If you do not do your job right, you have no right to do your job. This is critical for those in leadership positions and, especially, for government leaders and corporate officers. You lose all credibility when your ethics are questioned, when you are even suspected of breaking the law, and, finally, when you are actually found guilty of missteps of judgment. You lose any ability to enforce your authority…and you should.

Here are three recent news stories to resonate the accuracy of my statement:
1) The Attorney General Alberto Gonzales’s loss of credibility after the firing of US Attorneys.
2) The mounting pressure for the resignation of Paul Wolfowitz at the World Bank.
3) Even the legacy of British Prime Minister Tony Blair is subject to the questions of his judgment in sending British troops to Iraq.

In the end, it often does not even matter what the truth is and that can be the toughest problem for leaders. What people perceive is what people believe. If there is even the perception of a dent or tear in the ethics of a political leader, that leader is run through the mud and publicly stoned by accusations and calls for resignation.

Is it right to deny a leader the benefit of doubt? A position of the significance that the above three leaders hold, is a position that needs to be occupied by an individual of integrity and reason. A high political position is a position of power and influence. If there is corruption, then the power and influence can be used in support of corruption and to cover up the corruption. Action against corruption must be quick and decisive, so the action against leaders who are perceived to be corrupt is right.

Enjoy this article? Subscribe to my RSS feed.