More on integrity and sustainability leadership versus management
Yet again I heard someone saying individual action won’t solve our environmental problems so we shouldn’t even look at it, and this was a major public speaker. He repeated the idiocy that, as he saw it, BP creating the personal carbon footprint was a coup for distracting us from them.
I’d love to see all these people who oppose individual action in 1850, saying, “you can’t end slavery so don’t free any slaves.” No, I’m not equating pollution and slavery. I’m pointing out that living by your values is always a good choice, even if you can’t fix all the world’s problems yourself. Polluting kills people. If you do something that kills people and you don’t want to kill people, you have to stop doing that thing, even if it brings you comfort and convenience. Or apparently if you’re an environmentalist, acting by your values means you were hoodwinked by BP.
What’s wrong with integrity? Do they not see that having integrity helps lead others and improves your own life?
Anyway, I wanted to write today about why people without leadership experience miss the value of integrity
From a purely management perspective, individual action may appear not to make sense. The numbers don’t work out. Imagine considering having a child or buying a pet only considering the costs and obligations. If you never consider the priceless feelings of watching the child take a first step or the pet greeting you after a long day at work, it doesn’t make sense.
From a leadership perspective, you can’t lead others to live by values you live the opposite of. Without trying, I’d have no integrity, credibility, relevant experience, or character. I wouldn’t know the freedom, fun, honor, and glory, nor how to overcome resistance from having to learn to handle three rainy days in a row.
Here are three areas you need experience in if you want to lead effectively, with integrity, in sustainability. Only with all three can you have credibility, relevant experience, vision, and know what you’re talking about.
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On initiative, leadership, the environment, and burpees