Moral Leadership - Try it you'll like it.

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In my last blog, I defined leadership as influence.   Let me expand that definition. 

Leadership is the ability to influence yourself and others to do what it takes to reach an established goal.

I also noted that the strength of leadership, i.e., the ability to influence, is strongest when it is based, not strictly on formal authority, but on moral authority, i.e., strength of character, not just strength of “position”. 

I am a teacher of Leadership.  I help business owners, CEO’s and other business “leaders” develop the god-given talent they already possess to become effective leaders of their organizations.  I can teach techniques.  I can teach visioning, strategic planning, personal and professional development, goal setting and achievement, time management, supervisory and leadership skills, customer relationship and satisfaction, even sales techniques.  But I can’t teach morality.  Morality comes from inside.

Many people have achieved a level of leadership success based strictly on positional authority; they owned the company, they were the appointed CEO, etc..  People follow them because the “have to” to keep their job.  But by far, the more successful leaders are the ones who command moral authority.  They lead from a position of respect, not fear.  People follow them because they “want to” rather than because they have to.

Ultimately, leadership based on moral character leads not only to more productive followers, but also to more profitable customer relationships.  Moral leadership is reflected throughout the entire business.  It will be reflected in all business relationships, particular customer relationships.  Customers recognize it and will want to do business with your company, perhaps even if you don’t have the best price, because they not only trust you, they like you.

In strategic planning, one of the first things we document are the values and beliefs of the business owners, i.e., what they absolutely will and will not do to achieve success, no matter what.  This establishes the foundation upon which they build the planning, process, and people pillars of their business. If these values and beliefs are based on a strong, in itself well founded, moral code, they will prove enduring and will support a business of unlimited success.

Do you want to become a better leader and make your company more successful?  Document your absolutes, what you will and will not do to achieve success.  Write them down, don't just think about them.  Then, post them where you and your employees can see them.  If you let them become your guide, you will become a better leader and find the success of your business exceeding your expectations.