Effective leaders build reciprocal community partnerships, which cultivates the inclusivity and sustainability of society. The making of a successful leader is highly dependent on education. Colleges and universities are well-placed to teach and develop people with the right skills and mindset to help them pursue purpose. Moreover, developing talented leaders who can navigate corporate sustainability and responsibility is the key to creating a positive societal impact.
That said, higher education centers need to focus on teaching relevant skills, ethics, and virtues to help future leaders remain truthful. Otherwise, many will compromise their ethics by engaging in dubious and illegal business practices resulting in endless legal battles. Here are some things that should be taught in colleges and universities to prevent future leaders from engaging in unlawful activities.
Ethics
Ethical scandals, such as insider trading, creates significant concerns in the trading industry when investing wasn’t a transparent process in the United States. Such issues have led to an increased emphasis on ethical education. As a result, colleges and universities across the globe have redefined the importance of this subject by creating various learning goals regarding moral, social, and corporate responsibility.
Technically, ethical education helps people develop critical thinking skills. That exposes them to both correct and incorrect decisions, allowing students to learn the complexity of ethics. Moral values also expose students to opposing viewpoints to help them understand and respect contrast ethical opinions.
Decision Making
Every leader should have the ability to make sound decisions. Higher education should prepare students to have clarity of mind so they can make informed decisions. Typically, decisions are what run the corporate world, which eventually impacts the community. A great leader should be concise and clear at all times. Some people don’t know what they want or how to get it, so they will rely on those leaders who seem to have a clear path. Having the ability to tell what’s wrong or right could enable future leaders to make sound decisions and avoid illegal business activities.
Moral Character
Future leaders should also be encouraged to have a strong moral character. This is the foundation of growth, personal acceptance, and ultimate success. Without it, young leaders will have problems making proper decisions, developing lasting relationships, achieving peace of mind, and finding success in their careers and other endeavors. Subsequently, having a great moral character can help instill the mindset that is not selfish – it helps them learn that their actions affect the world around them.
The moral character also helps keep students on the right path. Although mistakes are part of our everyday lives, installing moral character in young leaders can help prevent them from making costly decisions or engaging in unacceptable activities. Additionally, it can help them live a purpose-driven life, be humble, build strong relationships, and become true role models to others.
Relevant Knowledge
Great leaders tend to have in-depth knowledge and understand the ins and outs of their role. Students should be encouraged to become experts in their area of specialization. From conceptual, technical, to theoretical knowledge, relevant knowledge is essential for success. Future leaders should have the ability to conceptualize ideas and understand a situation well enough to lead his/her team. Furthermore, being an expert means you know many things that other people don’t know. This helps build trust and gives a person a desire to lead and influence others.
Integrity
Future leaders should be taught to honest and do the right thing, even without supervision. Integrity is the driving force behind success. When leaders operate from integrity, they gain trust and respect from their followers. This is particularly true when leaders can stick to their word, lead by example, and maintain core values. When students learn about integrity, they are likely to become better future leaders with massive influence. Moreover, integrity helps build character and accountability. Similarly, leaders with integrity often accept and apologize for mistakes and don’t point fingers or blame others for their own mistakes. They also respect and appreciate other people’s time as well as give the benefit of the doubt when things are unclear. Ultimately, a great leader will highlight the roles of their team and downplay their part. With this in mind, any leader in the investment industry can manage all kinds of employees and other resources successfully.
