When I was 19, I worked as a delivery driver for a small auto-supply company. The owner built a new building. We were excited, as it was purpose-built and a nicer facility.

Then we found out that all staff had been “requested” to come in on the weekend and move the store. Without pay.

I went to complain to the owner. He explained that it wouldn’t be fair to the salaried staff to pay the hourly staff over-time (or at all).

I didn’t buy it. But I wasn’t aware of labor laws. And he didn’t seem defensive. He related as if I was a little slow-minded and he was helping me figure out an obvious concept.

There were no threats. If I didn’t want to show, I didn’t have to. As he said, I was free to leave all my co-workers to try to get it done without my help. I didn’t feel good about leaving them – so I showed up.

One of my jobs during this time was to ride in the back of an enclosed box truck, no lights, with an unsecured load of chemicals and panes of glass. My job was to hold the glass and make sure it didn’t break.

Manipulative. Unfair. Massively illegal.

I worked the weekend. The salaried staff were afraid not to show up. The hourly staff showed up out of loyalty to our co-workers. But I quit shortly after.

Unfairness. A lack of justice.

For many people, their worst workplace experiences have to do with injustice. Being treated unfairly.

This can look many ways. But it commonly looks like:

• Broken promises or commitments that erode trust
• Favoritism
• Neglect
• Nepotism
• Being unwilling to defend employees from other abusive employees, vendors or customers
• Group discipline, often through reactive policy development (Usually as a way of avoiding direct confrontation)
• Inequitable or subjective compensation or advancement practices
• Demanding success without providing the needed resources or information

Leadership. Justice. Relationships.

Leadership is a relationship. But it isn’t like any other relationship. Especially not if it includes the mix of the employer dynamic.

It’s a relationship of power with significant influence over someone else’s life.

As a result, people dependently and rightfully expect (or at least hope) that their leaders will relate justly. Fairly.

Leaders Can Do Little Without Credibility

Trying to lead without credibility is like trying to sail a leaky boat. Your time and energy are spent on not sinking. Not on getting to your ideal destination.

This lack of fairness is not just about the rich taking advantage of the poor. I’ve spent much of my life in the non-profit world. A lack of justice can be just as pervasive in a “charitable” context.

There isn’t an organizational type that I haven’t seen it in. Ironically, it can sometimes be the most rampant in social justice organizations.

Unfortunately, the consequences for acting unjustly aren’t always timely. But they still come. Organizations that want to be sustainably successful are also ones that treat people well.

Leaders who want to focus on sailing their boats and not bailing water will ensure that they act justly.

How to Be A Just Leader

The term justice can mean many things. But in most cases, it includes the concepts of:

• Impartiality
• Consistency
• Equitable or appropriate rewards/punishments

It’s really about the power of a leader, their sense of ethics, their awareness of how decisions impact others and their courage.

Power Dynamics: This might be an over-simplification but it’s safe to say that justice flows from power. If you don’t have power, you can’t enforce justice. If you have power, justice is automatically a responsibility.

Some leaders openly abuse their power. But more leaders, at least in my experience, don’t really “own” the fact that there is a power difference. As a result, they don’t take responsibility for what comes with power.

They might think they are being humble. They may not have a sophisticated understanding of relational dynamics. They may be afraid of conflict. They might be pleasers.

Point is: They might be nice people. Even caring. But acting unjustly.

Since a lack of justice is rarely felt upward, many leaders aren’t aware (or can ignore) that a hasty decision may have a significant impact on those they lead.

Leadership Lesson: Become aware of and comfortable with the fact that power differences exist. As a leader, you have more power and influence than some others. Others depend on you to do the right thing.

Ethics: What is “just?” It’s not always clear. But it usually isn’t as murky as some try to make it.

I was recently in a conversation regarding training on diversity and sexual harassment. When you get focused on negatively informed ethics or “what shouldn’t I do?” The conversation can get murky.

That’s a conversation about trying to find the absolute lines or limits. It produces little value.

However, a positively informed ethical standard that points you towards, “How should I relate?” becomes easier.

It moves a conversation from silly topics like, “Can I open the door for someone?” or “Can I compliment someone on how they look today?”  to more useful ones like, “How do I show someone respect?” and “How do I acknowledge and preserve their dignity?”

Leadership Lesson: A leader who is grounded in a clear set of principles or ethics, particularly if positively informed, will find it easier to guide just behavior.

A leader who looks for exceptions, loopholes, and ways to be “above the law” or exceptions as it relates to standards, will lean towards producing unjust acts.

Awareness: Leaders need to cultivate awareness. Part of my coaching practice is to utilize 360-degree evaluations for leaders.

In these, I usually interview 8-12 people who are most closely impacted by or reliant on this person’s leadership.

Leaders who are accurately self-aware, even if they have strong weaknesses, are more effective than those who are not.

It doesn’t matter if a leader tends to think higher or lower of him or herself than is accurate. It’s the lack of self-awareness that contributes to a lack of “other-awareness.”

An unaware leader:

1. Isn’t necessarily aware of their own reactions or motivations for decision making. They are more likely to make unjust decisions as a result.
2. Isn’t aware of how their decisions impact others – and are more likely to miss it or misinterpret any feedback or pushback they receive.

Leadership Lesson: Cultivate awareness. Talk to others. Listen carefully. Watch for your own tendencies to be defensive, to minimize or deflect what others say.

It is very possible to quickly grow in your ability to become accurately aware. But you can’t do it by yourself. You’ll need to get the help of a good coach or counselor.

Courage: A lack of justice often coexists with a lack of a leader’s courage.

This usually looks like the avoidance of difficult conversations or of conflict. Or trying to please everyone and make them happy. Or attempting to make an immediate problem go away without facing the larger issues.

A courageous leader:

• Can handle confrontation when he or she makes mistakes
• Is willing to confront others who are acting badly
• Is willing to make uncomfortable changes
• Isn’t afraid of the hard path if it’s the right thing to do

Leadership Lesson: Courage is built in two ways. It isn’t about not feeling fear or feeling comfortable. It’s just not about feelings. It’s about doing the right thing even when it feels scary.

1. Courage is built through practice: Tackle one, small uncomfortable situation a day. This could be as simple as:
   • Asking the next obvious question in a conversation
   • Starting a conversation with someone you don’t normally talk to (especially for introverts)
   • Being willing to listen, without comment, even when someone is saying something uncomfortable for you to hear (Especially for extroverts)
   • Asking, when appropriate, for someone to better align to a standard or expectation
   • Changing the subject or calling out an inappropriate conversation

2. Courage is built through truth: “What’s the worst that could happen? In most cases, the worst thing that could happen when we do the right thing isn’t that bad.

Nearly all fear is based on exaggerated and inaccurate perspectives of “what could happen.” Adult forms of the “monster under the bed.” Courage is built by shining a light on what is really there.

In most cases, it’s not that big of a deal. The more you realize that, the easier it is for you to be courageous.

Justice and Leadership

The most effective and credible leaders work towards justice. They work to address inequities, inconsistencies, and favoritism. They don’t tolerate it when someone is treated poorly.

The practice of justice in your leadership role will add to your credibility as a leader. It is an important ingredient in your credibility.

The more credibly you are viewed by others, the easier it will be for you to lead.

Take good care,

Christian

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