"In his Nicomachean Ethics, Aristotle argues that to be a good person doesn't mean doing one or two good things but developing certain virtues that allow you to do good things. Doing a brave thing doesn't make you courageous. Giving a compliment doesn't make you kind. To be good is to practice - over and over again - until you transform your character. A good leader is no different."
"To develop the character traits of a good leader, you must consciously work on yourself. Treat your choices as bricks and, over time, those bricks will form something wondrous. The question then becomes, how do I know what bricks to lay? What must I do each day to evolve as a leader? To Aristotle, the best and easiest way to seed and nurture a virtue is to imitate those who embody it. Find a moral exemplar, a role model, or what the Greeks called a ".""
"So, I watch the leaders in my life. I see what a boss does or does not do. I take note of what works for this colleague and is an utter failure for another. Everyone in my life is a potted lesson in how to become better. And in my recent conversation on the How to Make a Leader podcast with Hannah Beaver, I shared what I'd learned over many years of philosophical observation."
Aristotle's Nicomachean Ethics defines moral goodness as cultivated virtues rather than isolated good acts. Virtue forms through repeated practice until character transforms. Leadership likewise requires consciously developing character traits by treating daily choices as bricks that build over time. Imitation of moral exemplars offers an effective route to seed and nurture virtues. Close observation of different leaders reveals which behaviors succeed or fail in varying contexts. Everyday interactions and varied managerial styles provide practical lessons for leadership development. Three essential leadership virtues are presented, beginning with fairness, which involves treating everyone with straightforward impartiality.
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