By Anthony Schumacher, Ph.D. — In his book “Leaders Eat Last,” author Simon Sinek emphasizes that an organization’s strength comes from how well its people pull together rather than the product or service it provides. The “pulling together” creates a circle of safety where people feel that they belong and are valued. Effective leaders extend the circle to everyone within the organization. One could argue that the word “effective” could be replaced with “ethical.” An ethical leader acts with integrity, conducts affairs honestly and with transparency, and believes in the power of empathy. Sinek, when noting the importance of empathy, states that “exceptional organizations have cultures in which the leaders provide cover from above and the people on the ground look out for each other.”
