1. The Greatest Virtue –The Noble Leader Program 2011
The Greatest Virtue
Within the Noble Leadership Program we like to focus our attention on the 6 Major Virtues. After an
exhaustive study for many years I was able to encompass all the major 18 virtues into 6 virtues and
because of their exceptional value I then named them the Six Noble Virtues. These 6 Virtues embody the
understanding, development and the practices that one can follow in order to activate the Noble
qualities that lie within each human being.
In the published series so far I have expanded a little on some of these Virtues and written about the
Virtue of Harmony and the Virtue of No Dwelling. Although we have 6 Virtues there is another Virtue
which lies above those 6 within the spectrum of self development for one to become a Noble
Inspirational Leader. Although we may understand and investigate the relevance of these 6 Virtues their
impact on us will be of little consequence if we do not follow the 7th Virtue.
In life we can meet many people who advocate the importance of values in one’s life and in recent years
in order to bring relevance to many corporate organizations we saw the emergence of Corporate Values.
Corporations believed that in order to gain the full involvement of their employees it was important that
they instituted a selection of values which they felt could personify the meaning and relevance of their
organization. The belief was that these Values would translate into meaning for all their people and thus
bring about greater employee involvement and participation.
The outcome was not generally successful and recent studies have shown that around 80% of people
within the workforces throughout most of the World do not feel engaged with their roles and do not
feel a true part of the Organization to which they belong. It would seem that the creation of these
Values only clarified for employees the level of disconnect that they all felt. This disconnect is not only at
the junior levels but throughout the whole organization from Board members downwards. It has also
been determined that around 60% of all executives do not feel involved or as connected as they would
wish to be.
So what went wrong? There are a number of reasons why people disconnect or disengage. In this
instance they can see that the Corporate Values are not being truly demonstrated by the business
leaders and do not impact in a positive way to staff, each other, clients and suppliers etc. The other main
reason why this disconnect occurs is because of the increasing level of uncertainty and doubt that lies

2. The Greatest Virtue –The Noble Leader Program 2011
within the corporate framework. We can be reminded of the inevitable corporate restructure and, as we
know this will always lead to uncertainty and doubt for everyone but this of its own has created almost
an entirely new discipline called “Change Management”. It is little wonder that employees have become
cynical within the workplace. When one is looking for certainty in life they do not want to become a part
of a solution –they do not want to be always in doubt –what they want is universal and it is what all
people want most-it is to be appreciated and most of all to be wanted, respected and even to be loved.
So this Article is about what I call the greatest Virtue and in this instance it is the 7 th Virtue and it is from
this Virtue one can develop and enjoy the benefits of Practical Wisdom. Practical Wisdom is one of the
true marks or signs of a Noble Leader.
The 7th Virtue is Cultivation and without this Virtue then no self development, self improvement or
greater self awareness can be accomplished. The 6 Virtues will remain only words on a page-they will
only be theoretical and something to be intellectualized. When something is intellectualized the benefit
that it could bring will probably be lost.
And so I am led to the story of Chroma and Chun Jie. Of course this is not their real names because in
this World there are many people who can fit the profile of Chroma but there are very few who can fit
the Profile of Chun Jie.
I met Chroma sometime ago and Chroma appeared to have all the philosophical understanding as to the
Virtues and the way to overcome self destructive habits and to control the Assassin Within. Although
Chroma understood the philosophy of the idea the failure to implement any practice led only to the
continuing development of the Assassin Within and so Chroma continued to be a victim of their own self
destructive habits. The story of Chroma is not unique as this is the way of most people who only practice
the development of self destructive habits and as such they continue to perpetuate all the destructive
outcomes such as stress, anxiety and anger. These outcomes then impact all those around them and
although they can see the effect they do not understand the solution. The feel powerless to overcome
themselves. They may even have the right intention and motivation but cannot get beyond the
intellectualization of the ideas of Virtues and the ways to overcome the Assassin Within. Essentially they
become mastered by their circumstances and fail to become the Master of themselves.
I also met Chun Jie who was very different. Within Chun Jie there already existed a deep philosophy and
understanding of the importance of Virtues and the value they could add to life. Chun Jie spent time to
study all the Virtues and then to go beyond the study and beyond the implementation and embraced
the cultivation. My earliest discussions with Chun Jie were about Cultivation –we never discussed the
intellectual aspects but only the practice. Chun Jie had been practicing the Virtue of Harmony for a long
time and when in their company one can feel this strong sense of calm and peace and yet at the same
time they embody many of the internal and external aspects of Noble Leadership. Chun Jie is a leader
and shows the character of leadership personified with a calm assertive energy. One has confidence in
the character of Chun Jie and can see the benefits of the 7th Virtue.

3. The Greatest Virtue –The Noble Leader Program 2011
Cultivation is not a difficult process but only requires exploration and experimentation-it has little to do
with religion but does require the necessary stillness of mind and body and self discipline.
We see the signs of many Chroma’s in the World –often agitated, easily offended, suffering anxiety and
generally loss of self and yet the distance between them and Chun Jie is not far as it requires only a little
effort to bridge that gap.
It is this strong minded effort which creates and nourishes the Virtue of Cultivation.