High Road Leadership

Great leaders take the high road, not because it is easy, but because it leads to empowering others and building a better future.

1. Leadership is about putting others first

Effective leadership starts by focusing on others rather than yourself. A leader is at their best when they adopt what John Maxwell calls the "high road" – a mindset that prioritizes serving others over personal gain. This means stepping away from selfish motivations and stepping into decisions that benefit the collective.

When leaders take the low road, they act only out of self-interest, ignoring the needs of others. The middle road represents a transactional "I’ll help you if you help me" mindset – which also limits a leader's ability to build trust or long-term relationships. The true high-road leader goes further, giving without expecting a return and treating everyone with respect, even when faced with disrespect.

This selfless leadership style fosters collaboration and mutual understanding. High-road leaders remain open to other perspectives, seek common ground, and build relationships based on shared goals. This approach leads to stronger teams, improved morale, and an organizational culture of respect and cooperation.

Examples

• A leader who mentors an employee without anticipating any personal benefits demonstrates the high road.
• Organizations thrive under leaders who create opportunities for others to succeed, even at their own expense.
• Treating employees and colleagues respectfully, regardless of disagreements, keeps teams united and forward-looking.

2. Self-awareness drives strong leadership

Effective leaders understand and embrace their flaws and strengths. This self-awareness allows a leader to connect with others on a human level, avoiding arrogance or unreasonably high expectations of themselves and others.

Leaders who lack self-awareness often seek perfection, which causes them to get stuck in their mistakes or undermine their team's confidence. When leaders recognize their imperfections, they learn to forgive themselves, take errors in stride, and model resilience. Maxwell stresses that this balance of confidence and humility builds genuine credibility.

Another part of self-awareness includes examining your motives. Are you leading for personal gain, or are you serving those around you? A self-aware leader intentionally makes decisions that uplift others while avoiding behaviors like chasing praise, demanding to be right, or blaming others.

Examples

• A leader who owns up to a mistake in front of their team not only repairs trust but also sets an example of accountability.
• Self-aware leaders adopt a growth mindset, using setbacks as opportunities for learning and improvement.
• Checking motives regularly prevents leaders from succumbing to ego-driven decisions that harm an organization.

3. Generosity amplifies leadership

Generosity is not just a personality trait; it’s a cornerstone of effective leadership. High-road leaders seek to give more than they take, practicing open-hearted, open-minded, and open-handed generosity. This approach enriches the people and organizations they serve.

Open-hearted generosity involves amplifying others while fueling their growth and potential. Open-minded generosity assumes the best in people and creates an environment where trust thrives. Open-handed generosity involves freely sharing resources, time, and encouragement to help others flourish.

Generous leaders see value in offering new opportunities, connections, or support wherever they can. This generosity adds strength to teams, motivates employees, and fosters a culture of gratitude and collaboration. It is not about material giving but about how a leader chooses to empower and inspire.

Examples

• Providing a struggling team member with training or support can help them overcome challenges.
• Sharing networks or contacts with colleagues expands their horizons and career paths.
• Offering someone a leadership opportunity on a project builds their confidence and skills.

4. Emotional capacity builds resilience

Leadership comes with challenges like failure, criticism, and stress. High-road leaders rely on their emotional strength to respond thoughtfully rather than react impulsively. Maxwell emphasizes the significance of building emotional capacity as a foundation for resilience.

Strong emotional capacity starts with refusing a victim mentality. Leaders who take responsibility for their actions, rather than blaming others or external circumstances, demonstrate maturity and foster trust. Additionally, they resolve conflicts quickly instead of holding grudges, freeing themselves from emotional baggage.

Understanding what can and cannot be controlled is equally key. Leaders focus on actionable solutions, while accepting that some issues are "facts of life." They also prioritize self-care because a depleted leader cannot effectively serve others.

Examples

• A department leader resolves a team conflict quickly to prevent long-term tension and inefficiency.
• Facing a missed deadline, a resilient leader analyses what went wrong and encourages the team to regroup.
• Practicing self-care, such as taking regular breaks, ensures leaders can make clear and impactful decisions.

5. Authentic leadership builds trust

Genuine connections require leaders to embrace authenticity. High-road leaders display honesty, humility, and openness, building stronger relationships with their teams. Authenticity also means being vulnerable, admitting to mistakes, and resisting the urge to project perfection.

True leadership acknowledges that success and failure are fleeting labels. Instead of being trapped by them, leaders operate in the space between, focusing on continual growth and adaptation. Maxwell suggests character – not reputation – defines a person. Prioritizing inner integrity rather than external image solidifies a leader’s foundation.

Accountability is also essential. Leaders who take responsibility for their actions strengthen trust and promote a culture of fairness and consistency.

Examples

• A leader helps their team through uncertain times by openly addressing issues rather than pretending everything is fine.
• Focusing on choices that reflect integrity instead of short-term success protects an organization’s reputation.
• Honest acknowledgment of a misstep encourages team members to also accept responsibility for their roles.

6. Lead with the bigger picture in mind

Successful leadership requires seeing beyond immediate challenges or distractions to focus on long-term goals. High-road leaders resist the temptation of keeping score, where interactions become transactional and relationships erode.

Maturity plays a vital role in maintaining this big-picture perspective. Leaders must analyze complex situations carefully and always act with the greater good in mind. This intentionality shapes decisions that align with a group’s vision and values.

Treating others better than they treat you – sometimes called the Platinum Rule – keeps leaders grounded. Putting kindness above competitiveness or skepticism fosters positive relationships and strengthens the entire organization.

Examples

• A leader prioritizing an employee’s well-being over personal frustrations keeps morale high.
• Avoiding reactive decisions during a crisis helps teams stay focused on long-term success.
• Forgiving a colleague who underperformed allows collaboration to remain effective.

7. Kindness and respect elevate collaboration

Mutual respect is another ingredient of leadership inspired by the high road. Great leaders treat everyone with dignity, regardless of their position or differences in opinion. Such leaders acknowledge others’ opinions, recognize potential in everyone, and build inclusive working environments.

This approach fosters unity. Teams that feel valued are more likely to align with their leader’s vision and work collaboratively toward common goals. Maxwell states that focusing on collective benefit rather than individual gain is what sustains effective teamwork.

Respect creates a ripple effect – teams that experience it are more likely to extend it to others, building widespread trust and cohesion.

Examples

• Leaders who hear and consider opposing views foster mutual understanding and breakthrough ideas.
• Leaders acknowledging and celebrating individual accomplishments motivate teams to perform better.
• Respectful treatment of all employees, from entry-level to senior staff, creates a welcoming workplace culture.

8. Avoid shortcuts to maintain integrity

The high road may be difficult, but it leads to the most rewarding outcomes. Leaders must resist shortcuts and remain committed to their values, even when the easy option tempts them. Shortcuts may save time momentarily but often erode trust and credibility.

Choosing integrity means following through on commitments, being honest even in unfavorable situations, and always considering the team’s welfare. Leaders who uphold these values earn respect and leave a lasting positive impact.

Maxwell emphasizes that integrity builds a foundation for meaningful leadership, while shortcuts often lead to shallow or temporary success.

Examples

• Delivering difficult news transparently rather than concealing information preserves trust.
• Declining to cut corners even under tight deadlines shows dedication to excellence.
• Following through on agreements solidifies dependability and inspires loyalty.

9. Leadership is about inspiring positive change

Ultimately, high-road leadership revolves around creating a positive impact. Leaders focus on helping others grow and enabling their teams to thrive. By staying open-minded, emotionally balanced, and self-aware, they foster environments where everyone can succeed.

Leadership is not about control or hierarchy – it’s about serving. Inspired leaders recognize that their purpose is to guide others toward achieving greatness together. By taking the high road, they leave behind organizations and individuals who are better because of their influence.

Examples

• Transforming workplace culture through inclusive and empathetic practices strengthens team relationships.
• Encouraging employees to pursue personal and professional goals inspires loyalty and productivity.
• Guided by purpose rather than power, leaders spearhead initiatives that uplift communities.

Takeaways

1. Consistently aim to give more than you take by supporting, encouraging, and empowering those around you.
2. Practice self-awareness by regularly reflecting on your actions, motivations, and areas where you can grow.
3. Lead with integrity, even when it’s not the easiest or most profitable path, to build long-lasting trust and influence.