Chapter Two

1
Chapter Two

• Philosophical Perspectives
• Stephanie Crean

2
Objectives

• Describe how a personal philosophy can be useful
• Determine steps to creating your own philosophy,
  and what traits you would want to include
• Develop your own philosophical foundation

3
Why have a philosophy?

• "If you don't know where you are coming from, how
  can you lead and manage the activities of
  others?"

4
Other benefits to having your own philosophy

• Consistent decisions
• Clear set of values
• People have more faith in a strong vision than in
  conventional wisdom

5
How detailed does this need to be?

• Needs to be brief!
• Needs to allow for modification!
• Should be a guide to help you set policies that
  concern you, your boss, your clients, and staff

6
An example

• Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be
  purchased at the price of chains and slavery?
  Forbid it Almighty God! I know not what course
  others may take, but as for me, give me liberty
  or give me death!
• Patrick Henry, 1765

7
The freedom philosophy

• Currently manifested as the Constitution
• Constantly changing

8
We live by many philosophies!
9
Developing your own philosophy

• Identify each problem as it occurs as precisely
  as possible and write it down
• Note in outline form the major guiding philosophy
  of the company or institution for which you work

• Determine what your personal philosophy is and
  how it relates to the institution's philosophy
• Specify the mission of your unit and how it
  relates to the mission of the institution.

10
Examples

• Maytag repairman
• 10 years
• McDonalds
• Quality, service, cleanliness, value
• Educator
• The needs of the student come first!

11

• If an employee cant agree with the philosophy,
  they probably wont be comfortable in the
  institution that developed it.

12
Are you ready?

• Lets discuss some facets that should always be
  included in your philosophy
• Just suggestions!

13
Tenet Number One

• Knowledge precedes action
• She knows her stuff
• Be prepared/plan ahead
• Dont learn AFTER you needed to know it!

14
Tenet Number Two

• Be proactive
• Ready to take action
• Anticipate
• Expect for anything
• Dont try to see too far ahead

15
Tenet Number Three

• Never look back!
• If you gave it your best shot, just move ahead

16
Some others

• Do not avoid difficult decisions!
• Communicate with people above and below, but keep
  it simple
• Listen, listen, and listen some more
• Is this sounding cliché yet?

17
Your task