"If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader." - John Quincy Adams
When it comes to defining leadership philosophy, I believe there is no one-size-fit-all definition because leadership styles differ among different people and a chosen leadership style may work in this particular situation and environment but not the other. If you asked me three year ago how I define leadership, I would probably say “being president of a student-run club” or “leading a group project”, but my experience as an undergraduate at the University of Washington and my involvement in Husky Leadership Certificate program has changed the way I think about leadership. Leadership can be found every where, one does not need a title to be a leader. It could be as simple as sharing passion with other fellow and motivate them to find their own passion and achieve their goals, to having an impact on the community you’re living in.
Leaders are made, not born and thus everyone could strive to be a leader. Despite different leadership style, at the core, every leader needs passion. Passion is the foundation of every great achievement. The leaders must be passionate about what they are doing first to inspire others, to give team members the sense of belonging and excites them about working and supporting each other. I always tell myself to put my best self forward and maintain my energy level at 120% even if I do not feel like it.
Leadership is not dictatorship. A good leader must be bold enough to have vision, take responsibility and humble enough to acknowledge their fault and listen to others’ opinion. I lead with an open mindset, knowing that things might not fall into places sometime and its is okay as long as I learn from my mistake, and that everyone has something to contribute regardless of their gender, background and culture.
Leaders are made, not born and thus everyone could strive to be a leader. Despite different leadership style, at the core, every leader needs passion. Passion is the foundation of every great achievement. The leaders must be passionate about what they are doing first to inspire others, to give team members the sense of belonging and excites them about working and supporting each other. I always tell myself to put my best self forward and maintain my energy level at 120% even if I do not feel like it.
Leadership is not dictatorship. A good leader must be bold enough to have vision, take responsibility and humble enough to acknowledge their fault and listen to others’ opinion. I lead with an open mindset, knowing that things might not fall into places sometime and its is okay as long as I learn from my mistake, and that everyone has something to contribute regardless of their gender, background and culture.