Asked for their examples of moral business leadership, as might be expected hundreds of MBA students described well-known CEOs, whose extraordinary actions we certainly can learn from (individuals such as Yvon Chouinard of Patagonia and Ratan Tata of the Tata Group). More frequently, however, respondents provided recollections about their own bosses (current and former) and the tangibility of how these middle managers made a meaningful difference in the lives of their teams and upheld the moral compass of their organizations. Becoming the manager whom others genuinely respect, admire, and recall as a moral role model requires deep work. Two areas, in particular, can help: taking a regular self-inventory to gauge your existing standing, and willingly correcting habits and behaviors — then monitoring them on an ongoing basis.
