How can you identify leaders with a sense of a moral compass?
When we read a newspaper, watch the TV, there isn’t a day that goes by that there isn’t a report of some leader, in some organization, who is charged with fraud, cheating, lying, etc. Why is that?
For me, it’s rather simple. If leaders don’t have a developed moral compass, nothing else really counts. Everything about a business needs to be based on values, which provide a “direction” as to not only how one does business, but why!
Leaders need to embrace as the basis of their moral compass:
1. That everything happens for a reason and it serves us.
• There are an infinite number of ways to react to any situation and being values based needs to be the priority for discerning the appropriate decision.
2. Whatever happens, take responsibility!
• Taking responsibility is one of the best measures of a leader’s power and maturity.
• By retaining responsibility, the leader retains the power to change the result he/she produces.
3. People are a your greatest resource.
• This is no long lasting success without rapport among employees.
• Leaders who produce results, have a tremendous sense of respect and appreciation for people.
• Organizations that succeed have leaders that treat people with respect and dignity and see their employees as partners.
So how do you get leaders to “buy into” these concepts? You don’t! Either they believe and embrace them or they don’t. The next question is : What type of “screening” is needed to make sure that a potential leader has a developed moral compass?
These three simple points, if actually acted upon, can provide the “destination” that one’s moral compass can “set sail” towards that will build an environment of trust, honesty, transparency, and respect for all.