“Spock… Why don’t you go in first.”

Posted on August 11, 2009 by Ronald T. Brown, Ph.D.

Leadership involves a moral and ethical dimension in regard to “how” and “why” a leader chooses to exert influence over another person.  Because leadership is fundamentally about influencing others, the study of leadership begs the moral question of

how

we choose to exert that influence.

- Rick Teerlink, former CEO of Harley-Davidson, asserted what he called “The Moral Foundation of Leadership.”  Without these

four

cornerstones in place, one’s leadership is not likely to be either effective, nor long lasting.

The Moral Foundation of Leadership includes

: (with corresponding reflective questions.)

1) Truth-Telling: ** The truth, as you see it and communicate it to others, is a great crucible that burns out wannabe leaders and hardens true leaders.
“Am I willing to tell people the truth (as I see it)?”
“Would I like to have my actions reported tomorrow in the national newspaper?” 

2) Promise-Keeping: ** Broken promises undermine a leaders credibility very quickly.
“Before I make a promise, do I consider whether I can, in fact, keep it?
“Would my employees, and others, argue publicly that I kept my promises?
“Have I made promises I have not kept?”

3) Fairness: ** Fairness ensures that followers will get their fair share of the rewards.
“Would my various stakeholders argue that they are being treated fairly in my organization?”
“Am I deceiving myself that those who would argue otherwise… are just being unreasonable?”

4) Respect for the Individual: ** The first three moral cornerstones can be distilled into this last one.
“Do I know the names of the people I meet daily.”
“Do I look the people I meet daily in the eye - and am I “with” them for that brief moment?”
“Do I listen to what others say, or do I interrupt and interject my own thoughts?”

** These four cornerstones provide different perspectives into the single moral concept of leading with integrity.