Why Inspired Leadership Matters.

By Dr. Lance Secretan

Nearly one in two employees is unhappy with their job and the latest global Edelman Trust Barometer reveals the largest-ever drop in trust across the institutions of government, business, media and NGOs, with CEO credibility dropping 12 points globally to an all-time low of 37 percent. We need to reassess ourselves as leaders so we can restore sanity and effectiveness for a frazzled employee population, create inspiring organizations that lift the hearts of people, and make a positive difference in the world.

And that last part is the most important. The Corporation is the most powerful institution in the world—more powerful than politics, more even than the church—it has the reach, resources, intellect, finance and scale that cannot be matched by any other institution. Apple Inc. has more cash on hand than the GDPs of two-thirds of the world’s countries. Three months after Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva won his landslide victory in Brazil's presidential elections, disappointed corporations drove the currency down by 30%, $6bn in hot money left the country, and various credit agencies gave Brazil the highest debt-risk ratings in the world. "We are in government but not in power," said Lula's close aide, Dominican friar Frei Betto. "Power today is global power, the power of the big companies, the power of financial capital." Today, the 10 biggest banks control almost 50 percent of assets under management worldwide.

Therefore, if we want to change the world, the Corporation is the most powerful vehicle on earth through which to attain that dream.

In the 35 years since, I have worked with, mentored and coached thousands of leaders in hundreds of companies, and I’ve seen some truly brilliant things. I’ve also seen some really ineffective things. I have been astonished to watch crazy things happening in organizations that cause poor morale, low performance, political intrigue, toxic cultures and ineffectiveness. It is the result of leadership arrogance, their certainty of being “right”, and their inflated assessment of their skills, knowledge and value. The data shows that this is a major cause of corporate failure.

Yet the vast majority are yearning for something more. Well-intentioned managers and leaders strive daily to achieve good and successful outcomes—creating inspiring places to work and with whom to do business, that are respectful of people and the environment, and are high-performing in all of the important metrics, while making a useful and sustainable contribution to the planet.

More humility in leadership would be a blessing, as it would lead to greater openness to fresh thinking about leadership.

Four years ago Lance Secretan stepped away from the speaking world to act as a full time nurse for his beloved wife and to mourn her passing. It was a time of great change and revelation for him.

Veterans in our industry know Lance as a legendary leadership keynote speaker, having been named one of the world's Top 10 leadership speakers multiple times. Now he is back...and with his best work yet!