The Importance of Having a Management / Leadership Philosophy
Every organization that sets its sights on the future in a sustainable manner knows the importance of the management/leadership community. Although management/leadership isn’t typically considered to be a function in the same way as, say, sales or marketing is considered to be, it can have far-reaching effects on the organization as a whole, much like a function.
Many employees quit an organization because their immediate managers are not able to cater to their needs properly. This happens in part because managers don’t put in the time or effort required to nurture their juniors - but it can happen due to a larger reason as well, and it’s important to address that upfront.
And that reason is the lack of a management/leadership philosophy.
What is a management / leadership philosophy?
It may seem like a huge deal to come up with a philosophy on anything at all, but at the core of it, it’s a very simple proposition.
An organization’s management/leadership philosophy clarifies at least three things for everybody at the organization, regardless of their role, division, or seniority, which could be any of the following:
What is of the highest priority when it comes to management/leadership
The attitude that every member must have towards their work
Where to draw the line when it comes to trade-offs
The impact each person needs to have on their team
An area of focus which is non-negotiable
Just as an example, an organization’s management/leadership philosophy can look like this:
Treat your team members with respect, no matter the situation.
Be committed to your deliveries
Look for growth in all areas of work
Prioritize quality above all else
It doesn’t need to cover every single aspect that an organization will have to take into consideration. However, it needs to cover some basic tenets which will serve as guiding principles for the organization, helping clarify certain things that every person may naturally ask themselves during the course of their work.
Why is a management/leadership philosophy important?
Many organizations don’t have a management/leadership philosophy. As a result of this, the managers don’t know which principles to rely on when making management/leadership decisions and aren’t able to translate this to their juniors. As I mentioned earlier this can lead to very talented employees quitting their jobs, and if this becomes a trend, then losing people won’t be the biggest concern of that organization.
Ultimately, each organization requires a management/leadership philosophy because there will be tough decisions for everyone to make, and in those times, it becomes helpful to have these statements so that they can clear out the path ahead.
