Unbought, Unbound, Unafraid, Unintimidated.
Does your business activity align with your values?
“Unbought. Unbound. Unafraid. Unintimidated”. These words from Dr. Cornell West as he describes the attributes of great leaders resonate with me. This is the type of leadership needed if businesses are going to succeed today. The pressure of today’s business environment places leaders in positions they have never been in before. Many question their abilities and are being pressed to work in ways they may not support or believe in. I observe many leaders under pressure become willing to compromise themselves and others on the journey to leadership success. This compromise almost always yields ethical dilemmas and negative outcomes for them and the businesses they represent.
In my work with leaders I recognize it takes great courage to remain uncompromised in the face of business pressure. Leaders who do not bend on issues of principle or ethics often find themselves isolated, ridiculed or even marginalized. However, in my work with these courageous leaders they believe what they go through is worth it in the end. The primary goal for them is to only engage in business activity that aligns with their beliefs, principles and values. They commit to being unbought, unbound, unafraid and unintimidated leaders. When I discuss this concept with clients they are very clear about what these words mean to them.
Unbought leaders will not “sell out” their beliefs, principles and values. This leader is skilled at making it clear what motivates them is doing “good and right” business at all times. Their deepest desire is to engage others in doing what is good for the business in the right way daily. These leaders refuse to let the influence of pressure or money sway them from this core principle.
Unbound leaders are not bound to what others think of them. This leader knows who they are, what they believe and what they will or will not do. What others think of them is not their business. Their business is to focus strategically on what they think of themselves. These leaders practice minding their own business all day long.
Unafraid leaders recognize fear is a factor in leadership. This leader actively develops and practices courage strategies so fear does not prevent effective leadership. Today’s business environment is filled with dynamics that create fear. Given this they utilize an array of skills and techniques to engage employees in conversation about these dynamics to reduce fear and create strategies to address issues that are fear producing.
Unintimidated leaders will not be bullied into doing anything they can’t support. Bullying is not only an issue in public schools. Bullying also goes on in business environments it just takes on a different look. Pressuring a leader to agree to a decision simply because a majority of others think it is the right thing to do is a form of bullying. Withholding funds from a leader’s organization because they don’t agree with a process or project is a form of bullying. Suggesting a leader’s reputation will be damaged if they don’t get on board with what another group of leaders believes is right is a form of bullying. Mobilizing others to “blacklist” a leader because they just won’t go with the flow is a form of bullying. This leader remains unintimidated in the face of business bullying. This is the leader who calls out this activity and those
doing it to point out how bullying in a business environment never adds value to the overall achievement of business goals.
These are the times trying the souls of leaders. The business environment is volatile and changing all that most leaders once knew. The pressure could make it easy to compromise beliefs, principles and values Every person is not built to lead during this time. However those that choose to do so will benefit from practicing the philosophies, skills and behaviors of the unbought, unbound, unafraid and unintimidated leader.
Read more like this in YOUR LEADERSHIP JOURNEY: Living and Leading In and On Purpose.
