
10 Things Ethical Leaders Believe:
- Our purpose is to create value for others. When we reflect sincerely on our purpose as leaders, we come to a profound realization: as leaders, we are not the center of the universe. It’s not about us. Leadership is about creating value for others. We are here to create shared value that benefits multiple constituents. We do that with people and communities, and seek plans and solutions that are a mutual win.
- How we treat people matters. How we treat people matters. We need to work together with our people in the spirit of understanding. Leading with respect, care, service, and inclusion is transformational. When they know we care and that they can count on us, they can really get to work, bringing their best skills and talents to the tasks at hand. With regards to people, winning means building high-trust relationships.
- Our moral grounding is more important than our goals and opinions.
- Everything we do has a ripple effect, and that ripple is global.
- We must take responsibility.
- We need to be proactive.
- We should serve as positive role models.
- We will embrace the learning journey.
- We will enjoy a competitive advantage.
- We will build a better world.
Next time, we’ll dig into the next two beliefs in the 10 Things Ethical Leaders Believe.
This post is an excerpt from What Ethical Leaders Believe: A Leading in Context Manifesto by Linda Fisher Thornton.

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