Steward Leadership and the Pursuit of Long-term Success

In Chapter 1, we described the stewardship mindset as being based on inclusive, as opposed to exclusive, thinking about the nature of business. In Chapter 2, we defined stewardship as the responsible and wholehearted management of inherited assets, so as to pass them on in a better condition. We explained that stewardship starts with the will, with the determination to achieve and deliver in a unique way, and not to wait for others to dictate the path. It connects the past and present with the future, and it flows from a sense of interdependence. We articulated and illustrated the five core concepts of stewardship in thinking and practice — ownership, purpose, long-term view, relationships and community. In this chapter, we look at what the stewardship mindset means for leaders, and how steward leaders define, pursue and share success in ways that make sense for employees, shareholders and society…