Values, Virtues, and Leadership

Values, Virtues, and Leadership

In these challenging times for many businesses, leaders need to periodically take a step back and spend time in reflection as to what their real influence is in their respective workplaces. Take time in the beginning and the end of each day to ponder on how well you’ve done in staying true to values, mission, purpose and relationships.

Here are  examples of reflective questions.

1. Did I practice any virtues today?

• Were you a person who shared and modeled integrity, trustworthiness, honesty or compassion?
• How did people around react to you today?
• Think of the best teacher you ever had and then make a list of all those characteristics of what made that person the best teacher. Every day before you go to work read the list and decide this is what and why if you want to be remembered.

2. Were you more positive than negative in your attitude and behavior?

• Did you consider the short term vs. long term consequences of your actions.
• Did you affirm, in some way, every person you encountered today?
• Remember, to affirm self-esteem, disagree with behavior and work at recognizing this distinction every day

3. Did I treat people with dignity and respect?

• All human beings have the right to be if treated with dignity simply because they are human.
• Did you consciously try to separate personhood from behavior in each difficult situation?

4. How did I practice justice today?

• In what ways did you benefit those around you? In what ways were you a hindrance?
• On what basis did you decide what was just, e. Mission Statement, Code of Ethics, Values statement, the law?
• How did you explain the decision? How was it accepted? What could you have done differently?

5. Did I make my organization better because I was there today?

• Was I better because I was a part of this organization?
• Was I able to get beyond my interests to make the organization stronger?
• Was I able to draw upon the strengths of the organization to help me become more human?

If Consistent role modeling along with ongoing education in behavioral ethics, values, and virtues, is a “slam dunk” combination for personal and business success.