Noblesse Oblige
Leaders have a duty to speak up.
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“When virtue is banished, ambition invades the minds of those who are disposed to receive it, and avarice possesses the whole community.”
— Montesquieu, 1745
Leadership is not a set of perks. Leadership is the manifestation of duty to others.
Last week, we talked about the role of a leader as a steward of an organization,1 holding a place perhaps previously occupied by someone else and preparing it to be occupied by another.
A leader’s duty isn’t only to an organization, but to its people as well, as they think beyond themselves and consider the greater good.
It reminded me of a related concept called noblesse oblige.
