Leadership Virtues for Disruptive Times

Tom Ziglar, son of the late motivational speaker Zig Ziglar and President of Zig Ziglar Corporation, just released his book, The Ten Leadership Virtues for Disruptive Times. In it, he identified ten leadership virtues and broke them down into three sections:

Section 1

• Kindness
• Selflessness
• Respect
• Humility

Section 2

• Self-control
• Positivity
• Looking for the best

Section 3

• Being the light
• Never giving up
• Standing firm

We teach these virtues from childhood. Following these virtues helps team leaders inspire, equip, develop, encourage, and support the people on their team. These are the things that will make them better tomorrow than they are today and will put their teams in the spotlight. If team leaders insist on being in the spotlight and do not allow their team members a place in the spotlight, they destroy trust and, ultimately, the team. Utilizing these leadership virtues shows the team leader to be selfless and grateful for their team.

The crisis we sometimes have in our workplaces is a crisis of Faith. If team members cannot trust their leaders, or their co-workers and peers, they lose faith. Selflessness is a key ingredient to establishing trust. The loss of trust is one reason for disruption in our workplaces and on our teams. Team members must understand the “why behind their why” so tasks get done correctly and on time.

Most of us know that when people feel pressured they go into “Fight, Flight, or Freeze” mode. When a leader pressures their team members, it has a negative impact on team dynamics. Team members shut down and their creativity dies.

Principles and philosophies have been the same for thousands of years. However, the tools utilized to communicate and deliver them are forever changing. The last few years have been disruptive times. Virtue trends have changed during the pandemic.

A change seen during the pandemic was people’s priorities and life values. Our priorities have become intentional and foundational, The reality of uncertainty and the certainty of mortality. Prior to the pandemic, we focused on climbing the ladder. Since the pandemic, focus has been on health, family, relationships, and quality of life.

Some things to remember as you are establishing a selflessness in your life:

First, a five-minute reading or listening to something powerful and implementing it into your life every morning will help begin your day with a feeling of gratitude.

You might make a list what you are grateful for in your team members and those who are close to you. The power of positive thinking will clear your thoughts and you will find yourself living the virtues mentioned here throughout your day.

Finally, never set an alarm clock as a reminder to do something, set it as an opportunity. Always intend that you will happen to the day, rather than letting the day happen to you.

Photo by Dylan Gillis on Unsplash

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