Leading at the Point of Goodness

If you want to be a good leader, you have to start by being a good person.

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.

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.

It’s hard to take the high road when you’re faced with a never-seems-to-deliver employee, 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 Conditional Leaders, thinking: “I’ll be good just as soon as all these frustrations go away!”

Leading at the point of goodness means living out of your leadership integrity, unconditionally.

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 goods into the world. So be good. And lead.

If you want to help your new leaders lead at the point of goodness check out my new course: Bill Treasurer's Leadership Essentials Academy .