[February 05, 2014] Senior executive leaders possess the highest levels of loyalty to their organization and to those who work for them. Leadership requires loyalty but senior leadership demands an intensity of commitment not seen in other leaders.
It is difficult to imagine a great leader who is not intensely loyal to their organization and followers. We often say that a poor leader is one who lacks this trait. The senior leader is often the “cheerleader” of the organization; one who pushes for the organization’s success.
Loyalty1 is a part of the social fabric that weaves people into a coherent team (organization, club, family, etc). John Kleinig notes that loyalty “is an essential ingredient in any civilized and humane system of morals.”
Most of us will also agree that loyalty is an important element, the glue, that holds an organization together. We demand it and give it when earned. We consider it one of several key ingredients in leadership at all levels. Without it, our teams would not be as effective. Not unlike trust, loyalty to those we work and interact with is important for a host of good reasons.
This is why loyalty is such an important trait in senior leaders. It is a part of the positive work environment … all leading to the same thing in a well functioning, efficient organization.
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[1] Interestingly, the concept of loyalty did not receive much attention until the 1960s and then only scant mention. It is now more widely accepted that loyalty means a faithfulness to a person, organization, country, or cause.