He referred to South African President Nelson Mandela, as well as Mahatma Ghandi, as political leaders with moral authority who have vested it in the culture. You must behave in ways that create a shift in values in the culture. Today, involving people in a moral culture is even more important, he said, but school leaders must build it from inside out rather than outside in. Demonstrating how a magnetic pen can throw off a compass, Covey likened it to the way that immoral subcultures can subvert moral sense. School leaders can enlarge their circle of influence, said Covey, by setting examples, mentoring, and teaching.
Kids see it, feel it, and hear it.
In building moral leadership in schools, Covey emphasized the need for principals to create synergy among staff. At your next staff meeting, tell teachers that you'd like to try a new way to communicate that you learned. More than a generation ago, Lovell pointed out, America's space race with Russia was the impetus for education reform. It appeared that Russia had an edge, having launched several rockets into space, even testing their flight capabilities with animals. The decisive moment, said Lovell, came when the Russians' animals returned safely to earth for the first time.