Bigger Than This: Your Philosophy of Leadership Matters More Than Your Current Crisis

When I’m working with emerging leaders, we’re always doing two things at once:

1. Working through the specific situation they’re in right now.  Obviously…that’s what they came to coaching for.

2. Building their Philosophy of Leadership. That one is less obvious. But a lot more valuable. 

A Philosophy of Leadership is the collection of concepts, beliefs, values, commitments, and tools that form the foundation for how you lead. 

Not just in the role you have. It's bigger than that.

You draw from your Philosophy of Leadership to know what’s needed in any role, at any time. 

I first became consciously aware of my Philosophy of Leadership the summer I turned 29. I had been leading for about five years, worked with several student teams, and led two internships. 

I had accepted a new role, re-building our organization in two cities, after a period of severe decline. I arrived about a month before my team, and there wasn’t a lot to do, so my supervisor asked me to spend time articulating my Philosophy of Leadership.

My honest response was, “Umm…my what?”

He asked me to make a list of the things that I knew about leadership:

• Values I would always lead by

• Concepts I would always teach

• Beliefs that would always guide me

• Tools I would always use

I got started and, let me tell you, it was hard!

It was hard to figure out what was just something I’d done once that happened to be successful, and what was a foundational concept that I would always use, whether it was immediately well-received or not.

It was hard to articulate the underlying values that had motivated specific leadership choices.

But I kept going. 

Fast forward 15 years and I’m working with a leadership team in a nonprofit, and going off-script in our training session, because it was obvious that they needed something different. 

You know what I taught? A concept I call “First Team.” 

It’s basically the idea that you can eliminate isolation and competition, and build cohesion across an organization, by prioritizing your “First Team” - the peers who are on the same level of the org chart as you, doing your role in different places. 

(If you want to learn more about “First Team,” follow me on Instagram. I have a post going up about that later today: www.instagram.com/burningpointcoaching)

You know where “First Team” came from? My Philosophy of Leadership. 

It was on my list that summer, and it has been part of how I lead, in any context, for 15+ years.

“First Team” is why I drove 90 minutes each way to sit around the table with other support workers when I worked in child protection. The easier option would have been to join by Zoom, but I prioritize my first team.

“First Team” is why I insisted that small group leaders meet together every month when I was a pastor. It would have been simpler to check in individually, but I know it matters that they have time with their first team.

“First Team” is why I’m building leaders’ meetings into the orientation day curriculum I’m writing for a local high school. It’s more time consuming, but it’s how those leaders will build their first team.

That’s just one concept from my Philosophy of Leadership that has stood the test of time. There are lots more!

If you’ve worked with me, you might recognize some of these:

• Get on the Balcony - Intentionally taking a wider perspective to see what context you might be missing.

• Which Monkeys are you Feeding? - Knowing the limits of your resources and not accidentally taking on tasks that aren’t yours.

• Strategic Priorities - Being extremely clear about what few things you need to focus on, for now, to move toward your purpose.

• Be on Their Side - Always choosing empathy for your team members, especially in times of conflict.

• Unlimited Liability - You are always responsible for anything that happens on your team. It stops with you.

Let me ask you: Do you know what’s in your Philosophy of Leadership?

If you’re not sure, that’s okay. It takes some time to build it. But, obviously, I want to help! And here’s the perfect opportunity!

A new cohort of The Leaders Circle starts January 21st, 2026. Shoot me a message if you want the details. This course is specifically designed to build your Philosophy of Leadership. Plus, it's the perfect way to start the new year strong!

For those of you who want to go deeper, my Six-Month Unlimited Coaching Package offers the chance to build your Philosophy of Leadership directly from your lived experience.

This is the right time of year to invest in your leadership - especially the big picture part that you will draw on forever.

What’s going to be part of YOUR Philosophy of Leadership?

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