Today, leaders are expected to drive growth, manage change, and provide stability. However, trust in leadership is still very low. In 2025, only 19% of people in a Gallup survey said they strongly trust their organization’s leaders. As leaders plan their goals and strategies for 2026, responsible leadership should be the starting point. When responsibility is treated as a core strategy—not a side issue—it can help rebuild trust.
What Responsible Leadership Means
For this article, I spoke with two leading experts in this field: Professor Nicola Pless from Adelaide University and Professor Thomas Maak from Queensland Business School. Long before ESG became popular, their research showed that leadership and ethics cannot be separated. They defined responsible leadership as leading with strong values and understanding that businesses are part of society, not separate from it.
Professor Pless explained that when responsible leadership was first being developed, she was working as Vice President of International Leadership Development at a global bank. This was before major banking scandals. At that time, leadership programs focused mainly on performance and profits for shareholders. Ethics and responsibility were rarely discussed.
She later reviewed her PhD research, called Corporate Caretaking, and realized it could bring together corporate responsibility, ethics, and stakeholder management to change how leadership is understood in business. Responsible leadership was not created because of scandals or for marketing reasons. It came from a clear gap in both leadership practice and theory.
“Responsible leadership is not just about running a company,” Pless said. “It is about understanding a company’s role in society. It is leadership based on values and ethics, focused not only on profit but also on reducing environmental impact and creating value for society.”
Why Responsible Leadership Is Not Just Another Trend
Responsible leadership is not only about how to lead. It is also about why you lead and what you want to achieve.
Unlike leadership styles that focus on personal charm, efficiency, or short-term results, responsible leadership is based on ethics and big-picture thinking. As Pless explains, it is not about personal success or making quick deals. It is about how leaders can help businesses do good for society.
This is why responsible leadership can be difficult. Leaders must take responsibility for the impact of their decisions on everyone involved — employees, customers, communities, and the environment — not just business results or profits.
7 Responsible Leadership Principles for 2026
Thomas Maak and Nicola Pless suggest these principles for leaders who want to act more responsibly in 2026:
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Start with purpose, not just profit
Decide the positive role your business should play in society. Think beyond making money. -
Think in a connected way
Understand how your decisions affect people, communities, and the environment. Look at the full picture before acting. -
Take a clear stand
Do not stay silent on important social issues. People expect leaders to speak up and act according to shared values. -
Show moral courage
Sometimes doing the right thing means choosing ethics over short-term profit. This may not bring quick rewards, but it helps in the long run. -
Engage all stakeholders
Do not focus only on shareholders. Listen to different voices and work together to create value for everyone. -
Measure what really matters
Track social and environmental impact along with financial results. Being open builds trust. -
Lead by example
Your actions matter. Show honesty, empathy, and responsibility in every decision. A good leader sets the standard for others.
Leadership Is a Choice—And So Is the Future We Build
Leaders must take responsibility themselves. They should not pass it on to others. By following these seven principles, leaders can show they care about their employees, customers, the communities they work in, and everyone affected by their decisions.
Pless explains responsible leadership clearly with this quote:
“Leadership is a choice, and so is the future we build. Every decision a leader makes helps shape the world that our children and grandchildren will live in. We must act now. Waiting is not an option.”
Published: 22th December 2025
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