Take the High Road
David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer
This past June, John Maxwell released his latest book, High Road Leadership. As I listened to people discussing our upcoming election, my mind kept returning to this book. Now, there are two things you are told never to talk about in business: religion and politics. Well, if you have read more than two or three of my posts, you know I have already violated both of those “never talk about” categories, so why should today be any different? We need more High Road Leaders in our country, community, and organizations. Leaders who actively bring people together in a world that seeks to divide.
Let me start by saying true leaders never divide. Leaders don’t pit people against each other but look for ways to draw people in. They don’t gain an advantage by making disparaging comments about others, but rather help people realize that as a team, with all of our differences, we can have a positive impact on the world around us. So, what makes someone a High Road Leader?
I suppose one of the greatest High Road Leaders was Abraham Lincoln. As president, he appointed those who opposed him to his cabinet. He knew he needed people around the table who disagreed with him on many issues and loved our country. This healthy debate would give him the best opportunity to make the right decision. Many in his cabinet didn’t like his timing with the Emancipation Proclamation. Yet, when he felt he had enough political capital to spend, he signed it and released it to the nation. Many of his cabinet, while viewing slavery as a sin that needed to be eliminated in our nation, were not happy when, in 1865, he spent even more political capital to have Congress pass the 13th amendment abolishing slavery. Many well-meaning people thought this would prolong the war or cause further tension with the Confederate States.
Why assemble a team of rivals as a cabinet and not listen to them? President Lincoln did listen to them, often. He valued their thoughts and opinions but knew what he believed and felt compelled to seize the opportunity before him. Ultimately, it cost him his life and those who once questioned his intelligence and decision-making one after another declared his greatness. Secretary of War Edwin Stanton said at the president’s passing, “He now belongs to the ages.”
With High Road Leaders, it’s never about them; it is always about others. They see the value in all people, believe in people, and unconditionally love them. You read that correctly; you need to love the people you lead. Dave Ramsey of Ramsey Solutions tells us that if we want to lead people, we need to choose to love them. Similar to our children, we may not always like them, but we do love them, and our love for them directs our interactions with them. We will have high expectations for them, won’t make excuses for them, and as St. Paul wrote to a church in Ephesus, we need to speak the truth in love.
Lastly, High Road Leaders take accountability for their actions. So often, I hear leaders deflecting rather than taking accountability. I’ve done that in the past. We don’t hit a sales target, and we say, “Well, there is a market downturn.” Perhaps the market did take a downturn, but what efforts did I take or not take to address it? High Road Leaders own it because responsibility and accountability go hand in hand. When a team observes an accountable leader, they feel inspired to live and work accountable to their family and team.
I only touched on a few characteristics of a High Road Leader. If you want more information on the topic, I highly recommend John’s new book, High Road Leadership. How many high-road leaders do you see as you look out over our community, state, and country? Take the high road, there’s a lot less traffic.