personal statement about leadership examples

How to Write a Leadership Statement (With 40 Examples)

A leadership statement is essential to help contribute to the organization’s success. However, it may be challenging to come up with the right words to create an impact.

What should the statement emphasize? What should be included?

According to experts, here are the key points that you need to consider when writing a leadership statement:

Loic Bellet

Business English Coach, Speak Proper English

Discuss what you will do differently due to what you’ve learned about leadership and yourself

Consider what attributes make someone an excellent leader before crafting your statement.

The ability to motivate others, moral dignity, plus placing a high value on connections with team members are all examples of leadership qualities and skills. What outstanding leadership traits do you possess?

Before you start drafting your statement:

• Make a list.
• Go over your word list again and pick one , maybe two of these attributes to emphasize .
• As it pertains to the trait you choose, provide your assessment of what makes somebody a great leader.

It should be no more than one to two sentences in length. This definition will serve as the foundation for your argument.

Implement a strategy

It all boils down to implementing a strategy when writing a decent statement. Your blueprint is that plan. One of the most crucial advantages of a decent outline is that your statement will be well arranged and easy to follow.

You can use the paragraph structure for a leadership statement or add more paragraphs if you want. This is what your outline might look like:

• Introduction . Captivate the reader’s attention by defining good leadership in terms of the attribute you’ve chosen.
• Paragraphs in the body . Give some history on anecdotes and explain why a leadership characteristic is essential to you and how you live your life according to this value.
• Conclusion . Finish with a strong declaration about your ability to lead.

Grab the reader’s attention and distinguish your assertion from the rest

The beginning of your leadership statement must be strong. This is where you grab the reader’s attention and distinguish your assertion from the rest.

Related: How to Be (more) Assertive

A personal anecdote is the greatest method to do this.

Consider the leadership quality you’ve chosen. When was the last time you showed this characteristic in your life?

Consider a period when your integrity was put to the test in a leadership role if you’re writing about it. Perhaps you were the director of your high school newspaper and felt compelled to expose the identity of a confidential source.

To draw the reader’s attention, describe the scenario in dramatic detail in one or two sentences. Explain why you believe this leadership attribute is crucial after those two phrases. This will serve as a transition into your statement’s body.

Focus on the leadership traits you possess

Focus on the leadership traits you possess in the body of your statement and how they relate to the tale you began to explain in the introduction. You can order your statement however you choose, but here’s a tried and tested method.

Provide some background information

Give some context to your narrative by providing some background information.

Give some information regarding your work as editor if you opened your statement by mentioning being forced to reveal the source of a journalistic piece.

• What method did you use to obtain it?
• What did you consider to be the most significant aspect of this role?

Concentrate on a leadership attribute you already have

Return the attention to leadership. Make sure you’re concentrating on a leadership attribute you already have. You must select a quality that is directly relevant to the anecdote you are presenting.

You may bring the attention back to integrity in the case of the editor being pressed to reveal sources.

• What is the significance of integrity?
• What makes someone an effective leader if they have integrity?

Related: 24 Best Leadership Books of All Time

Make sure your conclusion leaves a lasting impression

Another crucial component of the leadership statement is your conclusion. These are the words that will leave the most lasting impression on your reader about your leadership and writing ability. This is an important aspect of your statement, so make it count.

• Return to the strong leadership while personalizing it.
• Describe how your leadership aligns with your principles and how you displayed leadership in one or two sentences in a specific case.
• Discuss what you’ve learned.
• Finish with a powerful sentence.

What will you do differently in the future due to what you’ve learned about leadership and yourself? To make your words even more powerful, use a parallel framework.

Founder and CEO, Gibson Hill PC

A leadership statement is vital for setting out the expectations and goals of the business and laying out the core values that employees are expected to follow and respect. Also, it is all about getting employees on board so that they understand what the company aims to do for them , getting them invested in the success.

After all, a leadership statement is all about leading, and that requires gathering a team to lead.

Here are some of the things that you should remember when writing a leadership statement:

Talk about core values of your business

Your business should have clear core values that are implemented within the work methodology, and it is essential that, as a leader, you talk about them so that they can be in effect.

Talk about the reason for the company and what it aims to do, and talk about the values and ideals that you uphold and that you expect everyone to respect.

Outline concrete goals

As a leader, it is your job to create guidelines and direct your employees. Having concrete goals is necessary, not only so that the business can grow but also so that employees have a direction to develop and grow.

Set out expectations, and then provide the tools to make them achievable.

Introduce ways of measuring progress

Measuring progress should be about monitoring that things are on track so that you can implement solutions or extra support where needed.

You must address this early on so that it isn’t something for your employees to dread.

Make it relevant to the employees

I’ve read a few leadership statements that are all about the company’s aims and how the leader will be going about things, with no mention as to how it will all affect the employees, and that is a huge mistake.

You want your employees to feel involved and become invested , and this means making sure that the goals you set in place are related to them in some way.

Be your company’s “hype-man”

This is my top recommendation for leadership statements; they should be positive and full of motivation , almost as if you’re selling the idea of the business to your employees to get them excited about the overall success that can be achieved.

Martin Lassen

Founder & CEO, GrammarHow

A “leadership statement” is a written statement outlining your leadership philosophy and the qualities you believe are necessary to lead effectively.

• Your leadership statement must be brief and easy to understand.
• It’s important to express your thoughts on the theory of leadership , and the traits and abilities you believe are necessary for success.
• Discuss your personal leadership experiences and how you’ve developed your own unique management style.

Here are some suggestions for writing a leadership statement that represents your values:

Share your experiences to help them understand your leadership style

Your leadership statement should contain your own leadership experiences .

• What obstacles have you overcome?
• What victories have you had?
• What have you learned?

Sharing your experiences can assist readers in understanding your leadership style and why you think it works.

“Leaders in the military and business have taught me that success involves vision, planning, and execution. I am continuously looking for new challenges and methods to strengthen my leadership skills. This attitude has aided my career and personal success.”

Share concrete examples that demonstrate your leadership ideas

Remember to be genuine and honest in your leadership statement. If you don’t agree with someone’s ideas or ideals, don’t write or avoid clichés and generalizations; instead, share concrete examples that demonstrate your leadership ideas.

“Leaders must constantly put their followers first. They should be open to hearing and understanding their problems. A smart leader knows that success requires a team dedicated to the same goal.”

CEO, Champion Leadership Group LLC

Analyze the characteristics that differentiate a successful leader

Prepare your leadership statement by analyzing the characteristics that differentiate a successful leader before you sit down and write.

Among these leadership traits and talents are:

• The willingness to encourage others
• Personal integrity
• The ability to place a high emphasis on interpersonal connections with team members

Are there any outstanding leadership characteristics you possess?

Here is one helpful tip on how to write a leadership statement:

A solid opening to a leadership statement is critical

This is where you grab the reader’s attention and set your writing out from the others— a personal narrative is the most significant way to go about this.

Consider the quality of leadership you’ve decided to emphasize. Is there a time when you displayed this trait in your life?

For instance, when writing on personal integrity, imagine a period when your integrity was put to the test while serving in a leadership position. For maximum effect, explain the incident in one or two sentences in dramatic detail to capture the reader’s attention.

Afterward, explain why this leadership quality is so crucial to you—this will serve as a bridge from the introduction to the body of your statement.

Jonathan R. Brockman

Trial Attorney, Jonathan R. Brockman, P.C.

Include your attitude and the attitude that you expect from your team

A vision or leadership statement is one that allows you to define yourself and your role when leading your team—it’s something that you can always look back to if you find yourself going through the motions and in need of reminding why you’re doing what you’re doing .

It is also something that I think is useful to provide for new or potential employees so that they can get a feel for your priorities.

The way you need to craft a leadership statement depends on you and your values: do you want to exemplify your goals or your values more?

Either way, you need to keep your statement concise , don’t mince your words, even if you’re trying to be poetic. You’ll want to include your attitude and the attitude that you expect from your team and how you’ll promote and encourage that attitude.

If you can squeeze all of this into 3-4 sentences , you’ll have a great vision statement.

Gerald Lombardo 

Co-Founder, The Word Counter

Your daily actions should reflect the qualities you added in your leadership statement

A powerful leadership statement highlights your internal understanding of why you’re doing what you’re doing. It’s intricately tied to your values , hopes , and worldview and is important because it’s what matters to you.

As the leader of an organization, your daily actions should reflect the qualities that you have included in a leadership statement.

The best way to begin crafting a leadership statement stems from a deep look into yourself as a leader. You need to think back on your own career as though you are retired and ask yourself questions such as:

• What do you want your peers to have said about you?
• How did you make your coworkers and subordinates feel on a daily basis?
• What are some goals you wish you accomplished?
• How would you have led your organization differently?

Ultimately, a leadership statement guides you during times of rapid change within your organization because it provides you with a course of action. It’s your roadmap to understanding how you define yourself as a leader.

By understanding why you’re doing what you’re doing as a leader, your team will take notice and feel confident in supporting your vision.

Travis Lindemoen

Managing Director, Nexus IT Group

Figure out how to be the best leader possible

One of the most critical aspects of leadership is establishing a group dynamic where everyone is working toward the same goal .

Self-reflection and divergent thinking are essential components of effective leadership. Every step of the way, a leader should keep an eye on the big picture while also acknowledging the small victories along the way.

Leadership does not equate to power, and the two are not synonymous. Leaders challenge themselves to take on the role of a change agent, challenge the status quo of business and society, and act as role models for others.

“ Aspiring to be that leader who can inspire and motivate others to lead healthy and balanced lives is something I strive for . In my presence, I hope to convey the impression that I care about establishing relationships with others and unquestionably lift them up, and inspire self-direction.

I intend to lead from the ground up to promote a positive work environment and establish my authority as a leader. Personal and socially responsible leadership is something I believe in, and I will constantly evaluate my attitude and actions to see if they are in line with this belief and ignite positive social change.

Leadership means valuing the contributions of others, including their perspectives, as well as what they can offer toward our common goal.

I will lead with concrete goals and clear communication among my followers as we work together to achieve our shared vision and leave a lasting impression on every person we come into contact with.”

Related: Top 7 Leading Traits of Good Leaders

Austin J. Franklin

CEO and Co-founder, Good-Natured Life

The statement should positively impact you and everyone you lead

A leadership statement is a personal mantra created to guide one’s leadership philosophy. This idea is similar to a company mission statement, except it abides only by you and your leadership style.

A leadership statement is essential because it holds you accountable and guides your decision-making.

For example, my leadership statement revolves around a few words:

“Make a positive difference & remain good-natured.”

These are core ideas that have helped me produce a successful enterprise. Focusing on making a positive difference and remaining good-natured affects how I lead staff, interact with customers, and develop services/products.

Regardless of the decisions needed to be made or conflicts that can arise, I can choose the right course of action by reflecting upon my personal leadership statement.

A leadership statement should be:

• The leadership statement should be easy to memorize.
• Understand what is needed to help you effectively lead your employees and organization.
• The leadership statement should guide you in every circumstance you face as a leader.

By following the three guidelines, you will be able to develop a strong leadership statement. This statement will positively impact you and everyone you lead, so create thoughtfully.

Daniel Cook

Director HR , Mullen and Mullen

Link your values and beliefs to the plans that you are proposing

You should brainstorm what you have to write about in your leadership statement.

Firstly, you need to note down your beliefs and values that shape your personality and can appeal to your audience as well. You need to think of characteristics that you might have that would encourage other people.

Secondly, to make your audience understand your personality, you can name your role models and what is their most inspiring trait that appeals to you.

Thirdly, try linking your values and beliefs to the plans or actions that you are proposing . Ensure that it is a direct link that people can easily understand.

Lastly, after explaining your expectations, you can discuss the expectations that you might have from your audience or the general public.

“In order to ensure your leadership is effective, you need to have open communication with everyone. Due to this, I would like to hear honest feedback from my employees.”

James Chapman

Operations Manager, BELLA Bathrooms

It should mention the leader’s actual game plan to materialize the goal

In a modern business setup, with more importance given to teamwork, the concept of leadership is seen as one of the most important aspects of business success.

Business owners and managers are expected to be strong leaders where they have a clear goal and accurate pathways to achieve them. In these situations, a leadership statement can help a business leader in proving his case to business success among his subordinates.

A leadership statement should clearly mention the leader’s vision, his role in the organization, his purpose to achieve his vision, and his actual game plan to materialize the goal.

At our company, we have a mission as a team to serve our customers with high-quality bathroom solutions through the e-commerce platform.

I would like to mention a quote from my leadership statement as an example :

“A low-cost bathroom can look fantastic if its good quality and a designer suite can look atrocious if you are paying for the name rather than the quality of the materials”.

CEO and Founder, Freedom Care

Your statement must be ideal

A leadership statement is a concise and definitive description of your values and goals as a leader, both in what you want to achieve and how you want to treat the people you lead.

Before writing your leadership statement, it is important to realize that your statement is your ideal. This means that on a day-to-day basis, you might slip up and treat people in a way that is not according to your statement.

This does not make you a hypocrite; it makes you human .

The purpose of a leadership statement is to orient you, your values, and your goals as a leader.

In your leadership statement, you should include your responsibilities to the people as a leader:

• What you believe you need to be for them,
• The overarching values that drive you,
• Your goals as a leader, and
• How all these things all come together to form an overall approach, attitude, and perspective.

“As a leader, it is my responsibility to ensure that every team member has the necessary tools and environment to succeed. I need to be approachable, professional, personable, and expressive. To foster a productive team, I need to express gratitude and trust.”

Magda Klimkiewicz

Senior HR Business Partner, Zety

Capture your purpose as a leader

Writing a leadership statement isn’t easy. To capture your core values and beliefs, goals, and purpose as a leader in a few simple sentences is a challenging task that requires a fair amount of thought, time, and self-discovery.

It might still be worth it, as an effective leadership statement can help you remain focused , prioritize , stay true to your purpose , and inspire others . This serves as a reminder about who you are as a leader.

An excellent way to determine who you want to be in the leadership role is to think about influential figures that made an impact throughout the history of business and the world. Do some research on leaders who inspire you and determine what motivates them and how they lead.

While I don’t advise copying or following their personal statements, it can be a helpful exercise to identify which of their core values, beliefs, and actions resonate with you the most. Build on that by deciding how they translate into your current role.

Here are two sample leadership statement examples:

• “I believe that innovation is what drives excellence. I will use positive feedback and encouragement to inspire my team to create revolutionary solutions to improve people’s lives.”
• “As a leader, I am committed to making our company a place of inclusion and equality. I will create a positive and supportive environment where employees can thrive and reach their fullest potential.”

Harriet Chan

Co-founder and Marketing Director, CocoFinder

Talk about what you believe makes you an effective leader

A good leadership statement can help you stand out from the crowd in a job application or interview. It can also be a valuable tool for developing your own personal leadership style.

The following tips will help you write a strong leadership statement.

• For example, “I led a team of 10 software engineers and successfully delivered a new software product on time and under budget.”
• For example, “I am passionate about delivering results, and I always put the needs of my team first. I am motivated by the challenge of solving difficult problems.”
• For example, “I led my team through a difficult merger and successfully integrated the two teams into one cohesive unit.”
• For example, “I was recently recognized as the top leader in my industry by The Wall Street Journal.”
• For example, “I am looking for an opportunity to lead a team and make a real impact on the world. I believe I have the potential to be an excellent leader, and I am excited to pursue my career aspirations.”

Yosun Allen

CEO, Yosun UV Printer

Statements made by leaders should have meaning

An organization’s activity should have a clear sense of direction if its mission statement is to accomplish that goal. In order to attract and encourage employees, an organization’s purpose statement must be clear and concise .

It’s easier for people to be motivated, devoted, and pleased if they have a purpose in their work.

A statement of leadership must be unambiguous

People in an organization will not be motivated unless they have a clear understanding of the goal. It’s best to keep it short and sweet.

Only the most important aspects of the organization should be highlighted, and nothing else should be. It’s easier for individuals to grasp how they can help when the goal is clear.

“Our vision is to be the earth’s most customer-centric company; to build a place where people can come to find and discover anything they might want to buy online.” — Amazon

Co-founder and CEO , Power

Be concise with the wording

The statement shouldn’t be too long, and the sentences should be short and crisp so that they are easy to understand.

So, for example, “I will create a casual working environment in which employees are allowed to conduct themselves in a fun manner so as to strengthen the team bonds and create a better culture for the company, all while encouraging efficiency in the performance of duties.”

You can say something like, “I aim to create a fun yet efficient working environment, with a strong focus on teamwork.”

It’s a lot simpler , and it will get the point across better.

Choose words that motivate and engage

You want your statement to inspire your employees in some way so that they are motivated and engaged, and the best way to do this is through the correct wording.

I recommend using words such as “ potential ,” “ success ,” “ development ,” “ growth ,” and similar. Basically, you want to give everything an air of positivity and career advancement.

Make sure you talk about things your employees care about

Talking about the company’s goals is all good, but you need to make it relevant to your employees. How are your goals and plans going to affect them? You must get them invested in success because a business only thrives through teamwork .

Related: 30+ Real Life Examples of Teamwork

Adam Crossling

Marketing Manager, Zenzero

Get to know the why of the company

To write your leadership vision statement, the first thing you need to do is figure out why a company is there. Overall, the answer to this question will help a leader see the future they want for their business.

It’s hard for people and businesses to say why they do what they do. Simon Sinek says this in his best-selling book, Start with Why . I mean your goal, cause, or belief when I say “ why ,” but you can also say “ what .”

We like leaders and groups that are good at telling us what they believe. One way they can inspire us is by making us feel like we belong, are safe, and not alone. When a leader explains why they do what they do, they get people who are loyal and want to help make their vision for the future come true.

Find out why you do what you do:

• How did you start the business or become a manager in the first place?
• Consider what kind of movement you want to start that leads to a better future.
• Getting to the heart of why your business should support your chosen cause or project.
• Reflecting on how your business can make people feel like they belong and are part of a group.
• Ideating about how your company’s purpose and your customers’ purpose might work together.

Theola Tinny

Co-Founder, VinPit

Be sure people understand what your organization stands for

Here are some tips that I keep in mind while drafting a compelling leadership statement.

• Be clear and straightforward. You want to be sure people understand what your organization stands for exactly.
• Make it personal. Your leadership statement should reflect who you are as a leader.
• Instead, use what you have already established in your organization, whether the values or mission statements.
• Make it creative . Consider including elements like to-dos , specials , or other helpful information that goes beyond just being about your business.
• Use action verbs. When writing your leadership statement, avoid using negative words like “don’t,” “don’t change,” and “don’t do this.”

“We will take the time to listen and understand one another, appreciate each other’s diverse backgrounds and beliefs, form friendships, and nurture them wherever they are found.”

Robin Antill

Director, Leisure Buildings

Outline objectives – they should be realistic and achievable within a given time frame

When a leader is crafting a statement, they should consider what goals they tend to achieve in the long run. Your goals as a leader should be specific , which means that they should be realistic and easy to achieve within a given time frame.

Once set, these objectives should be measured against time. This measure will help you determine your performance and identify any bottlenecks.

“I will develop a purpose-driven connection with my employees working in hybrid and remote environments. Through this measure, I aim to unlock the full potential of my team so that our business can voyage towards a journey of success.

I tend to incorporate the ideas of empathy and positivity at the workplace, which can help promote a culture of inclusivity.”

Tim Davidson

President, Car Title Loan Lenders

Make sure it has quantitative goals

It’s often good to have a list of goals you should and would like to attain as a leader when creating a leadership statement.

To get the most out of this section, use the SMART method to meet your objectives: Having defined and measurable goals makes it easier to concentrate on how to achieve them. It is impossible to attain your objectives if you cannot track your progress.

As a result, make sure your personal leadership statement has quantitative goals.

Your leadership statement will inevitably alter as you mature as a person and your goals shift. Because of this, you’ll need to update your statement over time to match your current objectives. To assist you in prioritizing your task, make sure your goal has a definite deadline.

“It is hard to reach the pinnacles of what the corporation can do without a solid team. As the leader, I will focus on establishing a good and healthy workplace culture that encourages everyone to reach their full potential.”

Annesha Basu

Chief Managing Officer, Stand Up Paddle Boards Review

You have to address what others are worried about in a leadership statement

A leadership statement has to inform and inspire equally . Self-assess and identify the core values that make you the leader you are.

Everyone has roughly the same goals; as a leader, there must have been something differently you’ve done that made you fit to lead. Identify the behaviors and traits that helped you get results.

You have to address what others are worried about in a leadership statement. This will change as your audience changes.

Understanding what your audience is worried about will help you know what to say. If you’re addressing:

• Beginners – you have to instill confidence in them and lay any fears they may have to rest.
• An experienced audience – your speech needs to be along the lines of growing expertise and income .

Omer Usanmaz

CEO and Co-Founder, Qooper Mentoring & Learning Software

Keep your statement inspiring, representing who you are as a leader

A leadership statement is a declaration of your beliefs and values as a leader. It can be used to introduce yourself to others or remind yourself of what you stand for when things get tough.

To write a leadership statement:

• Start by thinking about what you believe in and what values are important to you.
• Write down a few sentences that express your beliefs and values clearly and concisely.
• Keep your statement positive and inspiring , and make sure it represents who you are as a leader.

A leadership statement doesn’t have to be complicated. In fact, a good example can be something as simple as the following:

“As a leader, I am always looking for ways to improve my team’s performance. Whether through coaching and mentoring or providing support and resources, I am committed to helping my team reach its goals.”

“I strive to create a positive and productive work environment where my team can thrive, so I always encourage open communication and feedback. This helps me maintain a clear understanding of my team’s needs.”

“I believe in setting clear expectations and providing regular feedback so that my team knows what is expected of them. I also recognize and reward good performance so that my team knows that their hard work is appreciated. “

Kimberly Silva

CEO, Find People First

Keep in mind what you want to convey

Effective leadership statement meets the needs of people who are reading it. It may contain elements that make the statement easy for a person to read, such as an example or personal story.

Writing a leadership statement is a job interview’s first impression. It’s essential to have a concise, compelling statement summarizing your leadership skills, interests, and accomplishments.

There are also times when a leadership statement emphasizes specific skills and abilities or provides information that is particularly relevant to the person reading it. To have a compelling statement, keep in mind what you want to convey , who you are talking to, and how you want to be perceived .

“Due to the success of my leadership at ABC Company, I have opportunities to head up new departments and lead diverse teams, from strategy and finance to customer service. I take calculated risks and work hard to ensure my team members can give 110% commitment.”

“I am a strong believer in developing my employees. I empower them to grow in their skills, take on more responsibility and contribute more broadly to the company.”

“I believe that people are the key to our success, and therefore it is my responsibility to create an environment where they can thrive. I’m a results-driven leader with a proven track record of developing and managing teams in the SaaS industry.”

“I have experience launching, managing, and marketing products, as well as designing and implementing pricing models. I have strong analytical skills, deep technical knowledge, and excellent interpersonal skills .”

Related: What are Interpersonal Skills & How to Improve Them

Steve Scott

Chief Technology Officer, Spreadsheet Planet

Develop a list of your fundamental principles and prioritize them

I would advise that before you go into drafting your statement, review a few sample personal statements and observe how the writers highlighted their leadership priorities and beliefs.

Most leaders have grandiose plans but fail to articulate why they aspire to accomplish their objectives. As a result, this lack of clarity impacts the leader and instills confusion throughout the business.

It is better to develop a list of all your fundamental principles and prioritize them.

Therefore, before creating your personal leadership statement, determine your fundamental goal as a leader to steer your employers in the appropriate route.

“Without a strong team, it is impossible to accomplish the organization’s full potential. As a leader, I will focus on establishing a good and healthy work culture that encourages everyone to reach their full potential.”

Daniel Foley

Marketing & SEO Specialist, Emma Sleep

Every statement represents your current aims and values

Remember that there are no wrong answers when creating a personal leadership statement.

Every statement is unique to each individual and represents your current aims and values. Your account would evolve, depending on your development and changing perspectives on leadership.

• Your attitude towards leadership

Another important aspect of your leadership statement is how you describe and see your role as a leader .

• Your behavior as a leader

With their values and demeanor, a good leader can guide others. As a result, these skills are critical in your actions to achieve your leadership objectives.

Even though the work may appear complicated, there are numerous leadership statement examples to refer to if you’re having trouble figuring out how to include these elements into your statement.

• Understanding your core purpose as a leader

Before writing your statement, look through some sample personal statements to see how other people have highlighted their leadership priorities and values.

It’s preferable to make a list that focuses on your key principles and then rank them in order of priority .

Most leaders have lofty plans, but they don’t explain why they want to achieve them. As a result, the lack of a defined purpose has an impact on the leader and confuses the business.

So, before you write your leadership statement, find out what you want to accomplish as a leader to steer your company in the right direction.

Karl Tippins

Editor-in-Chief, Age Holdings

Allow ideas to flow freely

My advice when crafting a leadership statement is to visualize the future.

Create a list of the essential components of your vision statement. To begin, grab a piece of paper or visit a whiteboard and jot down any terms that spring to mind when you consider the company’s future.

When brainstorming, avoid tailoring your thoughts; instead, allow ideas to flow freely. Dare to fantasize about achieving challenging goals as your firm expands.

Additionally, zero in on notions that strike a chord with you and attempt to picture the details. The more precise the visualization of your dreams, the stronger the flashlight that will guide you in the proper direction.

Frequently Asked Questions

How often should i update my leadership statement .

Your leadership statement should reflect your current goals and values as a leader. As you gain new experiences and insights, it’s important to review and update your statement so that it accurately reflects your evolving leadership philosophy.

As a general rule of thumb, you should review and update your leadership statement at least once a year. However, you may also want to update it more frequently if your role changes significantly or you reach important milestones.

By keeping your statement up to date, you can ensure that it remains relevant and meaningful to support your leadership decisions and inspire others.

What should I do if I’m struggling to write my leadership statement?

Break it down:   Try tackling your leadership statement into smaller parts to make it more manageable.

Use a framework:   A “ What, How, Why ” framework can help you organize your thoughts and capture all the critical aspects of your leadership style.

Solicit feedback:   Share your explanation with colleagues, mentors, or friends and consider their suggestions for improvement.

Be authentic:   Write from the heart and stay true to yourself to build trust and credibility as a leader. Seek help when needed:  Consider working with a professional writing or coaching service for guidance and support.

Reflect on your leadership experiences:   Think about your successes and failures, strengths and weaknesses, and the values and principles that guide your leadership style.

Should my leadership statement focus on short-term or long-term goals?

The answer to whether your leadership statement should focus on short-term or long-term goals isn’t black and white. It depends on several factors in which you write your statement and your leadership style.

Here are some things you should consider:

Context:  Your leadership statement should be tailored to the context in which you’re writing it. If you’re applying for a new job, you should focus more on short-term goals and show that you can make an immediate impact.

If you’re writing your statement for an established team or organization, you should focus more on long-term goals that align with the company’s vision and values.

Leadership style:  Some leaders focus on quick wins and immediate improvements, while others take a more strategic and long-term view. Your statement should reflect your unique leadership style and values.

Balance:  Your statement should strike a balance between the two. It’s essential to have a clear vision for the future, but it’s also important to address the immediate needs of your team or organization. Set specific short- and long-term goals that align with your leadership vision and values.

Flexibility:  As a leader, being flexible and adaptable is important. While it’s important to have goals and a clear vision, circumstances can change quickly. Ensure that your statement allows for adjustments to short-term and long-term goals.

By considering these factors, you can create a statement that effectively communicates your leadership philosophy and inspires others to follow your lead.

How can I tailor my leadership statement to a specific audience?

To tailor your leadership statement to a specific audience, first consider who it’s intended for. Consider what values or goals are important to this group and sense how your message may resonate with them.

You may need to adjust the language or tone of your statement to better appeal to the target audience.

For example, if you’re speaking to a team of engineers, you may want to focus on technical or problem-solving skills in your leadership statement. If you’re speaking to a board of directors, you might want to emphasize financial results or strategic planning.

Also, consider using examples or stories that are relevant to your audience. This can help make your message more vivid and memorable.

What is effective leadership, in simple words?

Effective leadership is the ability to inspire and motivate others toward a common goal. This includes setting a clear direction and vision, communicating effectively, and creating a positive and inclusive work environment.

Effective leaders lead by example and empower others to contribute to the success of the team or organization. They demonstrate empathy, respect, and integrity in their actions and decisions.

In simple words, effective leadership means bringing out the best in others and achieving success through collaboration and shared values.

Can anyone write a leadership statement?

Yes, anyone can write a leadership statement. A leadership statement is a personal reflection of your values, beliefs, and vision as a leader. No special qualifications or training are required to write them.

However, writing an effective leadership statement that truly inspires and motivates others requires some practice and self-reflection. It’s essential to take the time to understand your values and goals and how they align with those of your organization.

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Writing The Perfect Leadership Statement: Effective Guide

Table of Contents

Leaders are important in every aspect of life, whether in high school, the workplace, or elsewhere. Leaders are constantly available to help their followers set and reach a goal.

Leadership entails guiding and directing a group of people toward a common goal. When applying for jobs and specific leadership roles, a personal leadership statement can showcase your unique leadership skills. It can also set you apart as a standout leader. If you’re wondering  how to write a leadership personal statement , you’ve come to the right place.

A personal statement can help communicate your values and beliefs and demonstrate how you lead others. A leader must have effective communication, decision-making, strategic planning, strategic thinking, adaptability, inspiration, and emotional intelligence skills. These are some of the values to include in your personal statement.

This article will teach you how to write a perfect leadership personal statement .

What is a Leadership Personal Statement?

A leadership personal statement expresses the values, beliefs, and principles that guide your leadership style and behavior. It is a tool to help leaders identify their personal and professional goals and communicate them to others. 

A personal statement helps the reader understand your expectations and the standards of behavior you expect to see in your team . It also outlines an individual’s goals, skills, and experiences that relate to leadership. This statement is typically written as part of a job application, university application. Or as a way to demonstrate leadership ability for a professional development program.

Importance of a Leadership Personal Statement

• A leadership statement clarifies an individual’s personal values and beliefs.
• It guides a leader in decision-making.
• A leadership statement communicates your leadership style and helps build trust and understanding within a team or organization.
• It demonstrates your leadership experience and achievements in previous leadership roles.
• A leadership statement sets an expectation for the leader’s behavior and for the behavior of those you’ll lead.
• It helps to create a positive and productive work environment.
• It inspires others, especially those seeking guidance and direction, to develop their leadership skills.

What to Include in a Leadership Personal Statement

A personal statement gives you an avenue to highlight personal and professional goals and to communicate those goals to the readers. Below are key pieces of information to include in a leadership statement.

1. Your values

Your personal statement should reflect your values and beliefs about leadership. This might include values like honesty, integrity, collaboration, and inclusivity.

2. Your goals

A leadership personal statement should include your professional goals and objectives. These could be specific goals for your team or organization or more general goals related to your leadership style or approach.

3. Your expectations

 It’s important to communicate your expectations to the readers. Also, include information about the standards of behavior and performance that you expect from yourself and others.

4. Your leadership approach

Your leadership statement must include information about your leadership style and approach. This might include things like your preferred communication method, decision-making process, and problem-solving approach.

5. Your leadership achievements

Your personal statement should include past accomplishments and successes. This may include leading your team to achieve a specific goal or improving a process or system through your leadership efforts.

6. Your personal qualities

A leadership statement should include attributes and characteristics that make you a strong leader. This may include your communication skills, ability to adapt and problem-solve, or commitment to continuous learning and personal growth.

7. Other relevant leadership information

You can also include any relevant coursework, skills, degree, or training you have completed in leadership.

How to Write a Leadership Personal Statement

A good leadership personal statement must effectively highlight your values, goals, and vision as a leader. It should also reflect your unique style and approach to leading and inspiring others. 

Here are some steps on how to write a leadership personal statement .

1. Define your values

Your leadership personal statement should reflect your core values and the principles that guide your actions and decisions as a leader. You should consider what matters most to you, such as honesty, integrity, compassion, or excellence, and incorporate these values into your statement.

2. Identify your goals

Your leadership personal statement should also include your goals as a leader. These may be specific objectives that you hope to achieve, such as increasing productivity or improving team morale. Alternatively, your goals may be more broadly focused on creating a positive impact or making a difference in the lives of others.

3. Clarify your vision

The next step is to include a clear vision for the future that inspires and motivates others to follow your leadership. This may involve envisioning a specific outcome or creating a shared vision for your team or organization.

4. Describe your approach

Your leadership personal statement should outline your unique style and approach to leading and inspiring others. This may include your decision-making, communication, delegation, or problem-solving philosophy. An effective approach in your statement is the  SMART  approach.

The SMART approach is a framework that can be used to develop clear, specific, and achievable objectives. It represents Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Time-bound. 

Here’s how to use the SMART approach to develop a concrete approach for a leadership personal statement:

Specific : Your approach should be clear and specific so that it is easy to understand and focus on. Consider what you want to achieve and how you will achieve it.

Measurable : Your leadership approach should be measurable so that you can track your progress and determine whether or not you have achieved it. Consider how you will measure your progress by using specific metrics or benchmarks.

Attainable : Your approach should be attainable, meaning that it is realistic and feasible, given your resources and constraints. Write about your ability to accomplish your goals and the resources you need to achieve your objective.

Relevant : It must be relevant, meaning that it aligns with your values, goals, and vision as a leader. You can consider how your approach aligns with your overall mission and purpose as a leader.

Time-bound : Your leadership approach must also be time-bound, meaning it has a specific deadline for completion. This will help you stay focused and motivated and ensure that you are making progress toward your goal as a leader.

5. Proofread and Edit

After writing about your goals, vision, and approach, the final thing to do is to proofread and edit your leadership personal statement. This step is vital to ensure that the personal statement is error-free, clear, direct, and catchy enough to grab the reader’s attention.

Examples of Leadership Personal Statement

I am a leader with integrity and a servant’s heart. I have always been one to put the needs of others before my own. This has led me to become successful in many areas of life. My ability to lead by example and work collaboratively comes from my years of experience serving in the military. Whether leading a team through difficult terrain or accomplishing common goals, I have learned to create an environment where success is attainable for all.

I am a natural leader with the ability to motivate and inspire people. I have a track record of success in leading teams and achieving results. My goal is always to create an environment where people can excel, reach their full potential, and contribute to team success. I pride myself on being open-minded, innovative, and forward-thinking; my goal is always to find ways to improve outcomes for everyone involved. With strong communication skills combined with integrity and accountability, I can be an effective leader. That is, a leader who builds trust among team members while motivating them toward common goals.

Leaders are born, not made .

Throughout my life, I have been determined to be a leader and set an example for those around me. Whether it was captaining my high school soccer team or working as a project manager, I have always strived to lead by example. I continuously develop my skills and personal brand to serve best those who look up to me. Whether through mentorship, coaching, or simply providing support during difficult times, I am committed to leading with integrity. This is while inspiring others to reach their full potential.

My core values are honesty, integrity, and compassion as a leader. I aim to create a positive impact and make a difference in the lives of others. My vision is to build a team that is collaborative, innovative, and committed to excellence. I believe in empowering my team members to take ownership of their work and fostering a culture of open communication and mutual respect. My approach to leadership is centered on collaboration, transparency, and continuous learning.

Leadership involves setting a vision for a team, communicating that vision to others, and inspiring and motivating others to work towards that goal. 

As a leader, you are key in every organization, and because of this, only the best leaders are required. Your personal leadership statement is the opportunity to sell your leadership know-how to readers , especially employers, to convince them of your leadership capabilities.

Use  Hey INK  to generate your unique leadership personal statement, just like the ones above.

Abir Ghenaiet

Abir is a data analyst and researcher. Among her interests are artificial intelligence, machine learning, and natural language processing. As a humanitarian and educator, she actively supports women in tech and promotes diversity.

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How to Write a Strong Personal Statement

• Ruth Gotian
• Ushma S. Neill

A few adjustments can get your application noticed.

Whether applying for a summer internship, a professional development opportunity, such as a Fulbright, an executive MBA program, or a senior leadership development course, a personal statement threads the ideas of your CV, and is longer and has a different tone and purpose than a traditional cover letter. A few adjustments to your personal statement can get your application noticed by the reviewer.

• Make sure you’re writing what they want to hear. Most organizations that offer a fellowship or internship are using the experience as a pipeline: It’s smart to spend 10 weeks and $15,000 on someone before committing five years and $300,000. Rarely are the organizations being charitable or altruistic, so align your stated goals with theirs
• Know when to bury the lead, and when to get to the point. It’s hard to paint a picture and explain your motivations in 200 words, but if you have two pages, give the reader a story arc or ease into your point by setting the scene.
• Recognize that the reviewer will be reading your statement subjectively, meaning you’re being assessed on unknowable criteria. Most people on evaluation committees are reading for whether or not you’re interesting. Stated differently, do they want to go out to dinner with you to hear more? Write it so that the person reading it wants to hear more.
• Address the elephant in the room (if there is one). Maybe your grades weren’t great in core courses, or perhaps you’ve never worked in the field you’re applying to. Make sure to address the deficiency rather than hoping the reader ignores it because they won’t. A few sentences suffice. Deficiencies do not need to be the cornerstone of the application.

At multiple points in your life, you will need to take action to transition from where you are to where you want to be. This process is layered and time-consuming, and getting yourself to stand out among the masses is an arduous but not impossible task. Having a polished resume that explains what you’ve done is the common first step. But, when an application asks for it, a personal statement can add color and depth to your list of accomplishments. It moves you from a one-dimensional indistinguishable candidate to someone with drive, interest, and nuance.

• Ruth Gotian is the chief learning officer and associate professor of education in anesthesiology at Weill Cornell Medicine in New York City, and the author of The Success Factor and Financial Times Guide to Mentoring . She was named the #1 emerging management thinker by Thinkers50. You can access her free list of conversation starters and test your mentoring impact . RuthGotian
• Ushma S. Neill is the Vice President, Scientific Education & Training at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York City. She runs several summer internships and is involved with the NYC Marshall Scholar Selection Committee. ushmaneill

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Why You Should Showcase Leadership in a Personal Statement

This article was written based on the information and opinions presented by Kaila Barber, from College Essay Guy, in a CollegeVine livestream. You can watch the full livestream for more info.

What’s Covered:

How to showcase leadership.

• Choosing Your Personal Statement

In this post, we will discuss some strategies and tips for showcasing leadership, and other essential values and transferable skills necessary for success, in your personal statement essays for applying to college. 

Let’s say you want to talk about leadership in your essay, there are many ways you can go about it. You can talk about leadership capabilities and experience through topics such as your organization skills, productivity and making things more efficient, communicating with people, and being a mentor. Categorizing the different skills and components of leadership can help you brainstorm potential topics that will position you as a good fit, and even an asset, for prospective colleges.

In particular, leading through mentorship is a great topic to write about as it is very important because you are creating a safe environment for those around you that fosters personal, academic, and professional growth. Building connections and community and creating a safe space where people can be authentic and feel mutual trust is what mentorship is all about, and having these abilities is a major plus.

Choosing Your Personal Statement 

Writing about a challenge.

If you choose to write about a challenge you overcame, make sure you’re talking about, and focusing on, specific actions you took, and what skill you gained from it. You can include leadership and productivity skills like time management, adaptability, or flexibility if those are relevant. 

Many students, especially during the pandemic, had to help out their families financially. If this describes your experience, or you have gone through similar challenges, you can write about it as  taking on that kind of extra responsibility is a big deal for students studying full-time. From experiences such as this, students gain a lot of real world experience applying skills essential for academic, and later professional, success and those are things colleges want to hear about.

Writing About Your Hobby

A popular topic for personal statement essays is how students turn their hobbies into an interest they now want to study in college. If you choose this topic, you want to make sure you demonstrate the insight you’ve learned from this hobby, as well as the values and transferable skills it has helped you develop. 

Similar to the way we broke down leadership, categorize the different skills you’ve gained from this hobby. You can then also talk about how these skills have influenced your decision to now study your hobby. Remember, the most important thing in this essay is to personalize it to your life story. If your hobby has affected your values and life views, that is a great way to personalize your essay.

A great example of breaking down how your hobbies can change your values is crocheting. A hobby like crocheting takes time and patience. There is a beauty and importance in taking the time to learn and practice the basics so you can then master more complex processes. Someone who writes about their crocheting hobby will be able to talk about how these values, gained through their hobby, changed their life values and helped them develop transferable skills. Crocheting is just one example, but this is the structure you should aim to have if you choose this topic. 

If you’re worried about choosing the right topic, you can always do a topic check with CollegeVine. This is a community feed where you can ask specific questions about the topic you’re considering writing about. 

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What is a Personal Leadership Statement?

Apr 23, 2023

A personal leadership statement is an important exercise in self-knowledge that clarifies a leader’s purpose, values, and beliefs about who they are as a leader and how they lead others.  The process begins with identifying the core experiences and role models that have influenced their leadership. When finished, this statement helps leaders be more congruent, aligned with their core values and principles, and reflective of how others see them in their leadership role.

That Vision Thing

Most executives I know are skilled at the ‘we’ vision – that which inspires an organization, major donors or investors, and stakeholders . They’ve helped create it, they live and breathe it, and are truly accomplished at galvanizing others around that ‘we’ vision. In fact, no smart leader would consider developing a strategic or business plan without having this in place first.

Yet few leaders have clarified their personal leadership statement (PLS). Which makes me wonder – if leaders consider the ‘we’ vision vital to organizational success, why don’t they think it’s equally vital to have one for themselves? I’m not sure there’s a good answer to this question.  What I do know is developing a personal leadership statement is an important exercise in self-knowledge.  Having one is something that separates great leaders from mediocre ones. It’s why my coaching clients develop one during their coaching program with me.

Why is a Personal Leadership Statement important?

It’s a strategic message that clarifies a leader’s purpose, values, and beliefs about who they are as a leader and how they lead others. A personal leadership statement helps you:

• Be more congruent , aligned with your core values and principles.
• Show up in influencing moments as who you really are – not who you think you should be as a leader.
• Be more intentional  in your leadership.
• Build more trust and respect between you and your team.

What do you believe about leadership?

When I first ask this question, typically my clients can’t answer it. Or, they stumble through an answer and discover they don’t have much clarity because they haven’t given it much consideration. When leaders answer this question, they articulate their core purpose and values , their intentions and expectations , as well as something very authentic about who they are . Their leadership vision becomes an anchor for their leadership credibility.

How to develop your Personal Leadership Statement

There are several ways to develop your personal leadership statement .  You can draw or collage it.  When I work with clients, I use a process that combines journaling with visual techniques. I’ve learned that many clients find it helpful to write down their ideas first, then think them ‘out loud’.  Because the way we write and the way we speak is different – and ultimately, you want to share your PLS with others . Finally, I help clients embody their PLS. What I mean by this is that you have to demonstrate  ‘who you are’ as a leader through your physical body. When a client is ready for this step, we have a coaching session or two with horses .  I am consistently amazed and delighted at how the experience of speaking your vision while leading a horse truly helps people embody what is important to them, peel away what is not, and claim their leadership presence.

Questions to get you started

Below are some of the questions I ask clients as part of the PLS process.  Few can answer them off the top of their heads and often find it a challenge. They often discover that the answers to these questions inevitably generate more questions, require a great deal of thought, and yield, in the end, rich and varied answers.

• What is your core purpose as a leader? Why are you here, doing what you do? Why would anyone want to be led by you?
• Who are your leadership role models and what did you learn from them? Who is your inspiration? What three or four critical events in your life shaped your beliefs about leadership? What do you know to be true about exceptional leaders?
• What do you believe about leading and motivating people? What values and principles are reflected in your plans, decisions, and actions when leading others?
• What can people expect from you? What are your intentions and commitments? How do you set an example?
• What do you expect from your people?

Personal leadership statement example

Hadley Morrow started coaching with me after they were first promoted to a management position. Finding their leadership voice was important to Hadley, so we worked on their personal leadership vision statement. One of the great things about Hadley’s statement is its flexibility . Hadley can work with the whole document or use sections of the document, depending on the setting. For example, Hadley may tell their whole story when speaking at Rotary. When onboarding new staff, they may use Purpose and Values, What I Expect From You, or What You Can Expect From Me. Recently, Hadley was promoted to Director of Equity and Engagement at Better Health Together . Read their Personal leadership statement.

Do you have a personal leadership statement? 

If so, I hope you’ll share it with me and with others. If not, give me a call at  (425) 488-7747 . I’m offering a special PLS package to new clients. In six sessions , you’ll have clarity and focus around your core leadership purpose, values, expectations, and commitments.

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How to Write a Leadership Statement

Online Business and Entrepreneurship / August 2, 2023 by Lori Ballen / Leave a Comment

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Imagine having a compass that not only directs your leadership journey but also aligns your team with your vision, values, and approach. This powerful tool is a leadership statement. It’s a dynamic document that captures your unique leadership philosophy and the critical skills you believe are essential for effective leadership. Leveraging this document, you can seamlessly orient new team members, enlighten stakeholders about your management style, and provide a robust framework for your personal growth as a leader. It’s more than just a statement; it’s your leadership identity penned down to inspire and guide.

Table of Contents

When writing your leadership statement, it is important to be clear and concise. Your statement should highlight your beliefs about the fundamental nature of leadership and the skills and traits you think are essential for success. You may also want to discuss your own experiences as a leader and how you have developed your own approach to management.

Here is an example:

[I believe that leadership is about servanthood. It is not about being in charge or having the most power but about using your position to help others reach their goals. I think the key skills for a leader are empathy, communication, and problem-solving. I have found that listening to others and considering their feedback is essential for building trust and creating successful teams. I also believe that it is crucial to adapt to changing circumstances and be proactive in addressing problems before they become too big.]

When drafting your leadership statement, remember to be authentic and honest. This document should reflect your own beliefs and values, not those of someone else. Be sure

The following tips can help you write a leadership statement that reflects your beliefs and values:

1. Define Leadership

The first step in writing a leadership statement is to define what you believe leadership is. What are the essential qualities of a good leader? What do you think the primary purpose of leadership is? Once you clearly understand what leadership is, you can start outlining your beliefs about it.

Example of leadership defined:

Leadership is the ability to inspire others to achieve a common goal. A good leader must be able to empathize with their followers, communicate effectively, and problem-solve collaboratively.

2. Outline Your Philosophy

Your leadership statement should express your personal philosophy on leadership. What do you believe are the most important skills and traits for a leader to possess? What is your management style? How do you approach problem-solving? Defining your personal philosophy will help you articulate your beliefs about leadership clearly and concisely.

I believe that the most important skills for a leader are the ability to motivate and inspire others, think strategically, and make sound decisions under pressure. My management style is based on trust and collaboration. I approach problem-solving by considering all possible solutions and choosing the best one based on the situation and the team’s abilities.

3. Discuss Your Experiences

Your leadership statement should also include a discussion of your own experiences as a leader. What challenges have you faced? What successes have you achieved? What lessons have you learned along the way? Sharing your experiences will help readers understand how you developed your approach to leadership and why you believe it is effective.

“I have been a leader in both the military and the business world, and I have learned that success requires a combination of vision, planning, and execution. I am always looking for ways to improve my skills as a leader, and I am constantly seeking new challenges. I believe that this approach has helped me achieve success in both my professional and personal life.”

4. Be Concise

A leadership statement should be brief and to the point. You don’t need to include every detail about your beliefs or experiences; a few succinct paragraphs will suffice. Keep in mind that your statement will likely be read by a variety of people, so it is important to communicate your ideas clearly and effectively.

As a leader, I am committed to creating a safe and welcoming environment for all members of my team. I believe that every individual deserves the opportunity to reach their full potential, and I will work tirelessly to support them in achieving their goals. I am also passionate about encouraging creativity and innovation, and I believe that these are essential ingredients for success in any organization.

5. Be Authentic

When drafting your leadership statement, remember to be authentic and honest. This document should reflect your own beliefs and values, not those of someone else. Be sure to avoid clichés and generalizations; instead, focus on sharing specific examples that illustrate your beliefs about leadership.

“I believe that a leader should always put their followers first. They should be willing to listen to their concerns and understand their point of view. A good leader understands that the key to success is building a team that is committed to the same goal.”

5. Edit Carefully

Once you have written your leadership statement, take the time to edit it carefully. Make sure that all of your points are clear and that there is a logical flow to your argument. Check for grammar and spelling errors, and make sure that the tone of your statement is appropriate for its intended audience.

The best way to edit your leadership statement is to get someone else to look at it. Ask a friend, family member, or teacher to read it over and give you feedback. They can help you make sure your statement is clear, concise, and error-free.

Use Grammarly to check for spelling, grammar errors , and improve your sentence structure.

6. Practice Makes Perfect

Once you have written and edited your leadership statement, it is important to practice reading it aloud. This will help you to ensure that your ideas are communicated clearly and effectively. It is also a good idea to practice with different audiences. You may want to try reading your statement in front of a small group of friends or family members, or you may want to give a presentation about your leadership beliefs to a larger audience.

No matter who you are speaking to, it is important to be prepared and to practice your presentation ahead of time. This will help ensure that your message is communicated effectively and that you make a positive impression on your audience.

Now that you know how to write a leadership statement, it’s time to get started! The best way to get started is to brainstorm some of your beliefs about leadership. Once you have a list of ideas, start drafting your statement. Be sure to edit it carefully and practice reading it aloud. With a little bit of hard work, you can create a leadership statement that will impress your audience.

What is a Leadership Statement?

A leadership statement, also known as a leadership philosophy, is a clear and concise manifesto that illustrates your leadership qualities, beliefs, values, and ideals as a leader. It reflects your leadership style and gives an overview of how you manage or intend to manage and lead teams.

Why is a Leadership Statement Important?

A leadership statement is important because it not only guides your actions and behaviors as a leader but also communicates your leadership style to your team. This clarity helps to build trust and understanding between you and your team members. Moreover, it helps to maintain consistency in your leadership, ensuring everyone knows what to expect and can work smoothly under your guidance.

How to Start Writing a Leadership Statement?

Begin by brainstorming and reflecting on your leadership experiences, values, behavior, and motivations. Think about the leaders you admire and identify what qualities they have that resonate with you. Consider the feedback you’ve received in past leadership roles, and assess what methods have worked well and what areas need improvement. All these reflections will serve as a basis for writing your leadership statement.

How Often Should a Leadership Statement be Revised?

Your leadership statement should include your core leadership values, your definition of success, your communication style, your approach to decision-making, your beliefs about motivation, how you handle conflict, and the expectations you have from your team. However, remember to keep it concise and focused.

Can a Leadership Statement be too long?

Yes, a leadership statement can be too long. Your statement should be concise and to the point. Typically, a leadership statement should not be more than two pages. If it is significantly longer, consider revising to focus solely on the key points of your leadership philosophy

How is a Leadership Statement different from a Leadership Vision?

While a leadership statement delves into your values, style, and approach as a leader, a leadership vision is more about the future. It encapsulates your long-term goals and aspirations for your team or organization, supplying the bigger picture for where you want to lead your team or organization in the future. Both are crucial parts of effective leadership, with one focusing on the ‘how’ (leadership statement) and the other on the ‘where’ (leadership vision).

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Leadership Personal Statements Samples For Students

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Do you feel the need to examine some previously written Personal Statements on Leadership before you start writing an own piece? In this open-access catalog of Leadership Personal Statement examples, you are given an exciting opportunity to discover meaningful topics, content structuring techniques, text flow, formatting styles, and other academically acclaimed writing practices. Applying them while crafting your own Leadership Personal Statement will surely allow you to finish the piece faster.

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Over the past few years, I have attained a blend of diverse scientific knowledge, time management and analytical skills. Being born in a period where science thrives and is persistently employed as a foundation to resolve all individual’s problems, I yearn for the knowledge it bestows. Life as a student at University of Dammam, Saudi Arabia, brought rewards and challenges that I think promoted and contributed volumes of positive effort into my temperament.

Personal Statement On Application for MBA degree at University of Louisville

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Choosing a proper and successful lifetime career path is not an easy task to accomplish. Curriculum Vitae is considered to be the first step while starting any career – only in case you can make a prominent CV self-presentation demonstrating appropriate skills and abilities, as well as experience, you have a chance to acquire a perfect career of your dream. Considering all this, I decided to take a Curriculum plus unit as a means to enhance and develop my resume as well as realize my personal and professional skills, work on them and improve them in the process of studying.

Free Personal Statement On Good Business Leaders Create A Vision, Articulate The Vision

Islamic arts: my dream, my vision.

passionately own the vision, and relentless drive it to completion.”

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On most occasions, when I look at myself in a mirror I never cease to recognize a change in how look-not physically but professionally. In less than five years, I have transformed from being an individual who was by all means clueless of what he would want to become into an overly focused individual with an unfeigned interest in business administration. I graduated from college five years ago with a degree in MIS major.

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Marketing has become a key issue in the 21 st century because of new developments and advancements taking place in the modern society. The consumers and marketers have are progressing and continuing to be diverse and complex. The old traditional marketing techniques are inefficient and are unable to satisfy the requirements of these individuals in the business world. Factors that have contributed to the decline in basic marketing strategies include development of new technology and cultural changes that have generated a disjointed market.

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Leadership Personal Statement Example

by Talha Omer, MBA, M.Eng., Harvard & Cornell Grad

In personal statement prompts.

Graduate schools, especially Business schools, require prospective applicants to write an essay exhibiting their leadership capabilities. The leadership personal statement aims to know about the candidate’s ability to lead and manage others.

While writing this essay, you must provide a real example where you demonstrated leadership and, as a result, made an impact and created value. A good leadership personal statement should also discuss any challenges you faced as a leader and what you learned from that experience. This essay helps admissions committees see whether you align with the graduate school’s core values and principles.

Here is an example of a leadership personal statement that helped the applicant get into top business schools in the US.

Sample Leadership Personal Statement for Graduate School

I initiated a project named  ‘Lightening up the Lives’   to provide cheap power for households of the country’s biggest slum – the Nagasi colony, having 20,000+ minorities living without electricity. The low-income level of the colony dwellers left them without access to government-supplied electrical connections, which had high installation costs and tariffs. Additionally, the residents could not borrow from conventional banks without any collateral. Living in the heart of the country, the irony of their helplessness triggered the desire in me to create meaningful change in their lives.

I realized that solar energy could solve these people’s problems, given ample sunlight availability and lower installation costs. So I approached First Electric (Pvt) Ltd, the largest solar panel supplier in the world, for support on a pilot project. But the management’s risk averseness due to no collateral on offer became a stumbling block.

I proposed a customized microfinance strategy that made First Electric’s management more confident. First, I proposed leveraging community trust and referrals. Once people offered to finance started paying, new people were provided the funding that directly correlated with the number of new invitations. This way, the financed people had pressure from the colony to pay on time to avail of new financing.

I soon realized the limitation of this strategy as it would take years to lighten up the whole slum. I then approached different NGOs and other possible financing channels to fast-track the process. Despite being given cold shoulders by more than 20 such organizations, I found a ray of hope with USAID. USAID was initially unwilling to participate in the project due to politico-legal reasons. However, after multiple meetings with the management, I convinced them to do a pilot project. I connected USAID to First Electric, negotiated discounted offers for the panels, and with the initial USAID grant, I was able to provide solar panels to 250+ families within six months.

It was a challenging time that tested my patience and resolve. However, I learned creative problem-solving with my never-say-die attitude, which helped me face rejection. I also learned the power of effective communication and how teamwork can achieve higher goals.

The happiness I created in the lives of people who had given up hope of having electricity in their homes is a proud achievement. However, the recognition I received from State Minority Minister was truly humbling as he said: “You are a perfect example of courage, innovation, and determination. I do not doubt if God gives you more strength, you can change the fate of many.”

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Describe a Challenge you Faced and How you Overcame it? Sample Essay for Personal Statement

The following essay was written by a business school applicant who was admitted to top B-schools in the US. It was aimed to answer a personal statement question: Describe a Challenge you Faced and How you Overcame it? This question is asked by some top schools and the...

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25 Things You Don’t Know About Me

If you’re applying to a top Business school like Duke, then, as part of the personal statement, you will have to write a listicle on "25 Things You Don't Know About Me" or "25 Random Things". Here is an example written by a student who got into Duke. This sample will...

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10 Inspiring Personal Leadership Legacy Statement Examples

By knbbs-sharer.

Have you ever thought about what your legacy as a leader will be? Your personal leadership legacy statement is a powerful way to articulate the impact you want to have on others. It serves as a guiding light for your leadership journey, embodying the values, principles, and actions that define who you are as a leader. In this article, we’ll explore 10 inspiring personal leadership legacy statement examples to inspire your own.

Your Personal Leadership Legacy Statement

Before we dive into the examples, it’s essential to understand what a personal leadership legacy statement is and why it matters. Your legacy statement is a purposeful and forward-thinking statement that reflects who you are as a leader and what you hope to achieve. It helps you stay focused, motivated, and accountable in the face of challenges, and serves as a reminder of your leadership purpose. A well-crafted personal leadership statement can also inspire others, enhancing team cohesion and performance.

10 Inspiring Examples of Personal Leadership Legacy Statements

1. “I lead with my heart, inspiring those around me to reach their full potential and achieve their dreams.”

2. “I am a servant leader, committed to removing barriers to success and empowering others to achieve their goals.”

3. “My leadership is defined by my commitment to authenticity, trust, and transparency, creating an environment where people feel safe and empowered to speak their truth.”

4. “I am a visionary leader, constantly seeking new ways to innovate, disrupt, and challenge the status quo.”

5. “My leadership embodies empathy, compassion, and respect, creating a culture of inclusivity and belonging where everyone feels valued and heard.”

6. “I lead by example, modeling the behaviors and values I want to see in others, and encouraging them to do the same.”

7. “My leadership is rooted in my commitment to personal growth and development, inspiring others to continuously learn, grow, and evolve.”

8. “I am a purpose-driven leader, passionate about creating positive change in the world and leaving a lasting impact on those I serve.”

9. “My leadership style is characterized by agility, adaptability, and resilience, enabling me to navigate complex challenges and lead my team through change.”

10. “I am a collaborative leader, committed to building strong partnerships and networks across the organization to achieve shared goals and objectives.”

Your personal leadership legacy statement is a powerful tool for articulating your leadership purpose and motivating others to achieve their full potential. The examples above represent just a few of the many ways you can craft an inspiring statement that reflects your unique leadership style and values. Remember to keep it authentic, purpose-driven, and forward-thinking, and use it as a compass to guide your leadership journey.

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What are Leadership Vision Statements? 10+ Examples to Help Build Yours

How to find your leadership vision, what is a leadership vision statement, a few more examples of vision statements for leadership development are:, bonus: leadership vision statement template (free).

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What is a leadership vision?

• Inspiration: It should inspire and ignite the passion of followers, instilling a sense of purpose and commitment towards achieving the vision.
• Clarity: The vision must be clear and easy to understand, leaving no room for ambiguity or confusion among team members.
• Authenticity: A compelling leadership vision reflects the leader’s genuine beliefs and values, earning trust and credibility from followers.

Leadership Vision Examples to Inspire You!

• Martin Luther King Jr.:  A prominent civil rights leader, Martin Luther King Jr.’s vision was of a future where racial equality and justice prevailed. His famous “I Have a Dream” speech articulated this vision, inspiring millions to join the civil rights movement. His unwavering commitment to nonviolent protests and his powerful words rallied people from all walks of life to fight for civil rights, leading to significant legislative changes and advancements in racial equality.
• Mahatma Gandhi:  Gandhi’s vision was of an independent India, free from British rule and oppression. His principle of nonviolent resistance, called Satyagraha, inspired Indians to stand up against the British government through civil disobedience. Gandhi’s leadership brought unity among diverse groups and galvanized the nation to work towards independence, eventually leading to India gaining freedom in 1947.
• Nelson Mandela:  Mandela’s vision was of a South Africa free from apartheid and racial discrimination. He advocated for reconciliation and forgiveness, emphasizing the importance of unity among all South Africans. His leadership during the transition to democracy and his commitment to peaceful coexistence helped establish a foundation for a more inclusive and democratic South Africa.

• Think of yourself: To find your vision, look within. Start by reflecting on your values, beliefs, and personal goals. Consider what inspires and motivates you as a leader. What do you stand for, and what do you want to achieve as a manager?
• Think of your team: In the next step, dive deeper into the goals and defining ideas of your team. What brings all of you together? What are the ultimate goals, and how do you want to achieve them? Consider the good, bad, and ugly aspects of your team. 
• Identify your values and goals: Our personal values are the bedrock of our actions. As a team, plans are central to our journey. Thus, both are critical in eventually understanding our vision. Think along these to identify what ultimately matters regarding the objectives and pathways.
• Seek inspiration and help: Not everything might be clear from the get-go, and that’s okay! You can look at examples of leaders who inspire you and who have achieved something that you wish. You can also consult your peers and coaches to develop a more well-rounded vision. 
• Craft a leadership vision statement: In the final step, it’s time to put the vision into words. A leadership vision statement summarizes the leader’s guiding ideas and goals for the team. It can also help you remember your values in tough times. While your vision continues to evolve, a written statement offers stability.

Examples of Leadership Vision Statements for Managers

“Our vision is to create a team where every individual has the opportunity to reach their full potential through innovative and inclusive leadership.” “As a team leader, my vision is to foster a culture of continuous improvement, where we embrace challenges, learn from failures, and celebrate our collective successes.”

“We strive to be a leader in our industry, driving change and growth through a commitment to excellence and a focus on customer satisfaction.” “I aspire to lead a team that embraces challenges as opportunities, believes in our collective potential, and never settles for mediocrity.”

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“Our vision is to build a sustainable future for all, where businesses and communities can thrive together in harmony with the environment.” “With a steadfast commitment to sustainability, our leadership envisions a future where businesses and communities thrive, hand in hand, fostering a harmonious coexistence with nature.”

“We aim to empower and inspire our team members to reach new heights, fostering a culture of creativity, collaboration, and continuous improvement.” “My vision as a manager is to create a collaborative and innovative team where every member feels valued, empowered, and inspired to achieve their full potential.”

“To be a leading global organization that delivers value to our customers, shareholders, and communities through innovation, operational excellence, and corporate responsibility.” “My goal as a team leader is to create a positive and nurturing work environment that encourages creativity, fosters personal growth, and promotes work-life balance.”

• “To cultivate a leadership culture that empowers individuals at all levels to embrace their potential, lead with integrity, and drive positive transformation within our organization and beyond.”
• “To create a leadership development journey that encourages self-awareness, fosters a growth mindset, and empowers our leaders to bring out the best in themselves and their teams.”
• “To create a leadership development ecosystem that fosters continuous learning, embraces diversity, and cultivates leaders who are agile, adaptable, and future-ready.”
• “We envision a leadership development program that empowers our team members to become authentic, empathetic, and purpose-driven leaders, guiding our organization towards sustainable success.”
• “Our goal is to build a leadership pipeline that identifies and nurtures emerging leaders, fostering a culture of mentorship and growth that sustains our organization’s long-term success.”

• Start with the phrase “Our vision is to…” or something similar to clarify the statement’s object.
• Clearly state the main goal or purpose of the organization or team in terms of leadership.
• Use specific and measurable language that describes the desired outcome.
• Include key themes or values that align with the leadership vision.
• End with a call to action or a commitment to get your team going.

Deeksha, with a solid educational background in human resources, bridges the gap between your goals and you with valuable insights and strategies within leadership development. Her unique perspectives, powered by voracious reading, lead to thoughtful pieces that tie conventional know-how and innovative approaches together to enable success for management professionals.

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How To Develop A Leadership Philosophy (With Examples)

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Developing a leadership philosophy will help you become a better and more effective leader . There are several main leadership philosophies that most people follow to determine their leadership style. You might know of these leadership philosophies and decide to model your leadership off of them, or you naturally developed your leadership style, and it matches one of these methods.

No matter what stage of your career you’re in, what industry you’re in, or what your career goals are, knowing the leadership philosophy you follow is an important tool. In this article, we’ll go over how to develop a leadership philosophy, provide leadership philosophy examples, as well as some tips to keep in mind when writing your philosophy.

Key Takeaways:

A leadership philosophy depends on your personal values as well as environmental factors

Clarifying your leadership philosophy will make you a better leader.

Leadership philosophy examples include: solution-based leadership, democratic leadership, and transactional leadership.

To develop your leadership philosophy consider how you work currently, what your goals are, and examine leaders you admire.

What is a leadership philosophy?

How to develop a leadership philosophy, leadership philosophy examples, examples of personal leadership philosophies, why should you review examples of leadership philosophies, leadership philosophy faq.

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Leadership philosophies are based on several things, including character, beliefs, emotions, and principles. To create an outline of how someone acts as a leader, you can follow a leadership principle on a personal level, referring to how you are as a leader. This can also be mandated on a company or organizational level, meaning an organization encourages employees to lead in a certain way.

Leadership has different ways of approaching and tackling different situations. Each person views it differently and acts as a leader in different ways. Using leadership philosophies is a way to distill those differences and make sense of the ways people can act as leaders.

Though it seems technical or advanced, leadership philosophies are more like guidelines than rules set in stone. You can relate to multiple leadership styles and switch up your leadership since the philosophies don’t have to be adhered to. Think of it as a way to classify types of leadership and a method to help you frame how you approach leadership.

While they’re not formalized in nature, you should take time to consider your leadership philosophy and write it down. Sometimes a potential employer will ask to know your leadership philosophy, but it’s still mainly a tool for you. Taking the time to sit down, think, and write about your take on leadership can prepare you for tackling a leadership role in the future.

You can use it as a reference when you need to figure out how to approach a challenging leadership problem .

To develop a leadership philosophy, you should first figure out your leadership style, think about how you work currently, and think about what you want your future to be. Below is a more detailed list of how to develop a leadership style.

Find your leadership style. Along with leadership philosophies, leadership styles are important in understanding how you lead.

Think about how you work currently. To start, you should consider how you lead presently or how you’ve led in the past. Your most effective leadership philosophy will be one that feels natural to you, so starting with what you already do is a great start.

Think about your future. How do you want to be perceived as a leader? Thinking about the future of your leadership and skills is a good way to get on a path that will lead you there. Consider how you would like to lead in the future and how you want to work with your team.

Talk with other leaders. Getting advice from other leaders is a great way to think about your leadership values. Ask them about how they lead and what general principles they bring to all of their leadership roles .

Consider your goals . Think about where you want to be in the future and how you can get there. Your leadership goals should fall in line with your broader career and life goals, so make sure everything is consistent.

Think about your personal values. At the end of the day, leadership philosophies are extremely personal and reflect who you are. Turning to your values is a good way to incorporate your beliefs into the way you lead others.

Find leaders you admire. Just like looking at leadership philosophies can help you determine your personal perspective. Looking at the leadership styles of leaders you admire can help you find what you like.

Some examples of leadership examples include solution-based leadership and democratic leadership. You can deviate from these and develop something new, or you can choose to incorporate elements of one or a few in your personal statement .

There’s no wrong way to lead, and these are just a few common examples of leadership philosophies:

Solution-based leadership. You can look at a challenge as a problem or an opportunity to find a great solution . People who see it the second way can be solution-based leaders who look for good solutions instead of worrying about the problem at hand.

Democratic leadership. If you believe in hearing every voice in the room, democratic leadership might be for you. As the leader, you can consult everyone and weigh their opinions equally before making a decision. But, since you’re in charge, you can ultimately decide the next step.

Transformational leadership. Setting goals, finding paths to success, and working collaboratively with a team are central to transformational leadership. These leaders want to help their team grow and evolve as everyone works together.

Learning leadership. Some people like to approach leadership as an opportunity to learn. Instead of acting like a leader who got there because of their existing knowledge, they approach every situation as a chance to learn more and expand their horizons.

Laissez-faire leadership. If you like being hands-off and leaving people to do what they do best, laissez-faire leadership might be your style. Typically, these leaders act as a final “okay” or a resource for help when team members get stuck, but they don’t hover or force people to do things their way.

Transactional leadership. Sometimes people work harder when they know they’ll get something good in the end. This is the basis for transactional leadership, which uses rewards to motivate people to work toward a common goal. Think of things like bonuses , promotions, raises , and other rewards for employees who contribute to a project or goal.

Autocratic leadership. Almost the opposite of laissez-faire leadership is autocratic leadership, where the leader wants to oversee most, if not all, of a team’s work. People who are control freaks tend toward this style, but that’s not a bad thing.

Take a look over these personal leadership philosophy examples to see which one resonates with you the most. Note that your personal leadership style doesn’t have to adhere to the exact language of these examples. Instead, use them as inspiration for writing your own leadership philosophy.

Solutions-based leadership philosophy example

Challenges at work represent new opportunities for growth and development. I consider the long-term goals of our company and team, then reverse-engineer a plan for how to get there. I look forward to solving problems together by applying our collective knowledge.

Democratic leadership philosophy example

While it’s important to have clear guidelines and definitive goals, I believe that everyone on my team should have a voice in determining those guidelines and goals. Furthermore, I encourage a diversity of opinions on any topic and think that the best results come from people who have a say on what they’re working on and how they work on it.

Transformational leadership philosophy example

Failure to evolve leads to stagnation and eventually depreciation. New ideas are the life blood success. I motivate my team members with long-shot goal setting to encourage a belief in radical transformation. Additionally, I commit myself to providing the necessary tools and time to allow for my team to grow their skill sets.

Learning leadership philosophy example

Being a leader means being a jack-of-all-trades who can adapt quickly to new ideas. I approach new challenges as exciting opportunities to expand the skill set of my team and myself. I encourage my employees to explore extra learning opportunities outside of their normal responsibilities and provide resources for them to do so.

Laissez-faire leadership philosophy example

I trust my team to know how to do their jobs correctly. They’re experts who make great decisions and can solve problems on their own. I like to set big-picture goals and provide a vision that everyone can get behind, but I stay out of the way when it’s time for tasks to be carried out.

Transactional leadership philosophy example

My team responds to financial incentives more than anything else, so I use bonuses, commissions, raises, and promotions to motivate my team to success. I foster a competitive spirit that pushes everyone to reach for their highest potential. Finally, I make sure that the metrics I institute make sense and incentivize the right sort of behavior.

Autocratic leadership philosophy example

Decision-making takes too long and ends up with soft, difficult-to-apply polices when too many people are involved. I will make all of the important decisions and delegate a handful of other key stakeholders as decision-makers as well. Most employees will have to follow our examples and guidelines and trust that we’ll lead them to a successful outcome.

Reviewing examples of leadership philosophies will not only will you better understand the format of leadership philosophies when you review examples, but you’ll also get a chance to see how other people see leadership. You might find points you agree with or some that you hate, and they’re all valuable.

You can choose to model your personal philosophy after others or decide that you want to do the opposite of what someone else did.

Having access to other people’s leadership philosophies can help you formulate your own better than if you were on your own. Taking inspiration from others can help you decide how you want to be as a leader. It’s like thinking back to a leader you admire and trying to capture what you love about them in your own leadership style.

This doesn’t mean you should take your leadership style from someone else. It’s actually the opposite. You should strive to create a unique leadership philosophy that feels like your own, but of course, you can take inspiration from other people.

Why is a leadership philosophy important?

A leadership philosophy is important because it clarifies the objectives of a leader. A leadership philosophy is a framework which you can build off of. This helps provide consistency, that is a huge factor in good leadership. Knowing your leadership philosophy can also help during difficult times, especially in situations where you may need to either adjust or reinforce your leadership style.

What makes a good leader philosophy?

Regardless of philosophy, a good leader will help everyone produce their best work possible. To do this, a good leader must combine the skills of delegation, communication, structure, vision, decision-making, empathy, and inspiration. All of these skills combine to make a leader who can move their team to success.

Do I need a leadership philosophy?

Yes, if you are a leader, you should have a leadership philosophy. Not only will the philosophy provide you with direction or allow you to answer leadership-based interview questions , but it will also give you a great way to communicate with your team. By knowing your philosophy you can set clear goals and expectations.

What does a leadership philosophy look like?

A leadership philosophy is a belief system that helps guide your decision-making. Since leadership has different ways of approaching and tackling different situations, leadership philosophies will help people use their own personal viewpoints to lead. They are more like guidelines than a set of rules you have to follow.

PennState Extension – Tips for Developing a Personal leadership Philosophy

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Amanda is a writer with experience in various industries, including travel, real estate, and career advice. After taking on internships and entry-level jobs, she is familiar with the job search process and landing that crucial first job. Included in her experience is work at an employer/intern matching startup where she marketed an intern database to employers and supported college interns looking for work experience.

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Inspiring Personal Leadership Philosophy Examples

Personal leadership philosophy examples can be inspiring.

You see, taking the lead can be challenging. You have a bunch of people who look up to you and all the while, you need to be completely sure of where YOU want to be headed. In short, it’s all a matter of personal leadership.

In order for you to make an impact, a significant one, you need to reach a certain level of self-awareness. This can be achieved by writing down a personal leadership philosophy.

What is a Personal Leadership Philosophy (PLP)?

Because we’re talking about “personal” philosophy, it’s worth considering that everybody follows a distinct way of life hence your philosophy may be distinct. Basically, one’s philosophy may vary from person to person. From this, we can gauge that a PLP is all about gaining clarity and fostering ideas and relationships that are aligned with our goals. It’s about having a solid core that will steer you towards the right destination.

After all, leaders must embrace a particular mindset to garner positive results and achieve meaningful outcomes.

How to Write Leadership Philosophy: Key Components

With the above guidelines, it should be clear that developing a leadership philosophy is all about setting guiding principles to inspire others. As a leader, your first step is to create a model including certain qualities, behaviors, and attitudes that will define your leadership philosophy. Your document should include the following key components:

Start by defining what leadership means to you to answer any questions that your employees may have. For instance, Democratic leaders believe that everybody on the team has the right to voice their opinions. This form of leadership is based on equality where everybody is given mutual respect with the right to voice their opinions. On the other hand, some leaders may prefer a more authoritative approach. They believe in establishing control and are thus not too keen on the idea of sharing authority.

An Attitude

What’s your mindset and what values are you trying to communicate? There should be a certain amount of consistency that will dictate your reactions. Everything you do should have a reason and should be a product of your thoughts and ideology. Mapping all this down will help team members approach your leadership in a better way.

Decide what behaviors you’d like to showcase to bring harmony and achieve desired results. Your behavior will work as guiding principles for everyone else to follow.

Leadership Philosophy Examples

To give you a clearer idea, we have created a few leadership philosophy examples.

Profile: CEO & President

My personal leadership philosophy is based on establishing mutual trust with everybody in my team to reach company targets. I believe that sharing my personal leadership philosophy will help my team develop an understanding of what I expect from them. Above all, I believe that following these principles will allow me to positively impact the lives of those around me.

My leadership philosophy:

• Earning credibility by putting my utmost attention and efforts towards the success of my company and meeting all assigned targets.
• Setting achievable and measurable goals for my team members.
• Expressing gratitude and acknowledging efforts that contribute to the progress of the entire team.
• Setting a positive example by making sure that all actions are aligned with prerequisite values.
• Finding ways to improve office culture and create a positive working environment.
• Applauding integrity and company loyalty and rewarding those who play a critical role in steering the company to success.
• Communication: Possessing excellent verbal and written communication skills  avoid errors and mistakes. It also reduces the chances of misunderstandings which can be a threat to the overall success of the organization.
• Trust: Establishing trust is key to running a successful organization. It is earned by diligently completing tasks and objectives without excuses and failure.
• Credibility: Fulfilling commitments and delivering what has been promised. This not only exhibits brilliant work ethics but also establishes trust in the organization.

I expect team members to:

• Possess a can-do attitude in the face of challenges and difficult times.
• Work collectively to meet expectations and achieve desired goals that are beneficial for the company.
• Focus on working as a team to complete tasks whilst showing respect to each and every member of the team.
• Be honest in all their dealings and complete tasks in a timely manner.
• Resolve conflicts immediately with the utmost professionalism.
• Consistently provide feedback, ask questions and come up with solutions if necessary.
• Brainstorm ideas and take initiative.

I disapprove:

• Negligence of work and duties that would hamper the performance of the entire team.
• Misusing authority to reap personal benefits and exploiting company resources.
• Being disrespectful towards members of the team and customers.
• Lying to cover up errors and being dishonest.

Leadership Philosophy Examples: Conclusion

Writing all these pointers down will aid communication and will show team members how you value their time. Have something to add? Tell us about it in the comment section below.

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14 examples of effective SMART personal leadership goals

Last updated

19 December 2023

Reviewed by

Warren Jonas ACC

You’ve probably noticed that some leaders do things differently to others. Some of those things make them very effective in their roles. But can you pinpoint exactly what makes them such a successful leader?

Good leaders tend to be clear, cool-headed, inspiring, and supportive. Crucially, they are also effective at rallying a team around a common vision and mission. None of this happens by accident. Effective leaders tend to set themselves leadership goals to continually improve and give more value to their teams.

• What are personal leadership goals?

Unlike business objectives and targets, leadership goals are goals managers set themselves to improve their communication, interpersonal relationships, empathy, motivation skills, and overall effectiveness as a manager.

This can help improve teams by encouraging them to perform better, achieve milestones, and produce better products or services. It can also foster a sense of empowerment in team members, strengthening their resolve and confidence to do their best work.

Ideally, goals set by leaders should cascade through the organization, ensuring the aspirations of top executives are aligned with the broader goals of the entire business.

• What are SMART goals?

The acronym SMART can be used to set goals that are more specific and relevant. It can also motivate you to achieve those goals.

SMART stands for:

Specific: it’s important to be clear about what you want to achieve. Make sure your goal is clearly defined so you can easily work toward it.

Measurable: a goal should be measurable so you can determine whether you have achieved it.

Achievable: set goals that are challenging but not so big they cause you to feel overwhelmed.

Relevant: any goals you set should align with your values, interests, and long-term objectives.

Time-bound: it’s helpful to set a time limit on your goals to ensure you’ll stay motivated to achieve them.

• Why are leadership SMART goals important?

It’s helpful to have yardsticks you can use to measure your progress when it comes to self-improvement. Setting goals that are too vague or have no time limit can lead to subpar results or forgetting the goals altogether.

SMART leadership goals can help you to:

Boost success : SMART goals stretch you but are achievable, meaning you’re more likely to actually succeed.

Have accountability : SMART goals are set out clearly without ambiguity, so you can easily tell whether you have achieved them. This can help hold you and your team accountable.

Stay motivated : setting a specific time limit on a goal can help you stay focused on the objective and determined to achieve it.

Assess effectiveness : SMART goals are measurable, so it’s easy to assess whether the goal has been effective and what changes you need to make in the future to boost the success of other goals.

• How to set leadership goals

To set leadership goals, it’s helpful to follow a few key steps. These will ensure that your goals align with your personal views, that you are motivated to achieve them, and that you’re set up for success.

Consider your values: your values impact you not just as a person but also as a leader. It’s helpful to consider what you personally care about, what matters to you most, and how you want to lead your team. This will help you set goals that align with your ideals.

Hone in on improvements: we all have things we need to work on. It’s helpful to consider core areas of improvement so that your weaknesses can slowly become strengths over time.

Break bigger goals into smaller steps : some of your leadership goals may involve a series of smaller steps. Breaking larger goals down into smaller ones can help you track your progress, keep you motivated, and make the big goal feel less intimidating.

Set out a clear pathway : setting a goal is all well and good, but you need to decide exactly how you will achieve it. Defining the precise steps you’ll need to take to deliver on the goal will help turn an idea into actionable steps.

Gain support : working toward goals on your own can be isolating. A trusted colleague, manager, life coach, or even a friend can help hold you accountable and provide the support needed to keep you motivated.

Adopt a continuous improvement mindset: no one is perfect. Adopting a continuous improvement mindset helps you recognize that while you will always have shortcomings, you’re open to working on those areas for the team’s benefit.

• Three types of leadership goals

Many leadership goals can help you improve your effectiveness. Some of the most common types include strategic thinking, boosting soft skills, and advancing technical know-how.

1. Strategic thinking

Having an overall vision and mission is critical, regardless of the organization you work for. Developing leadership goals related to strategic thinking can help you support that vision while helping your team get there, too.

Strategic thinking goals can also be related to making data-based decisions, adapting to trends and industry changes, continuous innovation, and problem-solving.

Any goal you set should support the business’s overall strategy to improve the work you and your team do.

2. Improving soft skills

Known as soft skills, your communication capabilities, empathy, interpersonal relationships, and teamwork can prove incredibly important as a leader.

Teams want leaders who understand their perspectives, can be motivating without being controlling or condemning, and can rally the team around a shared mission. These soft skills are more important than many might assume.

3. Technical proficiency and hard skills

Technical proficiency and hard skills are also essential for leaders. To boost your tech knowledge, taking courses, upskilling continually, and staying abreast of tech trends can be helpful.

Other hard skills such as project, business, and time management can help you perform your work to the highest standard.

• SMART leadership goals: 14 examples

You might not know where to start when setting leadership goals. To help you, we’ve created a list of examples. Use these SMART leadership goal examples as inspiration to help you create your own.

1. Boost your emotional intelligence (EQ)

Example goal: within the next three months, boost your EQ skills to help improve communication and interpersonal relationships.

Specific: EQ encompasses a range of social skills, including empathy, self-awareness, healthy relationships, and self-regulation. Increase your EQ skills via an EQ course to learn more about the importance of EQ and how to implement it as a leader.

Measurable: completing the course means you have completed this goal.

Achievable: while challenging, increasing your EQ within three months via a course is achievable.

Relevant: being able to communicate effectively with teammates, recognize other people’s points of view, maintain composure during difficult situations, and engage in healthy colleague relationships are important capabilities for leaders.

Time-bound: complete this goal within three months.

2. Become more comfortable with delegation

Example goal: to delegate 20% of tasks to competent team members within the next six months. 

Specific: delegate tasks that wouldn’t normally be passed on to decrease workload and increase leadership effectiveness.

Measurable: the percentage of tasks can be measured with a project tracking tool.

Achievable: team members need to be capable of taking on certain tasks. If not, the team may need to upskill to boost their confidence and capabilities. 

Relevant: not delegating can result in stress, overwork, and burnout, which burdens the rest of the team.

Time-bound: this goal should be completed within six months.

3. Micromanage less

Example goal: minimize micromanaging to empower the team to do their best work. 

Specific: reduce team check-ins to once-weekly updates within the next three months to give team members more ownership over their work. 

Measurable: once-weekly check-ins can be measured via a tracking platform.

Achievable: the team is trusted to take on tasks without being micromanaged. While it can be challenging to give team members space, it empowers them to do their best work.

Relevant: it’s essential to allow employees the space and time to complete tasks. Micromanaging might reduce the perception of stress and give the impression of control, but it’s likely to result in low job satisfaction for the team.

4. Become a more active listener

Example goal: in the next six months, become a more active listener with colleagues.

Specific: to become a better listener, it’s helpful to eliminate distractions when speaking to colleagues, practice empathy by imagining yourself in that person’s shoes, and provide cues so the speaker knows they are being listened to and respected.

Measurable: ask team members to complete an anonymous survey before and after attempting this goal to see whether they feel more valued and listened to.

Achievable: with practice and learning, this skill can be developed in six months.

Relevant: it’s important for leaders to make a conscious effort to listen closely to their team. This ensures they understand any concerns the team may have, lean into their interests and skills, and thrive in their role.

Time-bound: complete this goal within six months.

5. Learn to accept constructive criticism gracefully

Example goal: over the next year, work to improve how you receive constructive criticism .

Specific: ask a manager or colleague to provide areas for growth from their perspective. Acknowledge emotions, but don’t react. Try to depersonalize the feedback and realize it’s not a personal critique. Instead, it’s helpful for the team as a whole.

Measurable: keep a note of your reactions after feedback meetings to see how your acceptance grows over time.

Achievable: while challenging, learning to accept feedback without reacting will gradually get easier.

Relevant: as a leader, it’s critical that you take on criticism and use it to improve the way you work. Leaders who struggle to accept criticism can be problematic and halt their own growth.

Time-bound: complete this goal within one year.

6. Be adaptable to growth and change

Example goal: to become more flexible and adaptable to change and to recognize that change is an inevitable aspect of business.

Specific: upskill in change management over 12 months via a remote online course.

Measurable: keep note of your reactions and emotions when change arises to see whether your reactions improve over time.

Achievable: improving adaptability over a year is challenging but achievable.

Relevant: new trends emerge, the economy fluctuates, and customer expectations continually increase. Being adaptable to these changes is crucial for effective leadership.

Time-bound: complete this goal within a 12-month period.

7. Own your mistakes

Example goal: make an effort to own up to your mistakes, whether the error is something small like a missed meeting or something larger like a campaign that didn’t go to plan.

Specific: make note of when mistakes occur and whether or not you take ownership.

Measurable: you can track progress over time by taking notes of incidents.

Achievable: while it can be challenging to confront your own shortcomings, owning up to mistakes is an achievable goal.

Relevant: a leader who can take ownership and recognize their weaknesses can be seen as more relatable, trustworthy, and comfortable to work with, rather than one who finger points or deflects.

Time-bound: assess this goal over one year.

8. Become a mentor

Example goal: support less experienced team members through mentorship.

Specific: start supporting two less experienced colleagues with bi-monthly check-ins throughout the year.

Measurable: keep note of check-in sessions with colleagues to track attendance success.

Achievable: it can be challenging and even intimidating to coach other team members, but as a senior employee, you can take on two mentees with bi-monthly check-ins.

Relevant: mentorship can help you support less experienced team members, enabling them to do better in their roles. It can also support your own growth by expanding your coaching, encouragement, communication, and teaching skills.

9. Lean into your team’s strengths

Example goal: get better at collectively understanding your team’s strengths to lean into stronger attributes and help them reach their maximum potential.

Specific: complete one-to-one sessions with all team members to learn more about their skills, strengths, and preferences. Make an action plan to help the team embrace their strengths.

Measurable: keep note of the one-to-one sessions as well as the detailed action plan .

Achievable: with some perseverance, you can learn about team members’ skills and apply them to projects.

Relevant: leaning into collective strengths will help the team make progress with key goals and help team members do work they care about and are good at.

10. Improve productivity

Example goal: boost productivity over the next three months to complete more tasks quickly.

Specific: use time-blocking (where tasks are allocated a specific time block in the day) to help you focus on one task at a time.

Measurable: track projects over the next three months and compare them to the previous time period to assess productivity changes.

Achievable: ask team members not to approach you at certain times to allow time for deep work and focus. The goal will be achievable with this approach.

Relevant: to avoid stress and burnout and become a more effective leader, it’s crucial to have high productivity levels.

Time-bound: complete within three months.

11. Practice mindfulness regularly

Example goal: practice mindfulness regularly over the next 12 months.

Specific: engage in mindfulness meditation for 10 minutes every day before work begins.

Measurable: keep track of successful days via a mindfulness app.

Achievable: incorporating mindfulness into your daily life can be challenging as a busy leader. However, including just 10 minutes per day is an achievable goal.

Time-bound: complete over one year.

12. Take a business management course

Example goal: take a business management course to become a better leader and manager. 

Specific: attend a business management course over the next six months to expand your current business skill set.

Measurable: attending a course will be a simple goal to measure, but measuring whether it boosts your effectiveness as a leader will be even more useful. You can do this via project success metrics, productivity, and feedback from managers.

Achievable: completing a course within the next months may be challenging, but it’s possible. 

Relevant: extending your current management skill set can make you more valuable to your organization and team.

13. Improve your public speaking skills

Example goal: to feel more comfortable and be more effective when presenting in public.

Specific: to attend five sessions of Toastmasters to increase public speaking skills.

Measurable: measure and keep track of your Toastmasters sessions and review how comfortable you are with public speaking. You can use a numbered scale.

Achievable: many people find public speaking intimidating, but this goal is achievable with the right support and mindset.

Relevant: as a leader, being able to confidently address your team can help you lead them effectively.

Time-bound: to be completed within six months.

14. Boost your decision-making skills

Example goal: increase the accuracy of your decision-making to push the business forward.

Specific: move away from an assumptions-based mindset to data-led decision-making by implementing a data analysis tool.

Measurable: it’s simple to measure the implementation of a new tool and its use.

Achievable: adopting a data-based tool is a relatively straightforward process. The important part is having all relevant team members adopt the tool for unity and maximum impact.

Relevant: being informed by data increases the accuracy of your decisions since you back them up with evidence, not emotions. Data provides more clarity and accuracy, ultimately improving project success.

Time-bound: implement data-led decision-making within three months.

• Getting the most from SMART leadership goals

Setting SMART goals could be the critical first step in becoming a game-changing leader.

By setting goals, you are helping to boost your personal growth, making you a more effective, confident, and empathetic leader. This will help increase your team’s success and enable them to do their best work.

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NPR defends its journalism after senior editor says it has lost the public's trust

David Folkenflik

NPR is defending its journalism and integrity after a senior editor wrote an essay accusing it of losing the public's trust. Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

NPR is defending its journalism and integrity after a senior editor wrote an essay accusing it of losing the public's trust.

NPR's top news executive defended its journalism and its commitment to reflecting a diverse array of views on Tuesday after a senior NPR editor wrote a broad critique of how the network has covered some of the most important stories of the age.

"An open-minded spirit no longer exists within NPR, and now, predictably, we don't have an audience that reflects America," writes Uri Berliner.

A strategic emphasis on diversity and inclusion on the basis of race, ethnicity and sexual orientation, promoted by NPR's former CEO, John Lansing, has fed "the absence of viewpoint diversity," Berliner writes.

NPR's chief news executive, Edith Chapin, wrote in a memo to staff Tuesday afternoon that she and the news leadership team strongly reject Berliner's assessment.

"We're proud to stand behind the exceptional work that our desks and shows do to cover a wide range of challenging stories," she wrote. "We believe that inclusion — among our staff, with our sourcing, and in our overall coverage — is critical to telling the nuanced stories of this country and our world."

NPR names tech executive Katherine Maher to lead in turbulent era

She added, "None of our work is above scrutiny or critique. We must have vigorous discussions in the newsroom about how we serve the public as a whole."

A spokesperson for NPR said Chapin, who also serves as the network's chief content officer, would have no further comment.

Praised by NPR's critics

Berliner is a senior editor on NPR's Business Desk. (Disclosure: I, too, am part of the Business Desk, and Berliner has edited many of my past stories. He did not see any version of this article or participate in its preparation before it was posted publicly.)

Berliner's essay , titled "I've Been at NPR for 25 years. Here's How We Lost America's Trust," was published by The Free Press, a website that has welcomed journalists who have concluded that mainstream news outlets have become reflexively liberal.

Berliner writes that as a Subaru-driving, Sarah Lawrence College graduate who "was raised by a lesbian peace activist mother ," he fits the mold of a loyal NPR fan.

Yet Berliner says NPR's news coverage has fallen short on some of the most controversial stories of recent years, from the question of whether former President Donald Trump colluded with Russia in the 2016 election, to the origins of the virus that causes COVID-19, to the significance and provenance of emails leaked from a laptop owned by Hunter Biden weeks before the 2020 election. In addition, he blasted NPR's coverage of the Israel-Hamas conflict.

On each of these stories, Berliner asserts, NPR has suffered from groupthink due to too little diversity of viewpoints in the newsroom.

The essay ricocheted Tuesday around conservative media , with some labeling Berliner a whistleblower . Others picked it up on social media, including Elon Musk, who has lambasted NPR for leaving his social media site, X. (Musk emailed another NPR reporter a link to Berliner's article with a gibe that the reporter was a "quisling" — a World War II reference to someone who collaborates with the enemy.)

When asked for further comment late Tuesday, Berliner declined, saying the essay spoke for itself.

The arguments he raises — and counters — have percolated across U.S. newsrooms in recent years. The #MeToo sexual harassment scandals of 2016 and 2017 forced newsrooms to listen to and heed more junior colleagues. The social justice movement prompted by the killing of George Floyd in 2020 inspired a reckoning in many places. Newsroom leaders often appeared to stand on shaky ground.

Leaders at many newsrooms, including top editors at The New York Times and the Los Angeles Times , lost their jobs. Legendary Washington Post Executive Editor Martin Baron wrote in his memoir that he feared his bonds with the staff were "frayed beyond repair," especially over the degree of self-expression his journalists expected to exert on social media, before he decided to step down in early 2021.

Since then, Baron and others — including leaders of some of these newsrooms — have suggested that the pendulum has swung too far.

Author Interviews

Legendary editor marty baron describes his 'collision of power' with trump and bezos.

New York Times publisher A.G. Sulzberger warned last year against journalists embracing a stance of what he calls "one-side-ism": "where journalists are demonstrating that they're on the side of the righteous."

"I really think that that can create blind spots and echo chambers," he said.

Internal arguments at The Times over the strength of its reporting on accusations that Hamas engaged in sexual assaults as part of a strategy for its Oct. 7 attack on Israel erupted publicly . The paper conducted an investigation to determine the source of a leak over a planned episode of the paper's podcast The Daily on the subject, which months later has not been released. The newsroom guild accused the paper of "targeted interrogation" of journalists of Middle Eastern descent.

Heated pushback in NPR's newsroom

Given Berliner's account of private conversations, several NPR journalists question whether they can now trust him with unguarded assessments about stories in real time. Others express frustration that he had not sought out comment in advance of publication. Berliner acknowledged to me that for this story, he did not seek NPR's approval to publish the piece, nor did he give the network advance notice.

Some of Berliner's NPR colleagues are responding heatedly. Fernando Alfonso, a senior supervising editor for digital news, wrote that he wholeheartedly rejected Berliner's critique of the coverage of the Israel-Hamas conflict, for which NPR's journalists, like their peers, periodically put themselves at risk.

Alfonso also took issue with Berliner's concern over the focus on diversity at NPR.

"As a person of color who has often worked in newsrooms with little to no people who look like me, the efforts NPR has made to diversify its workforce and its sources are unique and appropriate given the news industry's long-standing lack of diversity," Alfonso says. "These efforts should be celebrated and not denigrated as Uri has done."

After this story was first published, Berliner contested Alfonso's characterization, saying his criticism of NPR is about the lack of diversity of viewpoints, not its diversity itself.

"I never criticized NPR's priority of achieving a more diverse workforce in terms of race, ethnicity and sexual orientation. I have not 'denigrated' NPR's newsroom diversity goals," Berliner said. "That's wrong."

EU calls for global ban on certain plastic products to combat pollution

World leaders and negotiators meet in Ottawa from 21-29 April for the fourth round of negotiations to prepare a new UN Treaty on global plastic pollution.

With the global community being far from achieving its objective of ending plastic pollution unless more stringent and co-ordinated policies are implemented, the EU is calling for an agreement on rules that tackle plastic pollution at its source.

In particular, the EU calls for a comprehensive lifecycle approach to plastics with bans on certain products and enhanced product design. The new instrument should include legally binding obligations across the entire lifecycle of plastics, from plastic polymer production to waste management and final disposal, to prevent plastic pollution in marine environments as well as others.. 

More than 4,000 participants from governments, NGOs, industry, and civil society are expected in Canada to find a way to conclude negotiations of a new legally binding instrument to end plastic pollution by the end of 2024.

Executive Vice-President for the European Green Deal, Maroš Šefčovič, who is representing the Commission in Ottawa, said:  

“Plastics are important in our economy and daily lives, but the serious negative effects on the environment and human health caused by plastic pollution must come to an end. The new global treaty must transform the way plastic products are designed, produced, used, and recycled. I call on all to join forces in the fight against pollution, which will also address the climate and biodiversity crises the world is currently facing.”

Cutting plastic pollution at the product design phase 

Substances and design features that are introduced at the production or manufacturing stage of the plastic life cycle, have a significant impact on plastic pollution. Essential elements of the future treaty would be obligatory elimination and restrictions on plastic products that are avoidable, or problematic as they are particularly prone to be littered or pose a significant risk to human health and the environment. Intentionally added microplastics in products should also be banned.   

During the meeting in the Canadian capital, negotiators will work on a revised draft of the treaty, in view of the final session later this year. Members of the negotiating committee will need to find agreement and alignment to secure the successful finalisation of the treaty text, as mandated by the United Nations Environment Assembly. 

To mobilise support, the EU is actively involved in the High Ambition Coalition to End Plastic Pollution , which includes 65 countries committed to aim high in the negotiations to end plastic pollution by 2040. On April 15, the coalition released its Ministerial Statement prepared for the meeting in Ottawa, calling for several legally binding core obligations in the new treaty, including on products.  

Next steps  

The negotiations during this fourth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) will continue until 29 April. The final text of the Treaty on global plastics pollution is expected to be concluded during the fifth session of the INC in November-December this year. The EU will continue to work with its allies and other partners aiming at a rapid conclusion of the negotiations. 

Background  

Plastics are important materials for our economy and daily lives. However, the exponential growth of production and consumption of plastics in recent decades is having serious negative effects on the environment and human health.  

According to UNEP data from 2021 , global plastic production amounts to some 400 million tonnes (Mt) per year. Yet only an estimated 12% of the plastics produced have been incinerated and only 9% recycled. The remainder has either been disposed of in landfills or released into the environment, including the oceans. In its Global Plastics Outlook from 2022 , the OECD suggests that plastic leakage to the environment is projected to double to 44 Mt a year, exacerbating environmental and health impacts. Meanwhile, the stocks of accumulated plastics in rivers and oceans is projected to more than triple, from 140 Mt in 2019 to 493 Mt in 2060. Greenhouse gas emissions from plastics production and use are also projected to more than double, to 4.3 Gt CO2e. 

The adoption of a legally binding instrument to end plastic pollution is a key priority of the EU’s  Circular Economy Action Plan  under the  European Green Deal . The global community achieved a big milestone during the fifth session of the United Nations Environment Assembly in March 2022, when countries agreed to start negotiations for the new instrument.  

The High Ambition Coalition, co-chaired by Norway and Rwanda, brings together like-minded countries, advocating ambitious goals for the new legally binding instrument to tackle the growing amount of plastic waste choking our planet. 

For More Information 

High Ambition Coalition to End Plastic Pollution  

High Ambition Coalition Joint Ministerial Statement INC-2  

The EU’s work on Plastic pollution  

Plastic pollution UNEA resolution  

EU helps launch negotiations on landmark global agreement on plastic pollution – press release (02 March 2022) 

EU Environment newsletter

EU Environment newsletters deliver the latest updates about the European Commission’s environmental priorities straight to your inbox.

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