Leadership Lesson
October 2026

HIGH-ROAD LEADERSHIP

As a leader, you have three roads to choose from on your journey to becoming a great leader who serves others. The road you take is shaped by how you view, value, and treat the people you lead.

LOW-ROAD LEADERSHIP

These leaders are driven by self-interest, focusing on what they can gain rather than what they can give. They take from others without considering the impact or feeling any responsibility to give in return. They believe taking is the only way to get what they want and feel entitled to whatever they can obtain. Operating from a victim mentality, they justify their actions by convincing themselves that taking from others is simply a way
to make things fair. They exploit relationships and diminish the value of those around them. Their tools of influence are criticism, belittling, sarcasm, slander, and bullying. Rather than building others up, their goal is to tear others down to elevate themselves. At the heart of this behavior is a deep sense of insecurity. The word I would use to describe them is INSECURE.

MIDDLE-ROAD LEADERSHIP

These leaders place a high value on fairness and approach leadership through a balance of give and take. They are comfortable contributing as long as the exchange remains equal: constantly keeping score and measuring their contributions against those of others to ensure the relationship stays balanced. They are willing to work, but they expect the other person to make the first move. They are willing to listen, but only after the other person listens to them. They are willing to act fairly, but they want the other party to take the initiative first. For these leaders, giving is rarely unconditional; their focus is on maintaining an even exchange. The word I would use to describe them is TRANSACTIONAL.

HIGH-ROAD LEADERSHIP

These leaders put others first, approaching relationships with a selfless mindset. They value each individual because they recognize the inherent worth of others, even those with whom they disagree. When an imbalance arises in a relationship, they seek to ensure that the other person benefits. They operate from an abundance mentality, confident that there is enough to go around and unconcerned whether they receive their fair share. This is not about claiming moral high ground, because Middle-Road leaders possess strong character as well. The difference lies in their focus: these leaders intentionally direct their attention toward the needs and well-being of others. The word I would use to describe them is SERVE. We all want to lead from the high road. Getting there begins with establishing clear personal standards for how we will lead and relate to others. But setting standards is only the first step. We must show up every day and consistently live out those standards, allowing the people we lead to see our values reflected in our
actions.

Where does one start in building High-Road leadership?

1. Believe in others. Recognize the potential in the people you lead and make sure they know you believe in them. Every person has inherent worth because we are all made in the image of God. As leaders, we must see beyond where people are today and recognize who they have the potential to become.

2. Value others. How we view things is how we do things. How we see people shapes how we treat them. Valuing others begins with recognizing and embracing their inherent worth. Believing in them means seeing their potential, while loving them unconditionally means accepting them without strings attached. HighRoad leaders communicate through both their words and actions that people matter—not because of what they can do for us, but because of who they are.

3. Equip others. Equipping is belief in action. When we genuinely value people and believe in their potential, we invest our time, energy, and resources in helping them grow. We equip others by providing the support, opportunities, encouragement, and tools they need to develop and succeed. High-Road leaders do more than recognize the value and potential in others; they take intentional steps to help them realize it.

As servant leaders, let us strive to always take the high road here at CSCS.

In His Grip,

Dr. Roland DeRenzo, Ed.D.
Superintendent/CEO