Leaders with strong values and high character seem to be in short supply, most notably political leaders.
But it isn’t only in the political arena where leaders fall short. Any leader has the choice to stand for what they believe in or to cave to what others insist that they do.
As the comedian Groucho Marx, among others, liked to quip, “These are my principles, and if you don’t like them…well, I have others.” Some leaders don’t know their values. Other leaders believe their values and principles need to be negotiable to fit the situation and people involved. And some leaders buy influence by remaining conflicted by decisions or choices where only strong values can light the path forward.
This weakness in character is attractive to some leaders because it doesn’t ruffle feathers or make others uncomfortable. By promoting fluid values, everyone can find a home in what they say and do. Unfortunately, a lack of character strength and strongly held values makes decision-making tremendously problematic.
Because decisions naturally create winners and losers and have consequences that shape the future for people, landing on a choice or conclusion is bound to upset at least a portion of any set of stakeholders.
For those with weak character, this means only making a decision if they are forced to, and then making a choice that most people will like rather than one that is the best or right answer for the problem at hand. Of course, “right” means congruent with long-standing values.
Far too often, leaders allow the volume of dissent, the demands of social media, and the desire to please and accommodate everyone to override their values and what they know is right. The best leaders accept that making hard decisions will result in consequences that will upset at least some people. Choices do that.
To live comfortably into the future with that decision or choice requires a grounding in the values and principles that have stood the test of time and have been held dearly by you in the past. Anything less means submitting to the loudest voices who demand their views be agreed to and acted upon. True character lights the path to strong decisions. Accept that you’re going to upset some people and make some enemies. Leadership requires it.
