Responsible leaders keep aside selfish interests

Every business requires great leaders so that it can grow substantially well. But sadly most businesses lack leaders who inspire, motivate, and most importantly, hold themselves accountable if something goes wrong. This shortage of leadership talent can create a ripple effect across an institution. A lot of employees quit their jobs just because of poor leadership.

A responsible leader displays the quality of treating his superiors and subordinates with the same respect. They border a box of professional ethics and values. Being a great leader is more of an art than a science and anyone who has the perseverance to practice ethical leadership daily can excel and become one. A lot of managers complain about their lack of jurisdiction. But the truth is that authority can only be achieved when one proves themselves to be responsible. As the great management educator and scholar, Peter Drucker once said

“Management has no power.
Management has only responsibility.”

How should a leader learn to be more responsible? Firstly, they should understand that it is not a game of the individual. They are responsible for the performance of their team and hence what the team accomplishes is of the utmost importance. Lastly, the responsibility-authority puzzle needs to be understood. The blend of dutiful attitude and actions makes one more responsible and hence accelerates the growth of their organization along with their own professional career. When one makes decisions and takes actions for the organization’s best interests, without any immediate reward, it displays their responsible behavior.

Responsible leadership is not just about behavior. It covers the overall attitude of responsibility. Rather, it can be asserted that a responsible attitude makes way for responsible behavior. This attitude can also be gauged through one’s daily engagements. The nuanced and subtle behavior that is derived through this attitude is crucial and perceptible.