What Kind of Leader Are You? Embracing Summum Bonum for Purpose-Driven Leadership

Am I a Good Leader?

This question haunts me regularly. While I never aspired to build a multi-million-dollar business, today I find myself leading an enterprise of more than 175 team members who look to me for leadership.

Fellow leader: you and I both know that great leadership is more than driving profits, hitting targets, or climbing the corporate ladder. The best leaders—the ones who build lasting impact, strong teams, and meaningful organizations—orient their leadership around a higher purpose.

That’s where summum bonum comes in.

The Latin phrase summum bonum means “the highest good,” a concept that has guided philosophers, ethicists, and visionaries for centuries. For business leaders, it’s the principle of leading not just for success but for the greater good—creating companies, teams, and cultures that thrive with integrity, purpose, and long-term impact.

What does summum bonum leadership actually look like in practice? Here are some initial thoughts. I’d love to get your perspective as well.

1. Leadership with Purpose

The best leaders don’t just manage—they inspire. Their work is more than a job; at some level, it’s also a mission.

Last year, Texas recorded more than 100 childhood drownings. A horrible tragedy. And – our small enterprise of five Central Texas swim schools provided more than 200,000 swim lessons to the children of our customers. We aren’t able to reach every child in our growing state, but we are living out our vision of reducing the risk of childhood drownings as much as possible.

A leader guided by summum bonum has a clear vision that extends beyond profits. They know why their organization exists and ensure that every strategic decision aligns with that purpose.

This kind of leadership isn’t about short-term wins—it’s about building something meaningful and sustainable. Whether leading a Fortune 500 company or a small startup, these leaders constantly ask: Are we making a real impact? Are we solving the right problems? Are we leaving things better than we found them?

2. Principled Decision-Making

Integrity is the foundation of great leadership. If we are trying to embrace summum bonum, we work to not compromise our values for convenience or short-term gain.

This means:

• Prioritizing honesty and transparency, even when it’s difficult.
• Refusing to cut corners for competitive advantage.
• Making decisions that serve both the company and the greater good, not just shareholders.

When you and I strive for this, we earn a reputation that attracts top talent, earns customer loyalty, and creates long-term success. Employees, clients, and investors trust us—not just because of what we do, but because of who we are.

3. Commitment to Excellence and Growth

Great leaders never stop learning. They constantly seek to refine their skills, expand their knowledge, and grow in wisdom.

A summum bonum leader actively:

• Learns from mentors, advisors, and even competitors.
• Seeks feedback and embraces constructive criticism.
• Cultivates emotional intelligence, becoming more self-aware and adaptable.

You and I shouldn’t just demand excellence from our teams; we should work to model it.

4. Service-Oriented Leadership

Leadership isn’t about power—it’s about stewardship.

Leaders who operate with summum bonum at the core of their leadership serve their teams, customers, and communities. They:

• Invest in the growth and well-being of their employees.
• Create workplaces where people feel valued, empowered, and inspired.
• Give back—through mentorship, philanthropy, or social responsibility initiatives.

We understand that leadership is about multiplying impact, not hoarding influence. We work to build other leaders, ensuring our organizations thrive even beyond our tenure.

5. Vision Beyond Profit

While profitability is essential for long-term viability, summum bonum leaders know that businesses exist for more than just financial gain. They build companies that create genuine value for people and society.

This means:

• Prioritizing sustainability and ethical business practices.
• Innovating in ways that improve lives, not just balance sheets.
• Building organizations that contribute positively to their communities.

When we as leaders take a higher view of our role, we create legacies that outlast our tenure—companies that stand the test of time because they are built on a foundation of purpose and responsibility.

6. Resilience and Courage in Leadership

Financial hardships. Economic uncertainty. Political upheaval. True leadership is tested in times of crisis. Leaders committed to summum bonum don’t seek the easiest path; they seek the right one.

When faced with challenges, they:

• Stay steady under pressure, providing clarity and direction.
• Make tough decisions with fairness and wisdom.
• See setbacks as opportunities for learning and growth.

Fellow leader – we need to lead with courage—not the absence of fear, but the presence of conviction. Are you willing to stand alone if necessary, trusting that doing what is right will, in the end, yield the best outcomes?

The Summum Bonum Leader in Action

What does this look like in real life?

A CEO who leads with summum bonum doesn’t just chase quarterly earnings but builds a company that treats employees with dignity, values ethical sourcing, and reinvests in the community.

A manager who leads this way doesn’t just focus on KPIs but also fosters a culture where employees feel respected, challenged, and supported.

An entrepreneur who embraces summum bonum builds a business not just for personal wealth but to create solutions that improve lives, solve real problems, and make a lasting impact.

Leadership That Endures

In the end, the most successful leaders are not just those who accumulate wealth or power but those who create real value—leaders who are remembered not for what they owned but for what they built, who they helped, and how they led.

A summum bonum approach to leadership ensures that your influence extends far beyond the executive suite. It’s about leading in a way that inspires trust, fosters excellence, and creates a legacy of goodness, wisdom, and impact.

Fellow leader: the question is: What kind of leader do you want to be?