Building Success with Business Ethics: Advice from Business Leaders (Collection)

2. Born to Be Moral

What makes a leader effective? Turns out, the best leaders are not the charismatic or heroic types lionized in years past. According to the latest research, they are “quiet leaders” who accomplish great things modestly and without fanfare.¹ Leaders at the helm of the perennially great companies all share a common trait—humility.² They inspire high performance in others through their sensitivity to their followers’ needs.³ The best leaders think “we,” not “I.”⁴ They are, quite simply, good people who consistently tap into their inborn disposition to be moral. They follow a moral compass—even when it’s tempting not to. They make hard choices between right and wrong, or even between two different “rights.” Great people—and great ...