Ethical Leadership : Strive to be one

The world of today is constantly bombarded by social media so it is of paramount importance that ethical values and beliefs are consistently communicated. Simply talking about ethical behaviour won’t cut it, leaders need to truly believe in and embody ethical behaviour to convince others (subordinates, colleagues etc.) of its importance. Failing which, one’s company and its reputation can suffer adverse consequences.

As an ethical leader, it’s important to demonstrate ethical behaviour not only in public but also when no one is watching. If a leader displays a lack of integrity in private dealings then they can quickly lose respect and trust which can destroy their credibility and eventually tarnish their reputation. That is why consistent and honest behaviour is essential in establishing oneself as a leader with ethics. It can be challenging to do the right thing, especially when it is difficult, but it is necessary for this type of leadership.

Let’s start with the definitions of Ethics and Leadership. According to the Oxford dictionary, ethics are moral principles that govern a person’s behavior or the conducting of activity. This involves a lot of practical decision making and the standards by which human actions are judged right or wrong.  Leadership is the action of leading a group of people or organisation. It relates to a person’s ability to inspire and encourage his followers to strive for an organisation to be successful through his vision and principles. For some, the combination of the two might be hard to attain. So ethical leadership focuses on how values and behaviours blend with a leader’s beliefs to make his organisation a success.

Overall, ethical leaders serve as an example to their followers and set boundaries in terms of behaviour in their organisation. They embody qualities such as honesty, integrity, respect, trustworthiness, responsibility, reliability and fairness. Most importantly, they must be true to themselves in order to lead effectively.

Principles of ethical leadership

Let’s talk about the 5 key principles of ethical leadership some of which were mentioned above: 

Honesty – Dishonest behavior is a form of lying or misrepresenting reality. Dishonest behavior by leadership creates an atmosphere of mistrust and can lead to a leader being seen as not dependable. People will lose faith in a dishonest leader. As a result, ethical leaders must behave with honesty.

Justice – Ethical leaders are also concerned with issues of justice and fairness. These types of leaders prioritize treating everyone in an equal manner and placing justice and fairness at the center of their decision-making more broadly. They make a rule of never giving certain individuals special treatment, except when a particular situation demands it for justice.

Respect – Leaders who convey respect to their peers and employers approach others with an inherent sense of their worth and value as individuals. Respect means listening carefully to others and confirming their inherent value. Leaders should also mentor others to become aware of their purpose, values and needs so that ethical qualities spread throughout the organization.

Community – Ethical leaders behave with nobility. They place the welfare of their subordinates high in their esteem, and engage in activities like team building, mentoring, and empowerment behaviors. This means ethical leadership helps to build community. These leaders take into account the values and purpose of their employees as well as of the organization as a whole.

Integrity – Integrity refers to the quality of having a strong moral purpose and being honest. Ethical leaders demonstrate appropriate values to those around them via their behavior. Leaders who act with integrity can strengthen the organization by attracting talented, ethical hires. People generally want to work for leaders they perceive as acting with integrity. Investors and customers feel the appeal of leadership that acts with integrity and are more likely to be attracted to those organizations.

Ethical Leadership examples

Encourage feedback and dialogue – Ethical leaders encourage open discussion of ethical issues, so that everyone on the team feels comfortable voicing their opinions. They also make sure to listen to all viewpoints and take them into consideration when making decisions. This helps ensure that everyone is on the same page in terms of values and ethics within an organization or team. 

Model ethical behavior at all times – Ethical leaders remain consistent with their own behaviors, no matter what situation they are in or who they are interacting with. It’s important for employees to be able to trust a leader’s words as well as his/her actions – the two should always be aligned! That way, employees know exactly how a leader expects them to behave ethically too. 

Ultimately, being an ethical leader takes commitment from both parties – The leader must continuously demonstrate strong moral character while encouraging others around him/her do the same thing through example setting and communication skillsets! They also strive to ensure that everyone is treated with dignity and respect, regardless of their position or background.

Lead by example – The best way for an ethical leader to demonstrate their commitment to values-based decision making is through actions. Leaders should practice what they preach and lead by example in order to set the standard for others in the organization. 

Ethical leaders understand that making decisions based on values can be difficult but it’s essential if you want your business or organization to succeed ethically and morally over time. This is why they take extra care when assessing a potential decision before implementing it within their company or organization.

Hiring ethical employees is an important part of creating a successful and engaging workplace culture. It’s essential to ensure that the people brought into an organization share the same values as the company, so they can contribute positively to its mission and vision. This starts with understanding what qualities make up an ethical employee – such as honesty, integrity, reliability, respect for others – and then looking for these traits during interviews or other hiring processes. Once potential candidates who meet these criteria are identified it’s important to take time to get them on board with the organizational values by providing training on ethics in the workplace before they begin their role at the company. Doing this will not only help set expectations from day one but also create a sense of unity among all team members which is key in any work environment!

All of the above makes it pretty apparent that ethical leaders are the drivers of success. They set the ethical tone for organisations and implement systems that ought to take companies to greater heights. Being an ethical leader is the most praiseworthy attribute a person can have.