Courage: The Backbone of Leadership
In Courage, Gus Lee captures the essential component of leadership in measurable behaviors. Using actual stories from Whirlpool, Kaiser Permanente, IntegWare, WorldCom and other organizations, Lee shows how highly successful executives face and overcome their fears to develop moral intelligence. These real-world examples offer practical lessons for rooting out unethical practices and behaviors by:
- Assessing them for rightness and integrity
- Addressing moral failures
- Following through with dialogue and direct action
This hardcover edition from Jossey-Bass provides practical frameworks for leaders at all levels who want to build ethical organizational cultures. The book demonstrates how courage functions as the foundation for effective leadership, particularly when facing difficult decisions that test moral character.
Drawing from extensive research and real corporate environments, Lee translates abstract ethical concepts into concrete leadership behaviors that can be learned and practiced. The case studies span multiple industries, offering relevant insights whether you're in healthcare, technology, manufacturing, or telecommunications.
The book serves as both a diagnostic tool for assessing organizational ethics and a practical guide for implementing moral leadership principles. It addresses common challenges executives face when balancing business pressures with ethical responsibilities, providing actionable strategies for maintaining integrity while achieving results.
