It is no longer about power and control. It is about the principles and integrity of the workplace. With this shift in our way of looking at leadership, everyone has leadership potential. Whether it is used depends often upon the situation, the expertise or skills required, and the willingness and capacity to exercise that leadership. Responsible leadership means building independence within the workforce, i.e., the ability to make decisions and solve problems at the lowest level possible.
Responsible leadership means fostering interdependence between teams, suppliers, and customers.
Responsible leadership results in the lines and walls disappearing between silos, departments, levels, and perceived degrees of power. Responsible leadership values integrity and credibility. Every effort is made to walk the talk, and then to teach the walk. Results still matter, but they are results in terms of business performance, relationship effectiveness, and the company's reputation. Based on the core values of ownership, alignment, respect, and responsibility, collaborative leaders are facilitative rather than authoritative.