My Leadership Philosophy
“One life touches another, and potentially both lives are changed.
One life touches another, and potentially the entire world is changed.”
-King Duncan
I initially heard this quote during my freshman year of college, when I was becoming aware of having a genuine interest in leadership. I came to discover that leadership is broader and much more applicable to my own life goals and values than I had previously understood. I had come to UW as a freshman with something of an aversion to the idea of leadership, very much seeing it as stepping into an uncomfortable role with a particular set of predetermined responsibilities and expectations. I saw it as very impersonal.
While in college I’ve been able to redefine leadership for myself. I have come to realize that there isn’t just one right way to lead or one type of leader: leadership is different for different people. We can each come to develop our own sense and style of leadership while at the same time being cognizant that others exist and that all have the potential to contribute something worthwhile.
The idea of one life touching another embodies the community-based leadership I want to live for. I feel fulfilled when I invest meaningfully in others and in the communities I belong to. I believe I can have a significant impact by empowering and inspiring others, and that means touching people’s lives. It encourages living life meaningfully and mindfully in every moment, because everything I do has the potential to impact others and the world around me. This means maintaining my own motivation, positive outlook, and my values even when social and situational challenges pressure me to succumb to idleness or complaints, or compromise the things that are important to me. It also means recognizing that the impact that I can have on others may be far greater than I can ever understand or predict, and gives me every reason to live my life with integrity. For me, living a meaningful and fulfilling life has little to do with money or status and more to do with making a contribution that is valued both in my own eyes and the eyes of those who are served by it.
It's important to me to work as part of a team, to contribute to and be encouraged by a mutually supportive, inspiring group of individuals working towards a common goal. I feel I am most productive and motivated when belonging to such a community. To me, leadership is about building those kinds of strong, supportive, collaborative communities that can actively inspire good in the world. I see such communities as being built upon integrity, service, mentorship, and teamwork.
Coming to understand that time will always be a limiting factor of life, I recognize that I won’t be able to do everything I would like to do or invest myself in everything I care about. There will always be choices and sacrifices to make in this respect. But this realization has emphasized to me the importance of knowing why I’m investing myself in the things I am. It’s important that I am investing my time in worthwhile ways, that I am growing from my experiences and engaging in the things that are genuinely meaningful to me.
While in college I’ve been able to redefine leadership for myself. I have come to realize that there isn’t just one right way to lead or one type of leader: leadership is different for different people. We can each come to develop our own sense and style of leadership while at the same time being cognizant that others exist and that all have the potential to contribute something worthwhile.
The idea of one life touching another embodies the community-based leadership I want to live for. I feel fulfilled when I invest meaningfully in others and in the communities I belong to. I believe I can have a significant impact by empowering and inspiring others, and that means touching people’s lives. It encourages living life meaningfully and mindfully in every moment, because everything I do has the potential to impact others and the world around me. This means maintaining my own motivation, positive outlook, and my values even when social and situational challenges pressure me to succumb to idleness or complaints, or compromise the things that are important to me. It also means recognizing that the impact that I can have on others may be far greater than I can ever understand or predict, and gives me every reason to live my life with integrity. For me, living a meaningful and fulfilling life has little to do with money or status and more to do with making a contribution that is valued both in my own eyes and the eyes of those who are served by it.
It's important to me to work as part of a team, to contribute to and be encouraged by a mutually supportive, inspiring group of individuals working towards a common goal. I feel I am most productive and motivated when belonging to such a community. To me, leadership is about building those kinds of strong, supportive, collaborative communities that can actively inspire good in the world. I see such communities as being built upon integrity, service, mentorship, and teamwork.
Coming to understand that time will always be a limiting factor of life, I recognize that I won’t be able to do everything I would like to do or invest myself in everything I care about. There will always be choices and sacrifices to make in this respect. But this realization has emphasized to me the importance of knowing why I’m investing myself in the things I am. It’s important that I am investing my time in worthwhile ways, that I am growing from my experiences and engaging in the things that are genuinely meaningful to me.