The decision to pursue ethical leadership development

A journey of 10,000 miles begins with one single step.  The saying may be a truism, but in reality, need not be a daunting prospect.  A purposeful journey requires two things: destination and desire.  After a decision is made to pursue ethical leadership development what should one do?  The first steps on the road to ethical leadership development include learning, leading by example and dreaming big to improve the lives of others.

Decide to learn today.   Ethical leaders are lifelong learners.  They are passionate about new developments in their industry and how these changes can positively impact their business.  No matter how well you know your discipline, there are always new things to learn and trends to observe.  Management guru Peter Drucker directs us to “identity the future that has already happened.”  The only way to accomplish this is by adopting a continuous learning approach.  For example, in Canada the baby boomers are approaching retirement which will not only create job vacancies but vast potential opportunities for delivering solutions to this market segment.  As advances in health care increase life expectancy, it is not uncommon for individuals to work until 65 and still have 20 years of living ahead.  Learning the values, beliefs and attitudes of this demographic group can open doors to fulfill unmet needs in the marketplace.

Decide to lead by example today.  “I serve with honor on and off the battlefield…I lead by example in all situations” is the Navy SEAL creed.  One of the most powerful statements any leader can make is leading by example.  Navy SEAL combat veteran and internet marketing professional, Brent Gleeson states that people will only truly follow leaders they trust.  Imagine a situation requiring more trust from your team than a combat unit on the front line.  One of the main reasons the Navy SEALs are successful is because each soldier is trained to earn trust no matter age or rank.  An organization with the same attitude can truly outperform.  Each time an ethical leader promises and follows through, a deposit is made in the trust account of team members.  A long-term disposition to lead by example fosters an environment of loyalty and respect.  Although I didn’t necessarily enjoy performing every job function at our marketing research company, I learned the value of never asking an employee to do something I wouldn’t do myself.  The message communicates that the leader is willing to get his hands dirty and support the team for a common purpose.

Decide to dream big today.  The ethical leader is responsible for championing a shared vision benefiting others.  If one is to create a dream, it might as well be big.  In many parts of the world today, access to education is restricted.  Malala Yousufzai, the Pakistani girl fighting for the right to learn, was violently targeted by the Taliban because she supports education for girls.  She miraculously survived the attack and continues to advocate against extremism.  No one would have blamed Malala or her family had she disappeared from the public eye after her recovery from hospital.  Malala’s actions demonstrate what it means to chase a dream that will ultimately benefit others. 

Ethical leadership development can be your reality today.  The lifelong journey begins with taking deliberate steps each day to improve self and community.  The decision to become an ethical leader begins now.  Deliberately decide to adopt an attitude of learning.  No matter what your profession, decide to become an expert in your field by learning of the new developments in your industry and the competitive landscape.  Deliberately decide to lead by example.  Ensure your words and actions match.  You may not notice, but people are watching and it won’t take them long to figure out if you’re “walking the talk”.  Finally, deliberately decide to dream big.  Most of us won’t be speaking to the UN about improving access to education for girls, but we can still make a difference in the lives of our families and communities by adopting a big dream.  No matter where you are in life today, you can decide to take the first step on the path to becoming an ethical leader.