Our Leadership Credo

The Head, Heart and Hand of Exceptional Leaders for Social Change

Head - how we think as leaders

• Don’t fight every battle. Choose the important ones – and win them.

• We all have strengths and weaknesses. Be aware of your weaknesses, but love your strengths. Be strengths-driven.

• Whatever you do – a few people always dislike what you do. Don’t try to satisfy 100% of the people.

• Great civil society leaders are strategic thinkers who constantly screen the environment for opportunities.

• True leaders consider the people and the planet in all their decisions.

• Change will never be achieved alone. Great leaders collaborate with like-minded peers to create something significant and lasting.

• Great leaders are self-reflective and able to change their habits and behavioural patterns.

Heart - how we feel as leaders and make others feel

• Great Leaders appeal to other people’s hearts, not just their needs.

• Great Leaders know what lights their fire, their inspiration. If you want to be inspired, it helps to be inspired.

• Exceptional leaders help others explore their purpose and support them in becoming leaders.

• When you do what you love, charisma will follow. Charisma is great, but only if combined with integrity and humility.

• Take a genuine interest in people. Exceptional leaders are attentive and show profound empathy.

• Great leaders are in tune with themselves. They enjoy life.

• Great leaders are courageous and show solidarity with the people they serve.

• Leaders are visible all the time – manage your emotions well.

Hand - what we do as leaders

• Great leaders work hard and do not give up easily. They see their job as a passion.

• Be positive and confident, not arrogant. For negative people, there is no place in leadership.

• Vision alone is not enough. Nothing in life is achieved without meaningful action.

• Be honest and authentic to yourself, and never compromise your integrity.

• Great leaders focus on synergies and teamwork rather than dictating solutions.

• Build a robust Leadership Team with people you trust.

• Great leaders are appreciative and celebrate small and significant achievements.

• Great leaders are experts in attentive listening. They listen more and speak less.

We want to give special thanks to Herbert Wolpert of MIRA consultants, who introduced the first Leadership Credo to the Civil Society Academy International.