I was reading an article about the current financial crisis. The writer was making a point about Eastern philosophy and the ways it differed from that of the West. It was quite a well written article in many ways. At one point the writer drew the conclusion that the financial crisis was ultimately caused by greed, and I would concur with that, and also add that envy comes into it as well.

But the writer of the article seemed to point to Western philosophy as the culprit. He argued that it was the Western tendency to view ourselves as separate from everything we see around us that leads to this situation. I can’t go along with that. I would rather argue that it is the technological power wielded by the West that has caused its greed and envy to be such a large and destructive force in the world. This has been around since the Industrial Revolution began in Western Europe around the 17th and 18th centuries.

I have been to many places in the world, and I have not noticed that greed and envy are any less prevalent in Eastern countries than in Western ones. I would say that greed and envy are more or less uniformly distributed throughout the world.

To my mind, the fault lies not in the philosophies of East and West, but in the widespread ignorance of those philosophies. We can learn from the philosophies of the East, there is a great deal of truth to be found in them. Many Westerners have followed their tenets, and have integrated them into their own way of life. But we can also say that much of Western philosophy is equally true, and equally adaptable to a satisfying life, in harmony with one’s environment. The key to this is in how these truths are applied in one’s own life.

There is one respect in which I would agree that the study of Eastern philosophy would benefit people in the West. When we study those philosophies, everything about them seems new and fresh to us, even though they have been in existence for a very long time. It is like finding a hidden treasure. This makes it possible for us to approach them without too many preconceived notions about them. The problem with the Western philosophies is that they are too familiar, or at any rate, they are expressed in terms that SEEM familiar, leading us to believe that we know all about them, so there is nothing we can learn from them. Such a notion is a mistake, but an understandable one.

Leadership comes in many different shapes and forms.  As leadership comes in different shapes and forms, so does leadership philosophies. There are people from all walks of life who have their own philosophy on leadership.  Who�??s to say which is right and which is wrong?  But if you expand your mind and allow your leadership to grow, you will benefit any organization.

Followers expect leaders to show them the standard and train them to reach it. They expect leaders to lead by example. Additionally, they expect leaders to keep them informed and take care of them. Being a leader will require you to ask others to make extraordinary sacrifices to achieve goals. Leaders may have to call on them to do things that seem impossible. However, �??If leaders have trained their people to standard, inspired their willingness, and consistently looked after their interests, they will be prepared to accomplish any goal, anytime, anywhere�?� (Reeves, 2004).

Leadership philosophies are based on opinions and experiences of an individual, which is why philosophies may not necessarily coincide even though you may have the same common goal. The best thing about leadership is that it will always evolve if you expand your mind.  What maybe your leadership philosophy today may not necessarily be your leadership philosophy tomorrow.

Many of my philosophies were influenced by traits that are used by the U. S. Marine Corps and standard maxims, which will work well in any organization and some of them are: justice, judgment, dependability, initiative, decisiveness, integrity, enthusiasm, loyalty, and courage just to name a few. Another important skill that must be implemented for all of this to work is applied knowledge.

Justice teaches you to be fair and consistent.  No one can ever say that you are showing favoritism.  Using judgment gives you the ability to think about things thoroughly and rationally.  Good judgment leads to sound decisions, and sound decisions leads to better quality.

Dependability �??is the willing and voluntary support of the policies and orders of the chain of command�?� (Wright, 1984/2002). You must show that you are dependable, and it is needed because it shows you can be relied upon to your superiors as well as your employees.  It means you can be trusted to complete your job.  It also means that you will be trusted by your employees, which will build a better rapport and enhance communications between you and them.

Initiative runs hand in hand with dependability.  Showing initiative means doing something before you were instructed to.  It shows you are dependable and can think ahead and look at the big picture instead of what�??s in front of you. 

A decisive person shows they have the ability to make good decisions without hesitation.  It allows you to get the facts, analyze them and come to the best possible decision while maintaining a high level or professionalism.

Showing enthusiasm shows a sincere interest and enthusiasm in the performance of your duties.  It will make your employees more enthusiastic and motivated about their work, which will lead to better productivity and working atmosphere. 

Having loyalty shows you are devoted to your organization, seniors, peers, and subordinates.  You have a sense of responsibility to everyone who is involved in the organization.  You are loyal enough to know if things begin to get unethical, you know how to separate yourself from it, and continue to do the right thing.

Integrity is one of the most important traits within my leadership philosophy.  People can take many things from you, but integrity is something you can only give away.   It shows that you are truthful and a person of your word.  When integrity is consistently applied, it will build good morals and ethics within any organization.

The most vital leadership trait is courage.  Courage is the foundation on which all things start.  Having these other traits are pointless if you don�??t have the courage to apply them.  Without the courage to succeed and the courage to stand up for what you believe, you should not be placed in any leadership position, because you lack what it takes to be a leader.  And if you lack what it takes to lead�?� who will follow?

Applied knowledge is the understanding of a science or art and applying it.  Knowledge means you have acquired information and you understand people, emotions, and actions.  Applying knowledge means you will take acquired information and share it with your employees to make them better, mentally stronger, and more eager to learn.

To support my leadership philosophy, I have maxims that I follow, which are known to the U. S. Marine Corps as leadership principles.  One of my maxims is to know myself and seek self improvement.  This is done by working to improve my weaknesses and utilizing my strengths based on thoughts and experiences.  I also must be technically and tactically proficient.  Before I can lead, I must be able to do the job.  If I can�??t do the job, I can�??t set the example.  Albert Einstein said it best, �??Setting an example is not the main means of influencing another, it is the only means.�?� Lastly, I must know my employees and look out for their welfare. As a leader, I am responsible for my employees�?? welfare and well-being.  Their welfare must come before my own.  To put yourself before your employees is to show disrespect towards them and the organization, which will ultimately lead to destruction.

Many leaders�?? leadership philosophies are very different, but in any attempt to lead, you have to have a philosophy.  You may read many articles on leadership, attend leadership seminars, or even take leadership classes that offer many different philosophies on leadership.  However, I am not trying to change your philosophy on leadership�?� I am just trying to expand your mind.

A philosophy of living is a list of reasons that determine why you do what you do. Your personal philosophy clarifies your underlying values and the basic principles on which you �??conduct the business�?� of your every day life. I�??ve noticed that all truly successful people have identified their individual philosophy of living and use it to guide every decision and plan they execute.

 

Five-Point Philosophy of Living

 

At the basis of my own philosophy for living is my relationship with Jesus Christ and my dependence on God. From that basis I have defined all my other plans and aspirations.

 

In addition, at the core of my being, I am a goal-setter. Almost everything I do is formulated from a �??goal-setting mentality.�?�  I learned early in life that without strong, clear goals I would easily wander off track.

 

Since we are all individuals and our philosophies can vary a great deal, let me spur you on by sharing my own five point philosophy of life:

 

Point #1 – A positive attitude: I know a lot of people feel they�??ve arrived once they join the �??glass is half full�?� club, but I have expanded that concept to my own �??the glass is full all the time�?� club. In fact, I am always seeking ways to make it overflow!

 

Someone once told me that everything we accomplish is 12% education and 87% attitude and ability to communicate. That�??s why I have cultivated a positive attitude about everything. I refuse to entertain any negative thoughts. I get up every day affirming that �??I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me�?� (Philippians 4:13).

 

Point #2 – No worry: I discovered that worrying about things never did me any good, and in fact, it actually diluted my abilities and strength. Now I simply refuse to worry. I give any concerns I have to God and go about my business. I know He is well able to attend to all my needs.

 

Point #3 Peace and contentment: While I know that some days will definitely be better than others, I�??ve made a decision to be happy each and every day. I view each day as new and full of promise. Learning to be contented and at peace no matter your situation is a great gift that God offers each one of us.

 

Point #4 Strength and Power to achieve: I believe that my potential to achieve is unlimited and backed by the power of Christ. I envision myself a risk-taker; someone who is bold and courageous, open to new opportunities.

 

Point #5 Stewardship: Everything already belongs to God, but because He loves me, He allows me to use some of his riches. I know that everything I have or achieve is because of His supply and generosity. Even the joy I am able to experience when I give to others is a gift directly from God.

 

Forming your own philosophy of living

 

You may think you already have a good idea of your philosophy of living, but I challenge you to take the time to actually write it down. Writing something down requires you to completely crystallize your thoughts and provides yourself with a very powerful motivation for action.

 

Once you have written a rough draft, continue to hone your words until you have a very concise list of points that guide your life. When you have it completed, make a copy and place it in a very accessible spot so you can refer to it often. Over time you will absorb your philosophy of living and it will become the �??knee jerk�?� basis for all your life decisions.

 

By using a personal philosophy of living, you will clarify your goals and minimize the distractions and detours of life that can throw you off course. Knowing why you do what you do greatly increases the likelihood of your success.

 

When you think about it, isn�??t your future a lot more important than plans for your next summer vacation?