Effective leadership in the 21st century
will be defined by character, not competence.
The overriding characteristic will be morality. Those who lead with a moral, ethical and
legal imperative must dominate.
You may feel that this is something of an apple pie comment. But you only need to look at virtually every
segment of our society to conclude that character is the principle element
missing from leadership. Whether it is
business or politics; sports or religion; we are let down weekly by one leader
or another.
The issue of morality…that is, the lack of
morality…can be seen in almost all of the main issues that we are facing. Take these for instance:
1. Diversity
and inclusiveness are moral issues. We don’t need laws to know that all people
need to be treated with respect and dignity.
These truths resonate in our collective spirit. We KNOW when we have mistreated another
because they were different from ourselves.
2. Sexual
abuse is a moral issue.
No one should fear harm or reprisal because they turned down the sexual
advances of another. Nor should anyone
fear harm or reprisal for reporting such behaviour.
3. Climate
change is a moral issue.
Companies should not require laws in order to stop polluting the
environment. Individuals should expect
to be offered products and services that are carbon neutral, not because they
need more choices but because they need to have options which contribute to a
better society.
4. Child
labour and forced labour are moral issues. Corporate conscience should dictate that
hiding behind the lack of social policies in foreign countries is not the
responsible way in which to provide goods for more economically advanced
societies.
5. Wealth
disparity is a moral issue. In a 2018 report, 26 individuals had more wealth
than the bottom half of the world’s population, roughly 3.6 billion people. In
the US, 10% of the population controls over 75% of the wealth and the
disparities are only increasing. CEO compensation versus the average worker has
grown exponentially. Thirty years ago a
typical CEO made 58 times more than the average worker. Today that ratio is over 220 times more.
6. Health
care and education are moral issues. An under privileged individual cannot ‘pull
themselves up by their bootstraps’. They
need a hand up not a hand out.
The list goes on but you get the message. Leadership in this century will require a
moral imperative. The issues that I have mentioned are not ones that will fix
themselves. In fact, over that past
decades they have only become worse and more pervasive. Left unaddressed, the disparities will have
tragic consequences.
Your first response may be that the issues outlined
are societal not corporate. Therefore
what have they to do with you?
But look again, because all of these issues require
a corporate response. That response must
be internal to be certain. But true
leaders will recognize the need to speak out more broadly and publicly to
demonstrate how they have addressed the points while encouraging others to
respond likewise.
It must be both an individual and a collective
effort. It’s a lot to ask, even more to expect. But unless and until we embrace
this moral imperative we have no chance.
If
you are a leader, please lead! If you are not a leader, do you best to see that
these are the types of individuals who are elected and/or appointed to
positions of responsibility and authority.
