Why Do I Work With Good People, Leaders, Teams and Coaches?
I'm sitting here at my parents' house, the day after New Year's Day, reflecting on several conversations I’ve had with my dad, a good man. We looked back over his life and discussed some of the things he worries about and those he feels blessed to have experienced.
Our discussions reinforced my commitment to working with good people; I hope it brings some value.
Sending love and best wishes to you all.
Stefan
Why Do Work With Good People, Leaders, Teams and Coaches?
I work with good leaders who want to lead great things.
I work with good teams who want not only to change their organisation but also to reform their sector, and I work with good coaches who want to develop the capability of others to lead great things. But why?
For me, it’s simple. Our world constantly celebrates the pursuit of greatness and overlooks one of the most important qualities that will shape our future: goodness.
Sure, we celebrate prophets, ‘do-gooders’, and ‘pacifists’. We quote ‘wellbeing gurus’ and idolise the ‘nicer’, more ‘wholesome’ speeches from world leaders, but too often, we define success by wealth, fame, and the ability to influence rather than by what is being influenced.
For me, and for all of us, the true measure of success needs to be rooted in being good. Good people, good work, and good leadership have the potential to create lasting impact in ways that financial success or personal acclaim alone cannot.
I believe that we need more good people rising to the top and that a focus on goodness rather than greatness could transform both our workplaces and society.
The Cultural Shift Toward Greatness
Flick though social media for anyone than 5 minutes and you will see that greatness has become synonymous with wealth, power, or visibility. When we think of “great” people, we usually think of business moguls, athletes or global influencers who seem to dominate the media. Even more so when you ask many ‘isolated’ young people. And yes, they’ve made significant achievements, built empires, and gained worldwide recognition but are they helping to create a thriving planet?
The problem with this is that we often celebrate these individuals for their success, but not always for their character or the way they lead their sector, channel or followers. While the accomplishments of these figures are undeniably remarkable, the focus on external success can sometimes obscure more important qualities like empathy, integrity, and humility. Greatness, as it’s often defined in popular culture, can be transactional, focused on tangible financial and acquisition based outcomes and the visible fruits of their ‘greatness’.
But what if the measure of greatness were not about outshining others but about elevating those around us? In a world obsessed with individual accolades, we need to ask ourselves: what if the real need of humanity lies not in the individual but in the collective good we can create together?
The Case for Goodness
Good people don’t necessarily make headlines although some might accumulate wealth, it’s their contribution to society, and a search or a thriving planet, in deeply meaningful ways - which needs to be celebrated. Being good means showing up consistently, prioritising integrity, and leading with empathy. It’s not about outperforming others but about lifting others up and contributing to the collective well-being.
Good people are the ones who build trust, nurture relationships, and create spaces where everyone can thrive and if we are to thrive and we are to address the ‘ills of this world’ which are pressing more than ever - we need to change the focus on who we allow to ‘rise to the top’.
Here’s why goodness, rather than greatness, should be our new measure of success:
1. Goodness Creates a Culture of Trust and Respect
Trust is the foundation of any successful relationship, whether in business, communities, or personal life. When people lead with integrity and empathy, they inspire trust in those around them. Goodness doesn’t mean perfection, but it means being reliable, consistent, and ethical. Leaders who are good instil confidence in their teams and encourage open communication, which fosters a sense of safety and respect.
Take, for example, a company led by a “great” CEO who focuses solely on profits, often at the expense of employee well-being and sustainable practices. The work culture might thrive in the short term due to aggressive strategies or innovation, but long-term success is often compromised by burnout, high turnover, and a lack of loyalty. On the other hand, a CEO who values honesty, works to support employees, and builds a culture based on respect is likely to see sustained success, see CSR as the focus rather than a part of the business. Employees are more engaged, more likely to stay long-term, and more committed to the company’s mission. Good leadership creates an environment where people feel seen, heard, and valued, leading to a more resilient, effective team.
Of course this needs board and shareholder support too.
2. Goodness Encourages Collaboration Over Competition
Greatness is often framed in terms of competition—outperforming others to prove one’s value. But true success, especially in today’s interconnected world, one in which we need a unified approach, to climate change for example, it’s imperative that we have effective mass collaboration. When leaders and individuals prioritise goodness, they create a culture where people work together toward common goals rather than focusing solely on individual achievement.
Take the medical field, for instance. Doctors and researchers may win Nobel Prizes for groundbreaking discoveries, but it’s often the result of years of collaboration with colleagues who share their expertise, ideas, and resources. Goodness in this case manifests as a shared commitment to improving lives, and the true impact is felt not in one person’s recognition, but in the lives saved, the communities improved, and the progress made as a whole.
In the corporate world and across governments and poetical parties, this same principle should apply. Leaders who encourage collaboration, respect diverse viewpoints, and focus on shared success rather than individual glory help create innovative, inclusive environments. These are the leaders who can navigate the complexities of today’s challenges and bring people together to solve them.
Of course this needs consumers and voters support too.
3. Goodness Nurtures Personal and Collective Well-being
We often hear about the “price of success”—the sacrifices that come with being at the top. It’s often portrayed as something that requires relentless pursuit and a willingness to sacrifice everything in the name of achievement. But the pressure to be great can have detrimental effects on our mental and physical health. Burnout, stress, and a sense of emptiness often follow those who have spent years chasing external markers of success at the expense of inner well-being.
It’s what’s burning our planet, our communities and social care too. Not to mention the pursuit of unregulated AI innovation.
In contrast, the pursuit of goodness is rooted in sustainable practices. Being good means caring for yourself and others, balancing ambition with well-being. Goodness doesn’t demand perfection or constant sacrifice—it encourages growth, reflection, and personal fulfilment.
When people lead with goodness, they help create healthier, more balanced communities, workplaces, and relationships. Leaders who prioritise well-being—who focus not just on results but on how those results are achieved—cultivate environments where everyone can thrive. This approach isn’t just better for individuals; it’s better for organisations, communities and our planet too. Communities that feel supported and respected are more likely to produce long-term, sustainable results.
Of course this needs individuals to recognise and support the benefit of meeting a communities needs rather than ‘just’ theirs too.
4. Goodness Has a Ripple Effect
One of the most powerful aspects of goodness is its ripple effect. When someone demonstrates goodness—whether by showing kndness, working with integrity, or offering support—it has a contagious impact on those around them. This is the power of leading by example.
Consider the impact of a teacher who invests not only in academic achievement but also in the emotional and social well-being of their students. The lessons they impart, both academic and personal, ripple through the lives of those students. These students, in turn, go on to be more empathetic, compassionate, and ethical leaders in their own communities.
Goodness spreads beyond individual actions—it creates a culture where others feel inspired to act similarly. In this way, goodness becomes a force multiplier for positive change. When good people rise to the top, they set a standard for others to follow, creating a larger movement toward positive impact.
Of course this needs acknowledgement of what good is and of the acceptance of the limitation of some personal freedoms for the collective.
The Cost of Ignoring Goodness
The importance of goodness in leadership is often underscored by Plato’s famous quote: “Good people do not need laws to tell them to act responsibly, while bad people will find a way around the laws.” This wisdom is demonstrated in industries where leaders have chosen to “greenwash” their operations—pretending to address environmental concerns while continuing harmful practices.
They may make great breakthroughs in technology or sustainability on paper, but these advancements are often exploited for the benefit of shareholders rather than genuine environmental or social progress.
Such exploitation doesn’t stop with corporations—it extends to governments, who may be pressured to relax regulations, which in turn favours the few and means less entitled and wealthy individuals, bear the brunt of environmental degradation.
Instead of using these innovations to create real, positive change, they are harnessed primarily to increase profits, further entrenching the power of corporations at the expense of public well-being.
This reliance on superficial measures, rather than true ethical leadership, is a perfect example of how the pursuit of greatness (in this case, profit) can overshadow the need for goodness in decision-making.
Sector Leaders, It’s Time to Lead with Goodness
As we look to the future of leadership, success, and societal progress, it’s clear that the traditional pursuit of greatness—defined by wealth, fame, or individual accolades—must be redefined.
Leaders in every sector, from business, via religion and charity into government, have the power and responsibility to drive lasting change. But if we continue to prioritise short-term profits, shareholder interests, and personal recognition over the common good, we risk perpetuating systems that exploit people and the planet for the sake of corporate gain.
Now, more than ever, we need leaders who understand that greatness is not about outshining others, but about lifting others up. Leaders who make the conscious decision to embrace goodness as the true measure of success will create cultures of trust, inspire collaboration, and drive sustainable progress.
The time for profit-driven decisions at the expense of ethical responsibility needs to be over.
When I consider this, I think of the good that global green and humanitarian charities and organisations could do if they pulled together, rather than focusing on winning on their own agenda and beating their peers to the net charitable donation -focusing on becoming the biggest and the best - rather than the most effective.
It is within your power to choose a different path and to show a different path. It is possible to achieve financial success while leading with integrity, empathy, and a deep commitment to social and environmental responsibility. In fact, the most resilient and successful businesses of the future will be those that operate with a clear focus on the greater good, not just the bottom line.
The breakthrough technologies, innovative ideas, and transformative policies you create don’t have to be exploited for shareholder profit or government advantage. They can be used to benefit communities, improve lives, and protect the environment in fact, its possible to do this and be profitable. True leadership in the 21st century will be measured not by how much wealth is generated, but by the positive, lasting impact made on society as a whole.
The world needs you to rise to the top with goodness at your core. By making choices based on long-term, sustainable progress—by valuing people over profits and collaboration over competition—you will set the standard for a new era of leadership. You have the opportunity to be part of something far greater than your personal success: the opportunity to leave a legacy that transforms industries, communities, and the world itself.
And if you are a good person wondering about whether you can, whether you should, or whether you should just accept the status quo - I say no. Why? Because there is no choice. You must. For one day it will, be too late to make a choice.
Let me help you to find the confidence, strength and skills needed to rise with goodness—not just to create a better present, but to build a brighter, more equitable future for generations to come.
The world is waiting for leaders like you to step forward and make a change and I would like to help you take it.
Some questions to consider:
How can you focus on being good in your everyday life?
What can you do to build trust and respect in your team?
How can you work better together with others instead of competing against them?
What can you do to make sure your success helps people and the planet?
What kind of impact do you want to leave for the future, and how can you help?
Stefan
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For now; thank you
I am…
An executive coach who specialises in helping good people lead great things.
Good people care about others, our planet and beauty. Great things are changes for the betterment of society and all that lives within an around it.
It sounds big and fun - it is.
I'm also an endurance racing cyclist and a go. getter.
You can read more about me and what I do; how I work here