Hunting Goodness: A Leadership Challenge
Whatever your belief system, I’m pretty sure there’s a universal value in being good to others — treating people with respect, showing kindness, and looking for ways to make someone’s day a little easier.
Right now, billions of Muslims around the world are in the second half of Ramadan. Most people associate this time with fasting from food and drink during daylight hours, but the real purpose runs much deeper: it’s about drawing closer to our Creator, becoming more mindful, and refining our character. Of course, this includes acts of worship — prayer, charity, and self-discipline — but there’s another powerful way to get closer to the Creator: being good to His creation.
That’s why, for the remainder of this month, I’ve put a challenge to our household: Hunt out the goodness. Not just wait for it to appear, but actively look for it, create it, and amplify it.
The school run test
You’d think hunting goodness would be easy. But some days, it feels like you need a full-blown expedition team with a GPS tracker just to find basic courtesy. Take the school run, for example. The route to my kids’ school passes through a narrow street where, in some parts, two cars simply can’t pass each other at the same time. You’d think this would encourage a bit of patience, a bit of give-and-take. Nope. Instead, most mornings, I watch people take advantage of someone else’s patience — without so much as a wave of the hand, a nod of the chin or even a glance in return.
And it grates me. A lot.
So where’s the goodness in that?
At first, I let it get to me. I fumed, I muttered under my breath, I found myself mentally drafting an open letter to the world about basic manners. But then I remembered the challenge: it isn’t about waiting for goodness to show up — it’s about hunting it down.
So, I reframed my thinking.
Instead of being annoyed, I practiced: breathe, forgive, and pray — not just for myself, but for them. That those who lack courtesy may be blessed with some.
Instead of focusing on what people weren’t doing, I focused on the few who did acknowledge the gesture. And when I found one? I amplified it. A big wave, a genuine smile. Maybe, just maybe, they’ll pass that courtesy on.
And instead of letting someone else’s rudeness dictate my mood, I chose to keep being courteous anyway — because goodness isn’t a transaction. It’s a way of being.
Leadership: The ultimate goodness hunt
Which brings us to the concept of goodness in leadership. You see, leadership isn’t about waiting for a better environment — it’s about creating one. And that means hunting down the goodness.
In workplaces, how often do we see people taking advantage of someone else’s patience? Or remaining silent in the face of toxic behavior? Or excusing poor treatment because "that’s just how things are"?
Good leadership means setting the standard. It means recognizing when something isn’t right and having the courage to address it. Whether it’s fostering a workplace where people feel included, standing up against injustice, or simply being the person who acknowledges and appreciates others — leaders create the environments they move through. Leaders should be the ultimate goodness hunters.
The bigger picture: The leadership that challenges the status quo
Hunting goodness isn’t just about small, everyday moments — it’s also about demanding goodness where it’s desperately needed.
Yesterday, I stood in a crowd of people calling for justice. We gathered, not for ourselves, but for the innocent men, women, and children who were slaughtered in their sleep while the world continues debating history instead of protecting humanity.
In conversation with a fellow protestor, it dawned on me that taking on leadership is not just about governments. It’s about you and me.
Change has never come from the top down — it comes when everyday people refuse to be silent. When we raise our voices. When we challenge the status quo. When we decide that "the way things are" isn’t good enough.
This is leadership - influence and impact. It’s about having the courage to step up when it matters most.
Our challenge: Will you hunt goodness?
Hunting goodness isn’t about waiting for the world to become better on its own. It’s about finding it, creating it, and demanding it — even in the hardest places.
So, here’s our leadership challenge:
✅ Find goodness.
✅ Create goodness.
✅ Be goodness.
✅ Demand goodness.
And when we see its absence — whether in a morning school run, a workplace, or the halls of power — we don’t look away. We hunt it down until justice prevails.
At Next Step Leadership, we help leaders do exactly that. If you’re ready to step into leadership that challenges the status quo and builds cultures where people thrive — not just survive — let’s talk.
