Last week, during a lecture he was giving to university students, Sergio Marchionne, CEO of Fiat-Chrysler Automobiles, stated that a person in a leadership position in business should not measure success by how much he or she earns but by how much they contributed.

This sort of comment may lead to a number of cynical remarks as some would retort that it is fine for him to make such a comment as his income is likely to be significant. On the other hand, it is very pertinent, given his audience.

I believe that the comment is very pertinent to make here. Let us be clear about it. We all seek to improve the quality of the life we lead. In some cases, that would require an element of expense that could only be affordable depending on one’s income. On the other hand, it would be a grave mistake if we were to make income the single driving force in our job – especially for people in a leadership position.

If this were to be the case, then one would expect to have a rush to have ever higher remuneration packages, similar to the gold rush in the US in the 19th century. In certain respects, this is happening in Malta, such as in finance and IT-related jobs. This will (not may) lead to all sorts of problems in the medium term.

It is certainly of utmost importance that persons in a leadership position in business understand fully that their job is not a means to their lifestyle but their contribution to the society in which they live

For example, how will a 30-year-old currently earning €60,000 a year and able to afford a very comfortable lifestyle, cope with a situation where in 10 years’ time, he or she could lose their job because the foreign company they were working with moved from Malta – and the next best alternatives would pay €40,000?

How does one view colleagues who are probably earning half that amount? What sort of human relations is that person likely to build if success is measured by the amount one earns and the luxuries one can afford, rather than the value of the results one produces? What is the likely impact on work values if one adopts such an attitude?

This is why I find the comment of Marchionne very apt, irrespective of what he earns. The focus of every person who holds a leadership position in business needs to be the contribution being made. Such a contribution cannot be measured solely by the bottom line but needs to take into account other elements, such as the extent to which one has developed one’s subordinates, one has created a positive environment at work, one has acted ethically, and one has sought to promote the common good rather than one’s interests.

At times this is referred to as ‘spiritual leadership’. In other contexts, the spiritual leader is concerned with the souls of those he or she leads. I am referring to something else. I am referring to a person who has a clear understanding of values and direction. Such a person would know what the contribution at work needs to be in order to make a difference.

Such a person is likely to be a good team leader and less of a lone wolf. One is less likely to be a ‘take it or leave it’ person and more of a committed person, ready to subordinate personal interests to those of the team. Their legacy is more likely to be engaged and to have knowledgeable employees rather than some flashy project.

Going back to what Marchionne said, it is certainly of utmost importance that persons in a leadership position in business understand fully that their job is not a means to their lifestyle but their contribution to the society in which they live.