Professional Leadership
Alexandre Havard’s Virtuous Leadership is an excellent model according to which we can understand the broad principles and classical virtues of proudly virtuous professional leadership. It suggests a refreshingly old-fashioned approach to leadership based on sound, classical values that have become a relative scarcity in an era of scandal and deceit.
Havard suggests as bedrock leadership values prudence, self-control, courage and justice. Prudence promotes right decision-making; self-control subdues and directs passions; courage sticks to the right course no matter what; justice holds that everyone may have his due in fairness. Havard also puts paid to the expression “born leader”, maintaining, instead, that leaders are trained and acquire their skills through practise: leadership has to do more with character than temperament.
Furthermore, the virtuous professional leader rejects a wholly utilitarian approach; instead, excellence comes before effectiveness. In addition, it is suggested that the true leader can only really lead and live by virtue ethics and not ethics based on rules. Rules are not denounced; rather, it is argued that they cannot underpin ethics.
Traditional professional leadership courses still have a lot to offer and learners often obtain skills in the field of understanding the value and purpose of work. Some still spend valuable time on the subjects of a value- and principle-centred work culture; motivating, empowering and inspiring people; recognising and managing burnout and managing change. If, in addition, a service-orientated and non-blame shifting approach is followed, a useful template is established according to which professional leaders can not only lead a company, but also enjoy the respect and trust of employees.
Professional leadership has seen a return to old-fashioned, traditional values and virtues in some circles. This approach is applauded not only for the perceived benefits associated with honest business practice, but also for the inspirational and attitudinal benefits forthcoming from doing something “right”.