Formal leaders lose their effectiveness when careerism takes over. Informal leaders can be destructive when personal ambitions override organizational goals. To view rank and position as responsibilities rather than privileges establishes a positive leadership climate for the future. Thou shalt be competent and confident enough to take a risk. There is no better way to stifle creativity or to dampen morale than to establish a leadership climate that will not tolerate mistakes.
Leadership is risky business.
Delegating responsibility and trusting people is risky business. Never the less, that is our business, and effective leaders must take those risks. In most cases, people will respond in direct proportion to the trust that they feel from their leaders. Thou shalt always reward ethical behavior . Such a commandment seems so obvious that it is hardly worth mentioning.