Career Guiding Leadership Principles: Coreil's Career Corner
Thank you to the Tunica-Biloxi Tribe for sponsoring Dr. Coreil's 3rd article!
Throughout my nearly 50-year career, I have remained committed to a set of core
leadership principles that have guided me in the many roles and responsibilities I
have been blessed to serve, both in parish and statewide positions across the LSU
System.
Most of these principles will be familiar to many readers. However, we all benefit
from occasional reminders about what effective leadership looks like and what
each of us should aspire to demonstrate—not only in business, but also in our
families, our communities, and our daily lives. Strong leadership has the power to
improve organizations, strengthen relationships, and ultimately make our
communities better places to live, work and thrive.
Honesty and Integrity
President Dwight D. Eisenhower once said, “The supreme quality of leadership is
unquestionably integrity. Without it, no real success is possible.” Those words
remain as true today as when they were first spoken.
Leaders cannot expect honesty and integrity from others if they fail to demonstrate
those qualities themselves. Effective leaders do more than talk about values—they
live them through their decisions, their interactions with others, and their
willingness to accept constructive criticism and continually improve. Simply put,
leaders should always strive to do the next right thing. If you do, you will have
very few regrets in either your professional or personal life.
Listen More Than You Speak
One of the greatest lessons I learned throughout my career is that leaders should
listen more than they talk.
Good leaders intentionally create opportunities for employees to share
recommendations, voice concerns, and offer new ideas. This requires humility—a
quality that is sometimes difficult to practice but is essential for effective
leadership. Humility builds trust, encourages ownership, and creates a culture of
continuous improvement.
Lead with Empathy
Every employee has a life beyond the workplace. Family illness, financial
hardships, marital challenges, or other personal struggles can significantly impact
job performance.
Before rushing to criticism or disciplinary action, leaders should seek
understanding. An empathetic leader recognizes that people occasionally need
encouragement, flexibility, or additional support. Human Resources professionals
can often provide valuable assistance that helps employees successfully navigate
life's challenges while remaining productive members of the work team.
People will always remember how you treated them during difficult times.
Invest in the Growth of Others
One of a leader's greatest responsibilities is helping others grow.
Every position within an organization matters. While responsibilities differ, every
employee should believe that their work significantly contributes to an
organization's success.
Outstanding leaders invest in professional development, mentor future leaders,
recognize accomplishments, and never miss opportunities to say "thank you." A
sincere expression of appreciation can have a major impact on organizational
success.
Don't Be Afraid to Fail—Be Bold
During my years as Chancellor of LSUA, we often encouraged our leadership team
to "Be Bold."
Innovation always involves some level of risk. If leaders are afraid to fail,
organizations become stagnant. After gathering information, seeking trusted
advice, and carefully evaluating options, leaders must ultimately make decisions
that often do not come with guarantees of success.
Not every idea will succeed. When something doesn't work, strong organizations
learn from the experience, make adjustments, and move forward with greater
knowledge and confidence. Failure, when approached correctly, often becomes one
of life's greatest teachers.
Focus on Solutions, Not Problems
Every organization will face unexpected obstacles. Successful leaders understand
that dwelling on problems accomplishes very little.
Instead, they focus their energy on finding solutions, anticipating future challenges,
and preparing thoughtful action plans. Strong leadership teams bring diverse
perspectives that help identify potential issues before they become major problems.
Good leaders are defined by their effectiveness in responding to problems with
effective solutions.
Stay Hungry and Maintain a "Want To" Attitude
Throughout my career, I have always valued what I call a "want to" spirit.
Leaders seek employees who genuinely want to serve others, improve their
organization, and pursue excellence every day. Enthusiasm, initiative, and a strong
work ethic cannot be taught nearly as easily as technical skills.
Hiring the right people is among the most important responsibilities of any leader.
Skills can often be developed, but attitude, passion, and commitment are far more
difficult to instill. Organizations thrive when they are filled with people who wake
up every day eager to make a positive difference.
Delegate, Empower and Build Trust
If leaders hire talented, motivated individuals and clearly communicate
expectations, they should trust those employees to do their jobs.
Delegation and empowerment encourage creativity, innovation, accountability, and
professional growth. Micromanagement accomplishes exactly the opposite. It
discourages initiative, erodes trust, and limits organizational excellence.
Great leaders create an environment where employees feel genuine ownership of
the organization's mission and success.
Build Stronger Communities
Leadership extends far beyond the walls of an organization. Every successful organization has a responsibility to improve the quality of life
within the community it serves. No organization operates in isolation. Businesses,
schools, universities, healthcare providers, nonprofit organizations, and
government agencies all share the responsibility of making their communities
stronger.
As the saying goes, we are either part of the problem or part of the solution.
Effective leaders ensure that their organizations are consistently part of the
solution.
Final Thoughts
Looking back over nearly five decades of leadership, I have become convinced that
success is ultimately about people.
Hire talented individuals with strong character, an outstanding work ethic, and a
desire to grow. Set clear expectations and hold both yourself and your team
accountable. Encourage lifelong learning and professional development. Listen
carefully, trust your employees, delegate responsibility, empower others, and never
underestimate the value of saying "thank you."
When things go wrong, accept responsibility. When things go right, give credit to
others.
Always focus on solutions rather than problems. Continue learning. Remain
humble. Be willing to take calculated risks. And finally, never lose your sense of
humor. Leaders who can laugh at themselves, remain approachable, and avoid
taking themselves too seriously, give rise to organizations where people genuinely
enjoy coming to work.
The leadership principles listed above have served me well. I hope they encourage
others who have or may soon have the privilege of being a servant leader.
Until next time,
Paul Coreil
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