Exemplary leadership involves building teams and organizations that have a clear vision and strategy for the future, are infused with a sense of purpose and motivation to pursue that vision and are operating under a strong set of values and virtues that guide proper action. This requires transformational leaders – leaders who influence others through role modelling, inspiration, intellectual engagement, and the creation of individual connections.  A core tenet of transformational leadership is values-based leadership – infusing values in teams, that once embraced, align aspirations and actions toward common purpose, while simultaneously illuminating what constitutes unacceptable behavior.

In executing strategy, organizations often face ethical tensions between the conflicting obligations they hold to numerous stakeholders.  Different organizational values may also conflict with one another in a given situation. Platitudes such as “do the right thing” or “live by our values” have reduced use, as such dilemmas are not between right vs. wrong, but between right vs. right. This requires that leaders have the capacity to assess highly complex ethical issues using robust decision-making techniques, be able to apply multiple values and virtues to ambiguous situations, and gain consensus around their decisions.