why it requires time and energy, as well as a lot of thinking on your part.

But what is philosophy essay, exactly? If you're tasked with writing one, you'll have to select a thesis in the philosophical domain and argue for or against it. Then, you can support your thesis with other professional philosophers' works. But it has to contain your own philosophical contribution, too. (This is only one definition of philosophy essay, of course.)

What's a Good Philosophy Paper Outline?

Before you start writing your first line, you should make a philosophy essay outline. Think of it as a plan for your philosophy paper that briefly describes each paragraph's point.

As for how to write a philosophy essay outline, here are a few tips for you:

• Start with your thesis. What will you be arguing for or against?
• Read what philosophical theory has to say and note sources for your possible arguments and counterarguments.
• Decide on the definitions of core concepts to include precise philosophical meanings in your essay.
• After careful and extended reflection, organize your ideas following the structure below.

How To Structure a Philosophy Paper?

Like any other essay, a philosophy paper consists of an introduction, a main body, and a conclusion. Sticking to this traditional philosophy essay structure will help you avoid unnecessary stress.

Here's your mini-guide on how to structure a philosophy essay:

• Introduction - Clarify the question you will be answering in your philosophy paper. State your thesis – i.e., the answer you'll be arguing for. Explain general philosophical terms if needed.
• Main body - Start with providing arguments for your stance and refute all the objections for each of them. Then, describe other possible answers and their reasoning – and counter the main arguments in their support.
• Conclusion - Sum up all possible answers to the questions and reiterate why yours is the most viable one.

What's an Appropriate Philosophy Essay Length?

In our experience, 2,000 to 2,500 words are enough to cover the topic in-depth without compromising the quality of the writing.

However, see whether you have an assigned word limit before getting started. If it's shorter or longer than we recommend, stick to that word limit in writing your essay on philosophy.

What Format Should You Use for a Philosophy Paper?

As a philosophy and psychology essay writing service , we can attest that most students use the APA guidelines as their philosophy essay format. However, your school has the final say in what format you should stick to.

Sometimes, you can be asked to use a different college philosophy essay format, like MLA or Chicago. But if you're the one to choose the guidelines and don't know which one would be a good philosophy argumentative essay format, let's break down the most popular ones.

APA, MLA, and Chicago share some characteristics:

• Font: Time New Roman, 12 pt
• Line spacing: double
• Margins: 1" (left and right)
• Page number: in the header

But here's how they differ:

• A title page required
• Sources list: 'References' page
• No title page required
• Sources list: 'Works cited' page
• Sources list: 'Bibliography' page
• Footnotes and endnotes are required for citations

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Guideline on How to Write a Philosophy Essay

If you still don't feel that confident about writing a philosophy paper, don't worry. Philosophical questions, by definition, have more than one interpretation. That's what makes them so challenging to write about.

To help you out in your philosophical writing journey, we've prepared this list of seven tips on how to write a philosophy essay.

• Read Your Sources Thoughtfully

Whether your recommended reading includes Dante's Divine Comedy or Jean-Paul Sartre's Existentialism Is a Humanism , approach your sources with curiosity and analytical thinking. Don't just mindlessly consume those texts. Instead, keep asking yourself questions while you're reading them, such as:

• What concepts and questions does the author address?
• What's the meaning behind key ideas and metaphors in the text?
• What does the author use as a convincing argument?
• Are there any strange or obscure distinctions?

As for which sources you should turn to, that all depends on your central question; philosophy topics for essay are diverse and sometimes opposed. So, you'll have to do your fair share of research.

• Brainstorm & Organize Your Ideas

As you're reading those texts, jot down what comes to your mind. It can be a great quote you've stumbled upon, an idea for an argument, or your thoughtful, critical responses to certain opinions.

Then, sort through and organize all of those notes into an outline for your essay in philosophy. Make sure that it holds up in terms of logic. And ensure that your arguments and counterarguments are compelling, sensible, and convincing!

Now, you might be wondering how to write a philosophy essay introduction. Don't worry: there's an explanation right below!

• Craft Your Introductory Paragraph

Think of your introduction as a road map preparing your reader for the journey your essay will take them on. This road map will describe the key 'stops' in your essay on philosophy: your topic, stance, and how you will argue for it – and refute other stances.

Don't hesitate to write it out as a step-by-step guide in the first or third person. For example: 'First, I will examine... Then, I will dispute... Finally, I will present….'

Need an example of an excellent introduction for a philosophy paper? You’ll be thrilled to know that we have one of our philosophy essay examples below!

• Present Your Key Arguments & Reflections

Philosophy papers require a fair share of expository writing. This is where you demonstrate your understanding of the topic. So, make your exposition extensive and in-depth, and don't omit anything crucial.

As for the rest of the main body, we've covered how to structure a philosophy essay above. In short, you'll need to present supporting arguments, anticipate objections, and address them.

Use your own words when writing a philosophy paper; avoid pretentious or verbose language. Yes, some technical philosophical terms may be necessary. But the point of a philosophical paper is to present your stance – and develop your own philosophy – on the topic.

• Don't Shy Away from Critical Ideas

Whenever you examine a philosophical theory or text, treat it with a fair share of criticism. This is what it means in practice – and how to structure a philosophy essay around your critical ideas:

• Pinpoint what the theory's or idea's strengths are and every valid argument in its support;
• See the scope of its application – perhaps, there are exceptions you can use as counterarguments;
• Research someone else's criticism of the theory or idea. Develop your own criticism, as well;
• Check if the philosopher already addressed those criticisms.
• Ponder Possible Answers to Philosophical Questions

Writing an essay in philosophy is, in fact, easier for some students as the topic can always have multiple answers, and you can choose any of them. However, this can represent an even tougher challenge for other students. After all, you must consider those possible answers and address them in the paper.

How do you pinpoint those possible answers? Some of them can come to your mind when you brainstorm, especially if you'll be writing about one of the Big Questions. Others will reveal themselves when you start reading other philosophers' works.

Remember to have arguments for and against each possible answer and address objections.

• Write a Powerful Conclusion

The conclusion is where you sum up your paper in just one paragraph. Reiterate your thesis and what arguments support it. But in philosophical writing, you can rarely have a clear, undebatable answer by the end of the paper. So, it's fine if your conclusion doesn't have a definitive verdict.

Here are a few tips on how to write a conclusion in a philosophy essay:

• Don't introduce new arguments or evidence in conclusion – they belong in the main body;
• Avoid overestimating or embellishing the level or value of your work;
• Best conclusions are obvious and logical for those reading the paper – i.e.; a conclusion shouldn't be surprising at all;
• Stay away from poorly explained claims in conclusion.

Philosophical Essay Example

Sometimes, it's better to see how it's done once than to read a thousand guides. We know that like no one else, so we have prepared this short philosophy essay example to show you what excellent philosophy papers look like:

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30 Philosophy Paper Topic Ideas

Philosophical writing concerns questions that don't have clear-cut yes or no answers. So, coming up with philosophy essay topics yourself can be tough.

Fret not: we've put together this list of 30 topics for philosophy papers on ethics and leadership for you. Feel free to use them as-is or tweak them!

15 Ethics Philosophy Essay Topics

Ethics deals with the question of right and wrong. So, if you're looking for philosophy essay topic ideas, ethics concerns some of the most interesting – and most mind-boggling – questions about human behavior.

Here are 15 compelling philosophy essay topics ethics has to offer you:

• Is starting a war always morally wrong?
• Would it be right to legalize euthanasia?
• What is more important: the right to privacy or national security?
• Is justice always fair?
• Should nuclear weapons be banned?
• Should teenagers be allowed to get plastic surgery?
• Can cheating be justifiable?
• Can AI algorithms behave ethically?
• Should you abide by an unfair law?
• Should voting become mandatory?
• When can the right to freedom of speech be limited?
• Is it the consumers' responsibility to fight climate by changing their buying decisions?
• Is getting an abortion immoral?
• Should we give animals their own rights?
• Would human gene editing be immoral?

15 Leadership Philosophy Essay Topics

You're lucky if you're tasked with writing a leadership philosophy essay! We've compiled this list of 15 fresh, unconventional topics for you:

• Is formal leadership necessary for ensuring the team's productivity?
• Can authoritative leadership be ethical?
• How do informal leaders take on this role?
• Should there be affirmative action for formal leadership roles?
• Is it possible to measure leadership?
• What's the most important trait of a leader?
• Is leadership an innate talent or an acquired skill?
• Should leadership mean holding power over others?
• Can a team function without a leader?
• Should you follow a leader no matter what?
• Is leader succession necessary? Why?
• Are leadership and power the same?
• Can we consider influencers contemporary leaders?
• Why do people follow leaders?
• What leadership style is the most ethical one?

7 Helpful Tips on Crafting a Philosophical Essay

Still, feeling stuck writing a philosophical essay? Here are seven more tips on crafting a good philosophy paper that can help you get unstuck:

• Write the way you would talk about the subject. This will help you avoid overly convoluted, poor writing by using more straightforward prose with familiar words.
• Don't focus on having a definitive answer by the end of your philosophical essay if your conclusion states that the question should be clarified further or that there are multiple answers.
• You don't have to answer every question you raise in the paper. Even professional philosophers sometimes don't have all the answers.
• Get straight to the point at the start of your paper. No need to warm up the reader – and inflate your word count.
• Avoid using quotes. Instead, explain the author's point in your own words. But if you feel it's better to use a direct quote, explicitly state how it ties to your argument after it.
• Write in the first person unless your assignment requires you to use the third person.
• Start working on your philosophical essay well in advance. However much time you think you'll need, double it!

7 Common Mistakes to Avoid in Philosophy Writing

Sometimes, knowing what you shouldn't do in a philosophical essay is also helpful. Here are seven common mistakes that often bring down students' grades – but are easily avoidable:

• Appealing to authority – in philosophy, strive to develop your own stance instead;
• Using convoluted sentences to appear more intelligent – instead, use simpler ways to deliver the same meaning;
• Including interesting or important material without tying it to your point – every piece of evidence and every idea should explicitly support your arguments or counterarguments;
• Inflating your word count without delivering value – in the writing process, it's crucial to 'kill your darlings';
• Making poorly explained claims – explicitly present reasons for or against every claim you include;
• Leaving core concepts undefined – explain what you mean by the words like 'free will' or 'existentialism' in the introduction;
• Worrying about being wrong – no one can be proven wrong in philosophy!

Realize that your draft contains those mistakes, and it's too late to fix them? Then, let us help you out! Whether you ask us, 'Fix my paper' or ' Write my paper from scratch,' our philosophy writers will deliver an excellent paper worth the top grade. And no, it won't cost you a fortune!

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Why Some Companies Grow Amid Uncertainty — and Others Don’t

• Simon Freakley
• David Garfield

A survey of 3,000 global executives suggests that it’s not strategic thinking that sets them apart. It’s their inclination to move quickly.

When you cannot base strategy on reasonably certain premises — or when those reasonable premises are undone by unforeseeable events — what is a company to do? You still have to make plans, allocate capital, and invest for the future. Some argue that agility is the key to thriving in disruptive times, but if all you do is pivot, you are just going around in circles. The annual AlixPartners Disruption Index surveys 3,000 global executives about what is knocking them sideways. Among other things, it shows that three out of five say that it is increasingly challenging to know which disruptive forces to prioritize. Amid all this, there is a group of companies doing very well: about one in five said their companies lead their industry in revenue growth. In this article, the authors dig into that 2024 data to find out what sets these companies apart, and what other companies can learn from them about setting growth strategy in an uncertain world.

Strategic planning plays a key role in helping companies anticipate and manage business cycles. But forces like emerging digital technologies, climate change, and deglobalization — not to mention “black swan” events like the Covid-19 pandemic and wars — have turned a rolling sea into a choppy one, where companies are beset by currents, crosscurrents, riptides, and squalls. This multiplicity of related, unrelated, and inter-related difficulties have one thing in common: They are unpredictable.

• SF Simon Freakley is the Chief Executive Officer of AlixPartners, a post he has held since 2015. He is based in New York.
• David Garfield is a Chicago-based partner and managing director of AlixPartners, and the global leader for the firm’s industry practices.

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