Aligned leadership team and leadership integrity

Recently, a senior leader told me why he decided to resign from his company.
His story is, sadly, not uncommon.

The leadership team he was part of was full of tension: constant internal fighting, back-channeling, political games, and no real sense of pulling in the same direction. 

Global guidelines were selectively ignored, "creative shortcuts" crossed ethical boundaries, and when he tried to represent the expectations of the owners and global leadership, the management team stepped back and went behind his back.

When he resigned, he was the one who informed his own team — of course, he saw it as his responsibility. And he wanted to do it in a way that was fully ethical and respectful towards the company as well, because that mattered deeply to him. 

His own leader didn't meet him, no official communication was prepared, and no transition plan was created.

🎁Solution-focused question & exercise for organisations / leadership teams

❓What can we do to strengthen and make our leadership team's alignment and ethical behaviour more consistent?

💡Excercise:
1️⃣Identify one recent situation where the leadership team acted with alignment or integrity — even in a small way.
2️⃣Reflect on what made that moment possible.
3️⃣Choose one small behaviour to practise this week to strengthen ethical, transparent collaboration.

🎁Solution-focused question & exercise for leaders

❓ Which of your strengths or values helped you act ethically, respectfully, and responsibly toward your company and your team — even when it was difficult?

💡 Excercise:
1️⃣Write down three examples that clearly show this.
2️⃣Note why each one matters for continuing to be the kind of leader you want to be.

Tomorrow I'll be back with Advent Window No. 4 — another small but meaningful step toward noticing what works, what matters, and what supports healthier leadership and organisational life.