Personal Leadership Approach Paper

Leadership:
A Personal Approach
MGMT312
Leadership and Motivation
American Military University
19 July 2013

Defining a personal leadership philosophy is a process that requires a significant amount of time, self-evaluation, and self-discovery. A leadership philosophy is the set of ideals, values, and processes that a leader incorporates into their leadership style. Every leadership philosophy is tailored to an individual and can be modified and enhanced over time. Personality traits, experiences, and a wealth of other variables are some of the key components of a leadership style and, by default, the leadership philosophy that a person abides by. Scholars, leaders, followers, and general society have
My first experience with personal leadership was in my early twenties when I was promoted to the position of hourly supervisor in my civilian career. Upon my promotion I fully expected to immediately undergo a change and encompass all of the leadership qualities that I had observed in my supervisors. I was quite surprised to learn that leadership is not synonymous with management or position . This first experience with management, and perceived leadership, used the Skills Approach model to leadership. As an hourly supervisor, I possessed the absolute minimum technical skills required for the job, and it was understood that I would “learn” as I progressed in tenure, and I possessed the personality traits that allowed me to work well with those I supervised on a personal level . However, I lacked the conceptual skills that are required for higher levels of leadership. I was uncomfortable in my role as a leader due in part to the fact that I was supervising people who had considerably more knowledge and experience than I did. The company I worked for did not have a very well defined leadership training program for lower level hourly supervisors and I was left to the majority of my own devices. Over the course of time, and with significant help from
Several years into my military career I made a decision that showed poor judgment. I was promptly brought back down to Earth and given punishment in the form of a reduction in rank. After my reduction in rank, I was more determined than ever to prove myself as a valuable member of the team, and I focused on overcoming the temporary setback and earning my rank back as quickly as possible. Within two years I was making significant progress and was promoted to the rank of Sergeant. My first experience of having the rank that is considered a “leadership” rank in the military was shaped largely by a supervisor who implemented the Path-Goal Theory approach to leadership. Although I had already overcome a significant obstacle, my supervisor was able to further lead me along the path of success. This supervisor embodied directive, supportive and participative leadership behavior as appropriate for all subordinates and I began to study his behavior and reaction certain situations so I could determine the best way to employ these characteristics and values in my own leadership. Path-Goal theory allows for interaction between the leader and the follower along a road that eventually leads to the accomplishment of a goal . The utilization of Path-Goal theory in my personal leadership style allows me to assist subordinates in reaching various goals while keeping the overall goal of the organization in mind. For example, most