The Journey to High-Road Leadership: A Personal and Professional Quest

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The Journey to High-Road Leadership: A Personal and Professional Quest

July 15, 2024

Nick Colisto

Sr. Vice President and Chief Information Officer, Corporate

LinkedIn Profile

Throughout my career, I have consistently strived to embody principles in my leadership style that deeply reflect what John C. Maxwell describes in his most recent book, High Road Leadership: Bringing People Together in a World That Divides (Maxwell, 2024)1. These principles align closely with several of Avery Dennison’s core company values, specifically—Integrity, Courage, Teamwork, Diversity, Innovation and Excellence—and guide me in developing a leadership approach to uplift and inspire people.

As John describes in his book, high-road leadership emphasizes the importance of closing gaps between people, giving generously without keeping score, and treating everyone with a higher standard of respect and support. This approach encourages everyone to win and fosters a more cohesive and motivated team. By adopting these principles, we can create a work environment where everyone feels valued, respected, and motivated to contribute their best, leading to higher productivity and better outcomes for our company.

In contrast, John describes two other types of leaders. Middle-road leaders often maintain a balance in their give-and-take relationships and tend to accept the existing gaps between team members. They aim for collective wins but treat others reciprocally.

Humility allows us to value every contribution, thoughtfulness aids in appreciating diverse perspectives and promoting inclusion, and confidence empowers decisive leadership.

Low-road leaders, on the other hand, prioritize personal gain, often at the expense of others, creating divisions and emphasizing self-interest.

Reflecting on my leadership experiences, I realize that the characteristics Maxwell highlights are those I have aspired to embody throughout my career. However, it wasn't always easy. I overcame resistance to change during a challenging integration project and bridged diverse groups with conflicting interests. It required a conscious effort to foster an inclusive environment, but the results were worth it. This led to successful project outcomes and strengthened inter-departmental relationships, a testament to the power of high-road principles.

These principles are woven into our leadership competencies at Avery Dennison, particularly in Displaying Agility and Championing Collaboration. These competencies call for leaders who can adapt quickly, integrate wide-ranging perspectives, and drive shared outcomes—hallmarks of high-road leadership.

This journey taught me that leading with humility, thoughtfulness, and confidence is crucial. Humility allows us to value every contribution, thoughtfulness aids in appreciating diverse perspectives and promoting inclusion, and confidence empowers decisive leadership.

Aligning with High-Road Leadership is an evolving process that challenges us to continually improve and ensure that our leadership achieves results with integrity and a profound respect for each individual's value.

¹Maxwell, J. C. (2024). High Road Leadership. Simon and Schuster.

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