Leadership

There are many definitions that people use to define a leader.   My definition of a leader is an individual who is responsible for establishing trust and providing vision which they influence, inspire, and motivate others to pursue.   Douglas MacArthur the famous WWII general describes a leader as someone who “…has the confidence to stand alone, the courage to make tough decisions, and the compassion to listen to the needs of others. He does not set out to be a leader, but becomes one by the equality of his actions and the integrity of his intent.”   Like MacArthur I believe there are certain qualities that a leader must possess to be effective.
My philosophy of leadership is built on a strong belief in trust.   I believe that trust is the basis for building a successful team.   Those who can mutually trust each other can maximize their contributions and in turn contribute to each other’s well-being.   To create a collaborative successful work environment, it is essential that there is trust.  
I’ve experienced situations first hand where a lack of trust seriously impacted the performance of a team.   In these situations, I witnessed individuals become demotivated and this spread across the team affecting their ability to be successful. I know through personal experience that once trust is broken, it is extremely hard to repair.   Therefore it is very important for leaders to maintain trust.   If a leader can maintain trust, it will allow a team to perform at a higher level than it would be able to without it.  
Integrity is powerful component of trust, it is essential for strong leadership.   A leader must be honest and lead by example.   They must put aside their self-interest and personal gain, and reach out to do what is best for those they lead.   An individual’s reputation is what establishes trust; it follows them and is a direct reflection of their credibility.  
Once trust has been established between a leader and his subordinates they can share learning and...