There are many leadership styles I have been exposed to throughout my 19.5 year Coast Guard career. The leaders who positively influenced me were those who followed the rules, set an example through actions, were caring, honest, listened and provided constructive guidance professionally and personally. The leaders who negatively impacted me had a hidden agenda, put themselves before their team, were arrogant, did not follow all the rules and were not interested in others as people. Overall, I have learned valuable lessons from positive and negative leaders whom have helped shape me into the leader I am today.
In order to Model the Way (Kouzes & Posner) for others as a leader, I have developed my own definition of leadership which is, “inspire others to willingly follow as an individual and team member to accomplish set goals”. Kouzes and Posner state that a successful leader, “Must be clear about their guiding principles and speak clearly
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20), 2) give people a great deal of freedom and choice in deciding how to do their work (2014, p. 28) and 3) find ways to celebrate accomplishments (2014, p. 36). As a way to improve these leadership behaviors, I plan to loosen the reins on management and tasking I give to others. I will also provide people the opportunity and freedom to try their own ways of work, within policy, to accomplish tasking. In addition, when people I work with are successful, I must make a better effort in finding ways to celebrate their accomplishments, small and large. For small victories, informal recognition can include ordering pizza and eating together, going bowling, early liberty or presentation of a Chief’s Mess challenge coin. For large accomplishments, formal recognition can include positive CG-3307 entries or award