Leading at the Point of Goodness

Leadership is an inside job. It’s your integrity and character that will make the biggest difference on the impact you have as a leader. It’s goodness that has the impact.

Most of us think we’re good, but we also are more forgiving of ourselves when our goodness is compromised. And there are countless pressures that tempt us away from behaving out of our better selves.

Start with Goodness

It’s hard to take the high road when you’re faced with a never-seems-to-deliver employee, or a throw-you-under-the-bus peer, or a make-you-kick-your-dog boss. Faced with those pressures, we often move from good to bad behavior. We become what I call a Conditional Leader, thinking: “I’ll be good just as soon as all these frustrations go away!”

What does it mean to be a good leader?

In the end, being a good leader means being a person of integrity. Let me say that again, because I know you know it’s true. Being a good leader means being a person of integrity.

Start by identifying the values that you hold so dear, that you would uphold unconditionally, regardless of what pressures you may be under. Ask yourself, “What do I stand for? What do I stand against? What values are so important to me that I promise to always uphold them, unconditionally?”

The truth is, the world needs more good leaders right now. And the best way to lead and have a positive impact on those whom you are leading, is to bring your goodness into the world. So be good. And lead.

To learn more about leading at the point of goodness, go to http://CourageBuilding.com/Kickass.

 

Are you interested in learning more about leading others? Check out these related posts:

 

Updated January 2024

 

Image by Tung Lam from Pixabay

You Might Also Like…

Fear of the Unknown

Fear of the Unknown

A lot has been written about the natural tendency to fear the unknown. In my opinion, the first (and perhaps best) description of this phenomenon comes from the 4000-year-old masterpiece of Plato. In The Republic, Socrates (an early Right Risk-taker) describes fear as...

On The Importance Of Leader Imperfection

On The Importance Of Leader Imperfection

Leadership is a messy business… at least when it’s being done right. However, is there room for leader imperfection? It requires making bold decisions, often while relying on ambiguous, shifting, or contradictory information. Sometimes you have to get it wrong, a lot...

Cresting as a Leader: Turning Transitions into Triumphs

Cresting as a Leader: Turning Transitions into Triumphs

There’s a certain inevitability to leadership - no matter how high you climb. The view from the top is exhilarating at first—the accolades, the accomplishments, the recognition—but what happens when the climb slows, when the thrill of the ascent gives way to something...