In its most essential form, my leadership philosophy centers on a commitment to quality of experience. If you aren’t enjoying yourself and taking part in something that has value and substance, from which you can derive meaning, what’s the point in doing it? Everyone deserves to be part of experiences greater than themselves; experiences that empower, affirm self worth, facilitate growth, and offer fulfillment, all within a supportive, inclusive and encouraging environment. The primary objective of a leader must be to provide the conditions for which these experiences can exist. Fundamental to creating a superlative experience is relationship building. In order for people to put their trust in you and in each other, they need to feel like their individual experience is important. The only way to do this is by creating meaningful connection. This takes time and attention to get to know and understand the people you interact with. Honesty, compassion and communication are paramount to lasting and worthwhile relationships, and integral in creating an environment conducive to growth and achievement. In the face of challenge, a team built upon strong interpersonal relationships will develop a positive association with adversity, reinforcing the ability of the group and its constituents to successfully navigate difficult experiences. To further support individuals and their quality of experience, it is invaluable to develop an unwavering team identity. Identity is often the first thing sacrificed in the face of pressure to win/achieve/succeed. We forget about the journey and the value of it in relation to an end result. If you achieve your extrinsic goals, but the journey is empty, what does it mean to win? Similarly, if you lose, but the experience is fulfilling, have you really lost? Identity should never be sacrificed, especially before winning. Winning, in and of itself, is not a sustainable practice. There are too many uncontrollable variables that contribute to any end result. Alternatively, If you set intrinsic goals, then progress can be measured in more meaningful and fulfilling ways. Did we stay true to our identity? Do we feel good about our approach regardless of the end result? The competition becomes an inwardly focused process of growth and understanding. It isn’t enough to want to win. Everyone wants to win. Not everyone understands that when you learn how to win, you can’t lose. If a team identity is important, what will that identity be? As previously stated, I believe the primary objective of a leader must be to provide the conditions for which great experiences can exist. Similarly, by cultivating the right environment, the identity of a team will emerge organically from the personalities of the group. Despite each person’s unique contribution, the team’s identity will be predictable because of some universal human inclinations. I believe everyone has an inherent capacity for compassion. If fostered, the team will be altruistic. Everybody has a desire to express themselves through creating. If fostered, the team will be creative. In order to be creative, all members of a team must have equal opportunities to explore their creativity. The team will value those opportunities. Opportunities for creative expression naturally lead to more progressive action. The team will be progressive. A healthy and dynamic team can only realize its full potential if everyone is free to share their unique personalities and skills. If a leader doesn’t encourage this kind of expression, then they are limiting the threshold of achievement for their team.