What is Your Leadership Philosophy?
Don’t worry—this isn’t some deep, existential question reserved for intellectuals. Nope! This is something every leader should answer. Why? Because our philosophy of leadership (our beliefs) determines our practice of leadership (our behavior). Neuroscience tells us that these beliefs aren’t just abstract, fluffy clouds of ideas floating around—they’re physically embedded in our brains. The medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), which processes beliefs about ourselves and others, activates every time we make a decision (Wallace, 2023; Fuchs & Flügge, 2014).
So, if you believe trust is the foundation of effective teamwork, you’ll naturally create an environment where people feel safe to share ideas and even make mistakes. Conversely, if you believe control is the key to success, you’ll likely micromanage your team, overseeing every detail. Either way, your brain is the heart of your behavior, influencing how you lead.
Beliefs and the Brain: Why It Matters
If we could turn this into a math equation, it’d look something like this.
Translation: Your actions (A) are a function of your beliefs (B), leading to different leadership behaviors depending on whether you think trust or control is the name of the game.
Implication: What this really means is that your belief in trust or control isn’t just a matter of preference—it’s actually shaping your brain and your behavior. Your leadership philosophy is like your brain’s operating system—it drives everything. And when you take the time to clarify and fine-tune those beliefs, you’re literally rewiring your brain to become the kind of leader you aspire to be.
The Danger of Fixed & Dogmatic Beliefs
To delve into one implication here, leaders who never adjust, change, or develop their beliefs are condemned to repeat themselves, trapped in an endless cycle of sameness. They carry their preferred style into every situation, not out of versatility, but because the narrowness of their worldview leaves them with no other choice—small beliefs create small realities. And when their behavior becomes bland or bad, it is probably a sign, not of sudden weakness, but of a deeper failure—a belief system ill-suited to the demands of true leadership, now unraveling before their eyes.
Rewiring the Brain for Better Leadership
But the real breakthrough lies in this: thanks to neuroplasticity, the brain's extraordinary ability to adapt and reshape itself, new beliefs can literally alter the chemical makeup of your brain. The possibilities are staggering. The mind isn't a static entity, bound to its past—it's a living, dynamic system, constantly shaped by the beliefs we choose to embrace. And as these beliefs evolve, so does the way we lead.
This equation captures the shift that occurs when belief transitions from control to trust, or when existing trust-based beliefs are further reinforced.
Translation
A(t): Leadership actions over time.
B(t): the leader’s belief, transitioning from control to trust, or already in trust.
dB(t)dt: The rate of change of the belief over time, representing either the shift from control to trust or the reinforcement of trust.
Implication
When a leader’s belief, B(t), shifts from control to trust, something powerful happens. This transition, represented by a positive change (dB(t)dt > 0, signifies a growing embrace of trust over time. As this belief strengthens, so do the leader’s actions. A(t) begin to naturally align with trust-based beliefs, transforming the way the leader interacts with their team and resulting in actions grounded in trust and empowerment.
For a leader with belief B(t) deeply rooted in trust, trust strengthens and deepens over time. As this belief becomes reinforced, leadership actions, A(t), increasingly reflect trust-based belief. The result is a leadership style that not only embodies trust but continuously builds upon it—solidifying a culture of collaboration, openness, and sustained empowerment.
Expanding Our Belief Systems
As a leader, it’s essential to pause and ask yourself: How prepared is my belief system to inspire and elevate others to their full potential? Is my leadership style fixed, or is it evolving? What beliefs are holding me back, and which ones do I need to embrace to become a more effective, trust-based leader? Remember, the incredible neuroplasticity of your brain will do the rest—reshaping itself as you let go of limiting beliefs and adopt those that empower both you and your team. Leadership isn’t static, and neither are you. The change starts with your willingness to expand your system of belief.
My Leadership Manifesto
Below, I’m sharing my personal leadership manifesto—a living, evolving set of beliefs through which I continuously shape and reshape my leadership neural pathways.
Inspirational
I believe leadership sees the best in others, even when others see nothing in themselves or when the best is yet to come. It involves unlocking hidden talents and untapped capabilities, awakening individuals to possibilities beyond themselves, beyond their current state of mind, only to compel them to embrace ambitious aspirations, breathing life into imaginative ideals until they become a reality. Inspirational leadership is an act of profound declaration of faith in others until they believe in themselves. It transcends surface-level assessments to embrace a passion for each individual’s inherent worth and capacity for excellence. By nurturing unwavering faith in who people can become and an ambitious vision of grand potential, inspirational leaders kindle the sparks of greatness within others.
Ethical
I believe leadership is rooted in the steadfast commitment to upholding ethical standards. This dedication to ethics is not just an accessory to leadership; it is its breastplate. It ensures that every action a leader takes is guided by principles of honesty and honor, creating a moral compass that guides both newly formed beliefs and behaviors. Leaders who uphold moral excellence align their actions with their values. But ethics for the sake of ethics misses the mark of what’s right. It’s not right to march over people in the name of morality. It’s wrong to point fingers of accusations and fail to extend hands of unmerited favor. Even ethics has a dark side when used for coercive purposes, twisting ethical leadership into a disguised rendition of Machiavellianism. Ethical leadership acts out of love, producing peace over fear and harmony over discord.
Integrational
I believe leadership in a complex world surpasses the confines of individual institutions and disciplines to forge connections between disparate agents. At its core, integrational leadership champions the idea that the most pressing challenges require collaborative efforts that transcend boundaries, therefore dismantling silos to foster collaboration. It breaks down the barriers separating different domains, whether academic disciplines, organizations, industries, or cultural contexts. With this impetus, integrational leaders pave the way for a future marked by collaboration and less by competition. By favoring an integrational mindset over a competitive one, integrational leaders demonstrate that success is not solely contingent on outdoing others but on harmonizing everyone’s contributions.
Dialectical
I believe leadership involves actively endorsing diversity of thought, intellectual curiosity, and conflicting points of view. It means stepping away from the comfort of surrounding oneself with “Yes Men.” It takes promoting individuals who dare to question conventions, challenge assumptions, and usher in alternative ways of thinking. This dialectical approach to leadership, with its validation in history and science, stimulates increased innovation and progress. The interplay between intellectual freedom and friction, when artfully guided by a higher purpose, becomes the crucible where uncharted strategies and groundbreaking solutions are forged.
Situational
I believe leadership requires a dynamic approach that adapts and adopts styles to the specific context and circumstances at hand, addressing the unique levels of confidence, character, chemistry, and capabilities of others. Situational leadership embodies the understanding that leadership is not a one-size-fits-all concept. Instead, it’s a flexible and functional practice that adjusts itself based on the ever-changing dynamics of the leadership landscape.
Prudential
I believe leadership is a delicate dance between the love of wisdom and the wisdom of love. In this choreography, the pursuit of wisdom seeks insights into the complexities of the world, while the wisdom of love applies those insights in the pursuit of healing a broken world. The quest for the love of wisdom is driven by curiosity, a thirst for learning, and the recognition that leadership requires a fountain of understanding. The quest for the wisdom of love acknowledges that leadership isn’t about making rational choices based purely on facts; it’s about considering the human dimension of those choices. Leadership decisions impact real lives, real people.
Missional
I believe the highest purpose of leadership is people, with the primary goal being to extend and elevate human flourishing. Amidst all worthy pursuits, none surpasses the essential duty of fostering the well-being and growth of individuals and their communities. Embracing a missional stance implies viewing leadership as a means to a greater end. The aim is not just to achieve personal success or organizational goals but to contribute to the betterment of the human experience. This teleological perspective instills leadership with a purpose that surpasses immediate gains and extends into a lasting corporate legacy.
Transformational
I believe leadership transcends a transactional approach, which relies on a mechanical exchange of goods or services to fulfill mutual interests through the promise of rewards or the threat of punishments. Instead, leadership is inherently transformational—it inspires and empowers others to pursue goals beyond their self-interests and contribute to the greater good of the larger community. Transformational leadership embodies a shift from a short-term, transactional mindset to a long-term, holistic endeavor.
Inclusive
I believe leadership is the inclusive empowerment of all individuals, ensuring that no voice is left unheard and every individual is valued and nurtured to become a leader. It centers on the principle that leadership extends beyond hierarchical authority and instead focuses on creating an environment where everyone is a leader with unique gifts that are acknowledged, put to their best use, and celebrated. This redistribution of leadership challenges the pride of elitism, shifting the focus from a privileged minority to an expansive and expensive investment in everyone’s wellspring of talent.
Relational
I believe leadership has nothing to do with how many followers you have and everything to do with how many leaders you lead. Leaders who merely command followers find Narcissus in their mirror, essentially making themselves the center of their universe. Their mantra: “I dictate the what, the how, and the when.” Conversely, leaders who lead leaders make their universe about others. With a relational approach, they make the interests of others their own, forging a bond so strong that they orchestrate the transformation of followers into leaders. Their motto: “How can I empower my followers to outshine me?” Operating in a realm of support and sacrifice, they derive their significance from magnifying the significance of others. Their leadership isn’t about personal glory but rather a symphony of elevation, ensuring that every chord struck by those they lead resonates louder and more beautifully than their own.
Procreational
I believe in multiplying leaders who, in turn, lead others, creating a ripple effect of transformative influence. At its core, procreational leadership recognizes that the true mark of leadership lies not in individual accomplishments but in the ability to nurture and empower others to step into leadership roles. This philosophy emphasizes passing down knowledge, skills, and values from one generation of leaders to the next, creating a lineage of mentored individuals who carry the torch of excellence.
Visionary
I believe leadership requires extraordinary determination and perseverance, climbing mountains not for the world to see the leader but for the leader to see the world. The act of ascending these metaphorical peaks allows leaders to witness both the harsh realities of the human condition and the breathtaking beauty of the world. From this elevated vantage point, a leader gains a richer view of the world’s complexities, challenges, injustices, and opportunities. This panoramic view enables leaders to craft strategies, make decisions, and initiate contextualized actions to leverage preeminent opportunities and address the world's most pressing needs.
Global
I believe in leadership interdependence, in the interconnectedness and co-dependency of the human race for progress and prosperity. The essence of global leadership is less about exerting influence on a worldwide scale and more about harnessing collaborative solutions that outstrip the confines of geopolitical divisions. Global leadership is not synonymous with establishing dominance or asserting supremacy with unilateral control. Instead, it manifests as a symphony of cooperation, shared resources, and collective action, driving progress that knows no boundaries.
References
Peterson, J. (2012). The adaptive neuroplasticity hypothesis of behavioral maintenance. Neural Plasticity, 2012, 1-12.
Fuchs, E., & Flügge, G. (2014). Adult neuroplasticity: More than 40 years of research. Neural Plasticity, 2014, 1–10.
Wallace, R. (2023). Neuroplasticity: The continuum of change. ACS Chemical Neuroscience, 14(18), 3288-3290.