To this end, 12 experts from Forbes Coaches Council share valuable lessons from well-known CEOs that demonstrate the things we should and should not be doing when in a position of leadership.

1. Take Ownership And Be Vulnerable

Take ownership and be vulnerable. CEOs who try to dodge the bullet in difficult situations or place blame elsewhere lose credibility quickly. Best advice: own up and be real. Part of being real is also being vulnerable. People are more forgiving when they know you are human. – Michelle Braden, MSBCoach, LLC

2. Focus On Doing The Right Thing

As a young executive in the corporate world, my boss used to say something I’ve never forgotten: “If you don’t want what you’re doing to be first-page news on the ‘New York Times,’ above the fold, then don’t do it!” The lesson, of course, was to focus on doing the right thing. While it is hard to do the right thing, it is harder still to recover after being found out that you did the wrong thing. – Faizun Kamal, The Franchise Pros

3. Value Integrity Above All Else

One thing they can learn is the immeasurable value of Integrity. Infamous CEOs are often born of a deficiency in integrity in the form of criminal behavior or ethical breach. The world is brutally unforgiving of an intentional violation of moral code. The dire consequences faced by Enron executives, for example, create a cautionary tale for leaders to keep a firm grip on the highest level of integrity. – Anita Nielsen, LDK Advisory Services

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4. Declare Your Values And Stick With Them

Declare your values. Stick with them. Warren Buffett walks away from deals the moment they detect any discrepancy in numbers that look fraudulent — even at the last hour of a deal. Jobs notoriously stuck to his guns of simplicity, elegance and ease of use. Compromised values breed mistrust in leadership and the brand. – Mike Koenigs, The Superpower Accelerator

5. Upgrade To A Growth Mental Model

While failure to failure widens the doors of innovation and creative problem-solving skills, it’s not easy to give space to mistakes for perfectionists and leaders who have type A personalities. Besides, stories have the power of healing. Listening to failure stories and starting to tell them are the first steps of upgrading to the growth mental model which is an invitation for success. – Elif Suner, MBA, M.Ed, PCC,

6. Remember That Transparency Is Key

Transparency is key for leaders. Whether it’s a bad interview/quote in the media or a crisis, leaders must immediately take ownership and be accountable. The Tylenol poisoning crisis in ’82 would have tanked most brands. But J & J had a plan in place in case of such an event, and the leader communicated directly, and took immediate action and responsibility to gain back consumers’ trust. – Susan Sadler, Sadler Communications LLC

7. Treat Failure As A Rite Of Passage

If you’re not failing, you’re not innovating. When Rocket Lab’s recent launch ended in failure, Elon Musk tweeted, “Sorry to hear about this. Hope you get back to orbit soon. Rockets are hard.” Simple, heartfelt words from someone who knows what it’s like to fail on a grand scale. When you work at the cutting edge of innovation, failure is a necessary rite of passage to getting things right. – Gabriella Goddard, Brainsparker Leadership Academy

8. Remember That Someone Is Always Watching

There is a theory that there is nothing new under the sun and that much of what we see today that is negative in the press isn’t new, it’s just visible now. The most important lesson we all need to learn is that someone is always watching. The line between what’s public and private is fully blurred, and integrity matters more than ever. – Kathi Laughman, The Mackenzie Circle LLC

9. Seek Feedback To Build Self-Awareness

When I think about infamous CEOs — those in public and private companies, as well as government and nonprofits — each suffer from a deficit of self-awareness. Evidence of this is how they don’t understand their impact on others, they believe they are the smartest person in the room and/or nothing is ever their fault. The solution: proactively seek feedback and really listen to what you hear. – Lee Eisenstaedt, Leading with Courage Academy

10. Treat Others As You Wish To Be Treated

Leadership and management, at every level, should never abandon the Golden Rule — treat others as you wish to be treated. This childhood lesson applies to even the most complex business dealings. Approaching decisions with integrity and honesty, as well as some creativity, will usually make for a winning combination of checks and balances to perform the job competitively, yet sleep well at night. – Lindsay Miller, Reverie Organizational Development Specialists

11. Don’t Violate Stockholders’ Trust

Former Uber CEO Travis Kalanick’s removal is a cautionary tale indeed. Inherently, the ride-sharing industry relies on trust and community-building to grow. Kalanick violated all the tenuous trust relationships with investors, employees, drivers and riders. Despite his track record and skills, in the end, it was his lack of “character” that destroyed his leadership credibility and Uber’s trust in him. – Kelly Huang, Genesis Advisers

12. Have A Humanitarian Approach

One thing people in leadership positions can learn from CEOs in the press is to invest in the culture of the company with healthy lifestyles, healthy thought patterns and healthy relationships. They can also learn to have a humanitarian approach to their company, ensuring correct business practices in alignment with nature’s laws. – Jennifer Helene, Purposeful Ventures, LLC