If you haven?t followed the Ray Rice/NFL story, you can see?why it?s a big deal here.?
Here?s what I think this terrible story ought to tell us:
Anyone can do the right thing when an outraged public demands they do the right thing. That?s not leadership, it?s reactionary survivalism. It?s cowardly moralism. It?s throwing a villain under the bus to satisfy the thirst?of an angry crowd and distance your reputation from his.
Leadership means doing the right thing at the right time, even when it?s difficult. Even when it might cost you something.?
Just because you’re in charge doesn’t mean you’re a leader. Don?t be like Roger Goodell and the NFL. (See also: the brain trauma story.) Instead, lead.