There are some fine people on that list, excellent role models for achieving in both business and in life. But what does it take to be a business hero? I’d like to share some thoughts.
Integrity
I respect the men and women who lead their companies with integrity. The problem with integrity is that we never really know if someone has it until we know they don’t. People with integrity don’t go bragging about doing the right thing because bragging about it would be the wrong thing and they’ve got too much integrity for that!
We usually learn that people don’t have integrity because we see them in trouble on the news.
That means we need to seek out heroes among the leaders who do the best work without getting a lot of attention. We rarely get noticed for doing what we’re supposed to do. Look to the men and women successfully leading their companies out of the public eye.
Values
Look for leaders who put values first and business second. Success in business is rarely won by only having the best product (though it helps) or only striking at the right time (that helps, too), but by focusing on doing the right things first.
As Bill Taylor writes in his piece about business heroes in Harvard Business Review, we should look for “CEOs who understand the direct connection between human values and economic value.”
Storytellers
I think the best leaders are good storytellers. Their leadership comes from a very human place, and that means they feel for and understand others—exactly the sort of traits that make a good storyteller.
Business heroes possess the ability to communicate their values in a way that makes us want to follow them. But this involves more than just slick talk. They tell the story of their values with integrity, bringing together all the best aspects of a business hero.
Be Your Own Hero
I won’t go into detail now about my own personal business heroes. I mention a few in Believe in More, and I’ve dropped some hints throughout this blog. I’ve even asked you to look for ways to be someone’s hero yourself.
This time, I’ll challenge you to be the kind of business hero you’d appreciate. Be a role model for someone else. Lead with values, operate with integrity and then share the story of your success when someone asks.
Be the hero you think you’d need, and you’ll end up being a hero for someone else, too.
Jack
