The Six Leadership Virtues
Develop the three Characters within one Dimension and you become a Specialist. Combine Specialisms across two Dimensions and something new emerges: a Leadership Virtue. There are six, and at the centre of them all sits the Master Practitioner.
The Prudent Practitioner
Specialist in Understanding and Ethics
Prudent Practitioners are Specialists in Understanding and Ethics. This combination provides emotional intelligence and a depth of insight, coupled with a foundation for positive action and intent. Each Specialist enhances the other to reveal the Leadership Virtue of Prudence. The mastery of self, others and context are applied towards moral problem-solving.
That combination has a name in the Good Leadership framework: Prudent. Understanding plus Ethics. The Prudent leader doesn't refuse the raise to look virtuous. They refuse it because they've read the landscape clearly, and their values and their reading of reality are pointing in exactly the same direction.
Good leadership is knowing what is right to do, when to do it, and where it matters most.
The Wise Practitioner
Specialist in Understanding and Purpose
Wise Practitioners are Specialists in Understanding and Purpose. This combination provides deep insight, and the inspiration needed to leverage it for the future. Each Specialist enhances the other to reveal the Leadership Virtue of Wisdom. The mastery of self, others, and context are used to move towards preferred goals.
This is the Virtue of Wise: one who sees deeply and builds purposefully. Her Oracle understood culture and community. Her Architect shaped institutions that will outlast her. Her Navigator guided millions toward possibility.
Wisdom in Leadership is not simply about having knowledge. It is about understanding what is happening, seeing what could be possible, and knowing how to turn that understanding into purposeful action. Good Leaders do not just ask what is happening, they ask what this could become.
The Social Practitioner
Specialist in Understanding and Communication
Social Practitioners are Specialists in Understanding and Communication. This combination allows them to know something well and articulate it just as well. Each Specialist enhances the other to reveal the Leadership Virtue of Social. Another way to describe Social Practitioner would be Worldly Practitioners. Psychology, anthropology, economics, politics, and linguistics are their comfort areas.
This is Social leadership. Understanding without words achieves nothing. Words without understanding achieve less. Lee chose both.
The Social Practitioner understands how others see and hear the world and then uses their words for maximum impact. Empathy and awareness are the foundations upon which real communication happens.
The Just Practitioner
Specialist in Ethics and Communication
Just Practitioners are Specialists in Ethics and Communication. This combination allows them to champion what is right. They hold strong, principled positions and are not afraid to articulate them. Each Specialist enhances the other to reveal the Leadership Virtue of Just.
This is the Good Leadership Virtue of Just: Ethics meets Communication, showcasing a leader using their platform not to please, but to hold the line on what is right.
Good Leadership demands fairness, courage, and the willingness to shake the table when it matters most.
The Spiritual Practitioner
Specialist in Purpose and Ethics
Spiritual Practitioners are Specialists in Purpose and Ethics. This combination ensures the chosen path is ambitious yet meaningful. That the future intended and worked towards, is wholesome and positive. Each Specialist enhances the other to reveal the Leadership Virtue of Spiritual. The competency in change-making is used to right wrongs.
She represents something rare: a leader whose Ethics and Purpose are indivisible. She has not campaigned for rights because it was safe or strategic. She has done so because it is who she is.
The virtue of being Spiritual reminds us that progress is about finding meaning in your leadership through integrity and purpose.
The Courageous Practitioner
Specialist in Purpose and Communication
Courageous Practitioners are Specialists in Purpose and Communication. This combination allows them to be bold in action. They see clearly where they want to be and can influence others to help them get there. Each Specialist enhances the other to reveal the Leadership Virtue of Courage.
This is Courageous leadership: a bold, purposeful act communicated with clarity and confidence to a vast public audience. Purposeful boldness, backed by sharp communication, is the Virtue of Courageous.
Courageous leadership isn't about being fearless. It's about facing what scares you, understanding your why, and leading anyway.
The Virtues in practice
These are introductions. Chapter Three of The Good Leadership Book takes each Virtue apart: the Character pairings in every Domain, what the Practitioner looks like in action, and how to grow towards Master Practitioner.