In determining the appropriate leadership model that best suits me, I have to define what leadership means to me first. To me, leadership is a process; it is the process through which an individual’s authority is exercised. As a leader exercises that authority, it is highly likely that he/she will exhibit some leadership style. The leadership style is recognizable from the way the leader caries out his/her functions and through the manner in which the leader behaves. According to research, there are four most common leadership styles, and this includes: authoritarian, paternalistic, democratic and laisez-faire leadership models. Each of the models has its own merits and demerits, but I would prefer to have a mix of leadership characteristics from each of the models rather than limiting myself to any of the models.
I am well aware that leadership is determined by core beliefs and values of an individual, and there are some things which are central to me and would like to carry them over into my leadership model. For example, I believe in being trustworthy, being accountable, being accessible, being approachable, being aggressive, being the best in whatever I do, and in making a difference in the community. This are some of the things which define me and my personality and it would be a great achievement for me if I can exercise the same values in my work, and convey the same to the people around me. I have a passion for people, and it gives me great pleasure if can turn around someone’s life for the better in pursuit of my goals and dreams. I also believe in taking a holistic approach to people’s problems and this drives me to consider human aspects such as the mind, the body and the spirit.
Generally, an individual’s core values determine his/her leadership behavior, and there are leadership behaviors that can illustrate my basic beliefs.
For example, due to the aspect of being concerned about other people and in making a difference in their lives, I believe that this will induce the behavior of proactively engaging people because it creates of sense of worth and meaning to the people concerned. Also, my believe that people need to be trustworthy and accountable in whatever they do explains why I would advocate for a laisez-faire approach which empowers the people to make their own decisions and work towards achieving the goals set out for them. The people can achieve these goals because they are trustworthy and accountable. In the same spirit, the same core values would drive me to accept responsibility if I fail to achieve what has been set out for me to achieve. Lastly, the desire to be the best in whatever I do means that I am a perfectionist and I do try as much as possible to get the work done to the required standards. Sometimes, this may take some time to get the work done, but the sacrifice is worth it because the work will be done to perfection.
The greatest form of achievement comes from the realization that whatever you have done has an impact on other people, organizations and the society as a whole. My basic values are envisioned to the make the society a better place and make a positive impact on the people around me. This can be achieved through working with any organization that supports sustainable solutions and factors in social responsibility. The number of organizations with the same vision is big, and they are spread in various sectors such as education, ICT and the environment. My basic values can also be useful to nonprofit organizations which work directly with people to make an impact in the society. Such nonprofit organizations can include volunteer work to any charitable organization, or community outreach services offered by churches. Nonetheless, I have a preference for organizations which deal with the environment, and I think it is my calling to contribute in reducing environmental pollution and making the world green.
Success is measurable and any leader prides himself/herself in the tangible outcomes derived from his/her leadership. My success would be measured by the number of endangered species we save from extinction, the amount of energy we would save by using renewable sources of energy, the number of hectares we would save from intensive farming, the number of water reservoirs we would save for use by humans and animals, the number of marine animals we would save from waste toxicants and the number of natural animal habitats we would save from fragmentation. The outcomes outlined are for an environmental organization which deals with a wide range of environmental issues, and is not limited to one or two environmental issues. This is because the scope envisioned is wide (global), and different areas have different environmental needs which have to be taken into consideration. It is my hope that the leadership vision outlined will be attained and works out as planned. Only time will tell.
