The Leadership Oath

The Leadership Oath

Posted on 15. Aug, 2010 by in 1 Leadership

Our doctors take they Hippocratic Oath swearing to ethically treat their patients, and to follow an ideal conduct as a physician.  In a conversation with a client, she casually suggested that leaders should take a Leadership Oath.  Ethics and ideal conduct are not limited to physicians and are fitting for leaders.  So what follows is a modified version of the Hippocratic Oath.  As suggested by my client, what follows is my version of the Leadership Oath.

I present it to you for conversation.

I swear to fulfill to the best of my ability and judgment this covenant:

I will respect the hard-won leadership gains of those managers in whose step I walk, and gladly share such knowledge as well as mine to those who follow after me.

I will apply, for the benefit of my employees, community, and society, all measures that are required, avoiding those twin traps of control and absence of leadership.

I will remember that there is art to leadership as well as science, and that compassion, courage, and understanding employees’ ideas may outweigh the logic of balance sheets or strategic growth.

I will not be ashamed to say “ I don’t know,” nor will I fail to call upon experts when their skills are needed for employee and organizational success.

I recognize that my experiences create biases that limit my perspective; therefore, I will cultivate a culture of inquiry amongst my peers to invite others to help me see possibilities beyond my viewpoint.

I will respect the needs of my employees to grow as human beings, and do what I can to support their development in ways that help them better contribute to the organization and society.

I will respect the privacy of my employees.  I will do what I can to support employees’ needs for work and life integration.

I will respect the need to support the growth and transformation of the organization.  Most especially must I tread with care in matters of ethics and integrity.  If it is given to me to “save the life” of an organization, I must call upon the two and act accordingly with all stakeholders.  It may also be within my power to terminate employees; this awesome responsibility must be faced with humanity, humbleness and awareness of my own frailty.  Above all, I must not put myself before others.

I will prevent “organizational disease” whenever I can, for prevention is preferable to “cures.”  I will remember that I remain a member of the community and of society, with special obligations to my fellow human beings, those who report to me as well as those who work and live nearby.

If I do not violate this oath, may I enjoy life and art, respected while I live and remembered with affection thereafter.  May I always act so as to preserve the finest actions and ways of being of leadership, and may I long experience the joy of being a leader.

Please share your thoughts by leaving a comment below.

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9 Responses to “The Leadership Oath”

  1. Mike Henry Sr.

    16. Aug, 2010

    Nice post Shawn. You have obviously put a lot of thought into this. You did a great job of pointing out many of the challenges of being a leader that inspires rather than a manager that controls or directs.

    Now we just need one of these for leadership coaches too.

    Mike…

    Reply to this comment

    • Shawn Murphy

      16. Aug, 2010

      Hi Mike, in my ideal world such a pledge would be ceremoniously required, even for coaches. I must admit that the Hippocratic Oath was rich with content to “borrow.” Thank you for your support.
      Shawn

      Reply to this comment

  2. Bhavin Gandhi

    16. Aug, 2010

    I agree with Mike. Really nice post, Shawn.

    Especially, the thing with “I don’t know”. It is really simple to put those concept on paper, but when it comes to reality, most of the Leaders fail to do so.

    I think most of the Leaders are afraid of asking help from other experts, because they don’t want to seem like a fool.

    Anyways, nice article. Thanks. – Bhavin Gandhi

    Reply to this comment

    • Shawn Murphy

      16. Aug, 2010

      Thank you, Bhavin. I have a theory (not original I must confess) that the role of leader traps most people and blinds them from seeing that leader is not synonymous with omniscient. How relieving is it to hear a leader say, “You know, I’m not sure. Let me look into that.”
      I appreciate your engagement. Cheers.

      Reply to this comment

  3. Anne Perschel aka@bizshrink

    16. Aug, 2010

    I pledge and you have my vote.

    Reply to this comment

  4. Geoff Snyder

    26. Aug, 2010

    Shawn:

    Slam dunk! Home run!

    What a great oath you put together here to share with us. I’m going to have to concur Mike and point out that it’s obvious you put a decent amount of time and effort into this.

    It would be an honor to pledge to this,

    God bless.
    Geoff

    Reply to this comment

    • Shawn Murphy

      26. Aug, 2010

      Just imagine the ceremony surrounding each manager taking a Leadership Oath that has do no harm ramifications if not followed.
      Thanks, Geoff, for your support.

      Cheers,
      Shawn

      Reply to this comment

  5. Valerie Iravani

    27. Aug, 2011

    Shawn, I pledge and promise to promote this pledge. I especially feel strongly about I will respect the needs of my employees to grow as human beings, and do what I can to support their development in ways that help them better contribute to the organization and society. Thanks for your efforts on our behalf!

    Reply to this comment

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