5 Reflective Questions for Leaders on Values and Virtues

In these challenging times for many businesses, leaders need to periodically take a step back and spend time in reflection as to what their real influence is in their respective workplaces. Take time at the beginning and at the end of each day to ponder on how well you’ve done in staying true to values, mission, purpose and relationships.

Here’s an example of reflective questioning.

1. Did I practice any virtues today?

• Were you a person who shared and modeled integrity, trustworthiness, honesty or compassion?

• How did people around react to you today?

• Think of the best teacher you ever had and then make a list of all those characteristics of what made that person the best teacher. Every day before you go to work read the list and decide this is what you want to be remembered for.

2. Were you more positive than negative in your attitude and behavior?

• Consider the short-term vs. long-term consequences of your actions.

• Did you affirm, in some way, every person you encountered today?

• Remember, affirm self-esteem and disagree with behavior and work at recognizing this distinction every day.

3. Did I treat people with dignity and respect?

• All human beings have the right to be treated with dignity simply because they are human.

• Did you consciously try to separate personhood from behavior in each difficult situation?

4. How did I practice justice today?

• In what ways did you benefit those around you? In what ways were you a hindrance?

• On what basis did you decide what was just? I.e. Mission Statement, Code of Ethics, Values statement, the law?

• How did you explain the decision? How was it accepted? What could you have done differently?

5. Did I make my organization better because I was there today?

• Was I better because I was a part of this organization?

• Was I able to get beyond my own interests to make the organization stronger?

• Was I able to draw upon the strengths of the organization to help me become more human?

It is important to remember that people tend to listen with their eyes more than with their ears. What you do, says so much more than what you say.

Consistent role modeling along with ongoing education in behavioral ethics, values and virtues, is a “slam dunk” combination for personal and business success.