Work Ethic

Work Ethic is the next quality that Brady and Woodward include in the Trilateral Leadership Ledger's factor of Tasks.

The Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary defines Work Ethic as: a belief in work as a moral good : a set of values centered on the importance of doing work and reflected especially in a desire or determination to work hard.

Far too often people in a leadership position adopt the mindset, either consciously or unconsciously, 'do as I say and not as I do'.  This just does not work.  One of the most successful keys to leadership is leading my example.  There is an old leadership adage that the leader should be the first one in and the last one out.  While this may need not always be the case, the sentiment is sound.  The effective leader works, works hard, and works consistently.  Additionally, the leader should have the attitude that they won't ask of their team anything that they themselves are not willing to do.  That does not mean that the leader has to do everything.  It simply means, as I previously pointed out, there are no tasks that are beneath them (think sweeping the gym floor).  Remember, people are watching and will tend to duplicate the actions of the leader.  Caution: just putting in time does not necessarily indicate a strong work ethic.  It is easy to be physically present but get nothing done.  Inherent on a strong work ethic is being productive.  Your hard work needs to net some results!

It is also important to that you are not working hard just for the sake of working hard.  You can work hard and not be productive.  Included in the work ethic is a commitment to the work and to the vision and mission.  Effective leaders have a strong work ethic that is vision and mission centered and has a purpose and direction.

As Mike Rowe has said, work ethic is a choice.  You can choose to have a strong work ethic or not, but if you don't, your effectiveness as a leader will be greatly diminished!

Chris Brady & Orrin Woodward: "Launching a Leadership Revolution."  Business Plus. New York. p.97