Failing with Honor: A Forgotten Measure of Leadership

A recent roundtable discussion with a few line managers and the CEO of a prominent company left a strong impression on me—so much so that I felt compelled to write this piece. During the session, after one straightforward manager presented his report, the CEO abruptly interjected: “I know you’ve tried your best, but your best didn’t yield any fruit.”

From his pointed phrasing and animated body language, I couldn’t help but sense a note of derision. It seemed less about the numbers and more an insinuation—perhaps even mockery—of the manager’s integrity. As though the expectation was not only results, but results regardless of the ethical cost.

In the real world, leaders endure both turbulent lows and celebratory highs. These extremes form the chapters of leadership from which we are meant to draw deep, lasting lessons. Yet too often, we judge leaders solely by their visible achievements. I believe, instead, that the real litmus test is how they face the inevitable: failure.

Though moral principles like truthfulness and honor have long defined admirable leadership, they now feel strangely antiquated in many boardrooms. We live in a time where appearance and profit frequently eclipse character. It's no wonder some leaders struggle to acknowledge failure without compromising their ethics—because failure is seen as weakness, and integrity no longer feels like a defense.

Of course, leaders are tasked with creating economic value. But real-world experience reminds us: even if one follows the right path, monetary success isn’t always guaranteed. And that’s precisely why we should expand our definition of value.

At the end of the day, shouldn't we celebrate the virtues of integrity, humility, and honor as much as we do quarterly profits? Yes, failure can bring consequences—some severe. But it can also offer clarity. Leaders who reflect on failure with honesty can uncover root causes that pave the way for future growth.

Why, then, do we so easily dismiss the worth of a leader who fails with dignity?

I am reminded of the timeless words of Sophocles: “Rather fail with honor than succeed by fraud.” There’s a kind of quiet greatness in standing tall through defeat—especially when the temptation to “succeed at any cost” looms large.

Socrates (469 -399 BCE), who is considered not only of Athens but the world’s moral compass, for instance, was accused of corrupting the youth and impiety. He then was sentenced to death. But rather than flee or compromise his principles, he chose to drink the hemlock—remaining true to his belief in reason, virtue, and the pursuit of truth. In dying with integrity, he became immortal in the realm of ideas and inspired generations of thinkers.

Another one is Dag Hammarskjöld (1905–1961) , who’s the Stoic UN Leader

As Secretary-General of the United Nations during the Congo Crisis, Hammarskjöld insisted on neutrality and integrity amidst Cold War pressures. His steadfast commitment to peace—despite immense political backlash—led to his tragic death in a mysterious plane crash. Many consider his leadership one of moral transcendence over political convenience.

Lech Wałęsa (b. 1943) who was a Persistent Polish leader before triumph. Before eventually helping dismantle communism in Poland, Walesa faced prison, ridicule, and blacklisting. Early efforts of the Solidarity movement were crushed—but he maintained nonviolent resistance. His initial failures became seeds of reform, proving that integrity through struggle often precedes long-term success.

Each of these figures reminds us that failure—when infused with dignity—often becomes more inspiring than victory. It shifts leadership from being purely transactional to something deeply human and aspirational.

In a world chasing results, perhaps we should turn our admiration toward those, like mentioned above, who choose to remain steadfast in virtue, even in the face of loss.

What do you think—can leaders teach a more enduring lesson by failing with honor than by succeeding with deceit?

Absolutely—history is full of leaders who stood their ground ethically, even when it cost them dearly. Here are a few striking examples of those who failed with honor and left a legacy more powerful than immediate success ever could: