Corporate leaders often justify their silence on threats to democracy by citing shareholder value. This is a fallacy, as they have a history of criticizing presidents on policy. Their silence is more accurately a fear-based calculation that creates a path of zero resistance for authoritarianism.
A superior crisis response playbook goes beyond acknowledging a mistake and taking responsibility. To truly rebuild trust, leaders should overcorrect with a positive action that is disproportionately forceful compared to the initial error, demonstrating a profound commitment to the values that were compromised.
Beyond simple inspiration, role models serve three specific purposes: providing behavioral scripts for how to act in a role, representing what is possible to achieve, and serving as a direct source of motivation. This framework explains their critical function in anticipatory socialization for professionals.
According to Harvard anthropologist Joseph Henrich, high-prestige individuals have the power to initiate or veto group collaboration. When a high-prestige person cooperates first, others follow suit; when they don't, collaboration often fails, giving them agenda-setting power within a group.