Leadership for a New Era
“My experience has taught me much about leadership, and I believe it is worth sharing. There is no formula that works for everyone, and a leader’s approach must adapt to their position, personality, and each individual situation. However, I believe there are three points that are explicitly fundamental to any person’s development as a leader.”
Tim Gallaudet’s personal leadership philosophy that has been his key to successful leadership is based and grounded in the key tenets of
ALL IN
ALL GOOD
ALL FOR ONE
ALL IN
Effective leaders must have total commitment to their organizations, mission, and people. This requires a principle of selfless service that engenders in those they lead trust, loyalty, and a similar willingness to put mission before self. This doesn’t just mean a capacity to put in long hours or perform at a high level. It also means learning everything possible about the organization, its employees, its history, and every potential way it can be advanced - then, putting it into action.
• Ethic of Service: Put other people and higher ideals before yourself.
• Sense of purpose: Know the mission, how to do it well, and why.
• Commitment to excellence: Strive every day to learn more and be better.
ALL GOOD
One of the most powerful leadership principles is having a positive attitude. There is a popular saying: “mean people suck” - and mean leaders are even worse. Workplace environments adopt the attitude of leadership, and toxic leadership is obvious and palpable where it occurs. Positive leadership inspires people to succeed in the hard and difficult assignments by instilling confidence and a belief that their contributions are valued. It does not mean avoiding realistic, critical assessments. Rather, it involves finding a way to say “yes”.
• Be Inspirational: Constantly and positively communicate, be transparent, and be accessible.
• Managing a crisis: Don’t treat everything as a crisis, but when one occurs, learn from it.
• Keep your perspective: Have fun and maintain a work-life balance. both for yourself and for the important example it sets.
ALL FOR ONE
The best leaders promote teamwork and team spirit. They demonstrate every day their sincere belief that everyone in the organization is as important as the other. They embrace the concept that the word “TEAM” is defined as Treat Everyone As Members. They foster an organizational culture where “all are for one, and one is for all”.
• Show humility: Respect all teammates for their unique talent, perspective, and contributions.
• Lead up, down and across: Seize the opportunity and privilege to positively influence everyone at every level in the organization.
• Promote diversity and inclusion: Acknowledge in your words and actions that your team is a winning team because not every player is a quarterback.