Leadership is influence. A leader is someone who influences others to achieve greater things for a higher cause, while helping followers to grow in their personal lives and as an organization or society or group. Great leaders know themselves and freely dialogue with moral and ethical issues. They are prepared for any unforeseen event where they are called to make decisions that may affect the lives of their followers or team members. We face issues that require us to make moral choices, every day at work. For example, a coworker is diagnosed with terminal cancer, how would you want to “deal with” the situation if the person spends more time in the hospital and less at work? What about the costs that your company will have to bear?   

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Tim Armstrong was only forty-one years old when he was forced to make tough decisions that had a strong moral and ethical leaning. On February, 2014  Tim decided to cut back on employees 401K. The reason? Two pre-mature babies born to two different families had drained millions of dollars from the company. What he did not expect was the “that is not fair!” cry from thousands of people.  Deanna Fei, the mother of one of the distressed babies, boldly came forward and shared her story—why her baby cannot be held liable for the roll back on the retirement benefits for thousands of people. Tim Armstrong reinstated the cut backs. As AOL's CEO, he was wise to hold on to the value that employees well-being came ahead of shareholders wealth.  

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Leaders who are known for their long-term success and historical influence had maintained steadfast integrity while dealing with difficult issues. They have a vision beyond themselves. Great leaders such as Socrates, Alexander the Great, Abraham Lincoln, Mohandas Gandhi, and Nelson Mandela raised their followers to a higher moral level and changed history. 

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Today, we have an advantage over many leaders of the past. There are many tools and tests available for us to identify our talents, to know our bent, and to understand our personalities. Understanding ourselves through scientific tests provide a starting point. But they are not a substitute for self-contemplation and self-wrestling with difficult cultural changes, global values, and family norms.  To be an effective leader who helps others to grow, you need to know who you are and wrestle with moral value and ethical issues.  Then you will be prepared in times of crisis to influence your followers to continue to grow in their lives.  

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We provide leadership training that will help you and your upcoming leaders to be prepared and equipped to made sound decisions in good times and in trying times. We offer training in personal leadership development where your upcoming leaders will dialogue on moral issues, ethics, core values, personal legacy and organizational growth. We offer face-to-face training as well as web-based training.  Please contact us for more information.