• Posted on Mar 19, 2025

Leaders are generous.

…Generous with their mentorship, wisdom, compassion, and time.

Being generous with your time as a leader does not mean letting others take advantage of your time. We all can relate to the fact that establishing and enforcing boundaries is an ongoing journey.

One such boundary that’s been top of mind for me lately includes how far we let ourselves be pressured by others who require us to forsake our morals and ethics.

Just like a family member who doesn’t approve of a spouse – you can love and respect your family without agreeing with them. Your moral compass is for you. You are the one who will live 24/7 with the consequences of your decision. Yet, its often others – many of whose faces you will never see and whose stories you may never know – who will also be impacted too. This is the double-edged sword of leadership. Those you serve will often be directly impacted by your leadership decisions, for better or for worse.

Who is it that you truly serve?

As a clinical sociologist, I can tell you that many studies continue to show that humans will do terrible things to other humans if an authority figure directs them to do so. Consider the Milgram experiment as just one of many examples. How far will you allow yourself to be pushed? Will you be able to cope with the potential impact? Do you want your decision to be one you regret on your death bed?

How do you determine what is “right”?

This is why I consider my work as my ministry: Professor, leadership advisor, HR consultant, minister, and career coach. I could go on. I serve in multiple capacities, but the theme is the same: helping people and organizations thrive.  I do because I believe I’m doing my small part to help the world be a more compassionate, safe, and enjoyable place. Developing inclusive leaders and advancing organizations and initiatives that support the inherent worth and dignity of every person matters to me.

What matters to you?

At the end of the day, your actions will speak louder than words. Your actions will likely have a lasting ripple effect. Your decision may impact an employee, but the employee’s circumstance will impact their family, social circle, and other connections and communities in which that employee is a part. Case in point – I read an article recently about the recent deportation of undocumented parents with four U.S. citizen children, one of which was recovering from brain surgery.

The parents had no criminal history and were stopped at an immigration checkpoint while transporting one of their children for medical care. The ripple effect of the deportation is heartbreaking. Yes, they were not documented and is it also true that the public was told undocumented people would not be deported in circumstances such as theirs.

How much does your integrity mean to you?

What impact does saying one thing and doing another have on trust?

If we must go back on our word, how can we ensure that those we serve can still have faith in us moving forward? If we never meant to keep our word, how deserving of faith are we? What impact might this have on the core essence of who we are as human beings in this interconnected world?

Someone who is dishonest to others, is most certainly lying to themselves about something in their own life or understanding of themselves. Honest self-reflection is one of the first steps to developing as a trustworthy, respected, and effective leader.

Are you aligned?

In my client work, I often help individuals or organizational leaders work through what they are experiencing as a loss. From my perspective having seen these patterns before, it’s usually not so much as a loss as it is a meaningful realignment.

When it comes to your personal and professional integrity – this means considering the work you are called to do. If you’re called to serve others as a social servant, for example – be the best social servant you can be. This might also mean “staying in your lane”. If you’re called to be a capitalist businessperson, then be the best you can be. For the sake of others, this likely means staying out of politics, social services, and those areas where people, not profit the come first.

When we step out of alignment with our purpose, heart, and skills – everyone suffers, including ourselves. Yet, when we lean into what we’re called to do – the world is better place for us all.

As I watch what is unfolding around us in 2025 from a sociological perspective, this is what I see: Lack of alignment brings out the worst in us, while alignment brings out the best in ourselves.

Strive to be the best you, you can be. Being the best you can be as a leader starts with being generous, authentically self-reflective, and never letting go of your moral compass that connects you to the rest of humanity and the sacred.

_______________________

I’m on a mission to help people and communities thrive into their best selves. As a clinical sociologist, I do this through leadership development & coaching, teaching, preaching, program and curriculum design, and keynote speaking. I’m passionate about empowering people and developing leaders.

🫧 Let’s connect! Visit my Career Wellness store 🫧

Be a Generous Leader Who Stays in Their Lane Leaders are generous. …Generous with their mentorship, wisdom, compassion, and time.
Being generous with your time as a leader does not mean
letting others take advantage of your time. We all can relate to the fact that
establishing and enforcing boundaries is an ongoing journey. One such boundary that’s been top of mind for me lately
includes how far we let ourselves be pressured by others who require us to
forsake our morals and ethics.Just like a family member who doesn’t approve of a spouse –
you can love and respect your family without agreeing with them. Your moral compass
is for you. You are the one who will live 24/7 with the consequences of your decision.
Yet, its often others – many of whose faces you will never see and whose stories
you may never know – who will also be impacted too. This is the double-edged sword
of leadership. Those you serve will often be directly impacted by your
leadership decisions, for better or for worse.Who is it that you truly serve? As a clinical sociologist, I can tell you that many studies continue
to show that humans will do terrible things to other humans if an authority
figure directs them to do so. Consider the Milgram experiment as just one of many examples. How far will you allow
yourself to be pushed? Will you be able to cope with the potential impact? Do
you want your decision to be one you regret on your death bed?How do you
determine what is “right”?This is why I
consider my work as my ministry: Professor, leadership advisor, HR consultant,
minister, and career coach. I could go on. I serve in multiple capacities, but
the theme is the same: helping people and organizations thrive.  I do because I believe I’m doing my small part
to help the world be a more compassionate, safe, and enjoyable place. Developing
inclusive leaders and advancing organizations and initiatives that support the
inherent worth and dignity of every person matters to me.What matters
to you?At the end of the
day, your actions will speak louder than words. Your actions will likely have a
lasting ripple effect. Your decision may impact an employee, but the employee’s
circumstance will impact their family, social circle, and other connections and
communities in which that employee is a part. Case in point – I read an article
recently about the recent deportation of undocumented parents with four U.S. citizen
children, one of which was recovering from brain surgery. The parents had
no criminal history and were stopped at an immigration checkpoint while
transporting one of their children for medical care. The ripple effect of the
deportation is heartbreaking. Yes, they were not documented and is it also true
that the public was told undocumented people would not be deported in
circumstances such as theirs. How much does
your integrity mean to you? What impact does
saying one thing and doing another have on trust?If we must go
back on our word, how can we ensure that those we serve can still have faith in
us moving forward? If we never meant to keep our word, how deserving of faith
are we? What impact might this have on the core essence of who we are as human
beings in this interconnected world?Someone who is dishonest
to others, is most certainly lying to themselves about something in their own
life or understanding of themselves. Honest self-reflection is one of the first
steps to developing as a trustworthy, respected, and effective leader. Are you aligned?
Sometimes when you think you’ve lost something, you’re just When it comes to
your personal and professional integrity – this also means considering the work
you are called to do. If you’re called to serve others as a social servant, for
example – be the best social servant you can be. This might also mean staying
in your lane. If you’re called to be a capitalist businessperson, then be the
best you can be. This might also mean staying out of politics, social services,
and those areas where people, not profit the come first. When we step out
of alignment with our purpose, heart, and skills – everyone suffers, including
ourselves. Yet, when we lean into what we’re called to do – the world is better
place for us all. In short, lack of
alignment brings out the worst in us, while alignment brings out the best in
ourselves. Strive to be the best you, you can be.