An Effective Leader is an Ethical Leader
Do You
Strive for Excellence or “Just Good Enough”??
Leaders who lead ethically are role models, communicating the importance of ethical standards, holding their employees accountable to those standards, and- crucially- designing environments in which others work and live. Leadership may therefore be the most important lever in an ethical system designed to support ethical conduct.
“Ethical
leadership is to know your core values and having the courage to live them in
all parts of your life in service of the common good.” In our experience, ethical
leadership involves leading in a manner that respects the rights and dignity of
others; a concept that is at times in direct conflict with more traditional
models of leadership. In the past, the main goal of leadership has been to
increase production/productivity and profits. However, in the 21st Century
this view has begun to slowly diminish as more organizational development and
human resources experts assert that leaders also have the responsibility for
ensuring standards of moral and ethical conduct. Good leadership then, refers
not only to competence, but to ethics that transform organizations and people’s
lives.
Ethical
leadership requires ethical leaders. If leaders are ethical, they can ensure
that ethical practices are carried out throughout the organization. Leaders are
naturally in a position of power both on and off the job, so ethical leadership
must focus on how leaders leverage this power in the decisions they make,
actions they engage in and ways they influence others. Leaders are responsible
for influencing followers to perform actions, complete tasks, and behave in
certain manners. Effective leaders also influence processes, stimulate change
in attitudes and values, and amplify empowerment and self-efficacy of their
followers, as they foster the internalization of corporate vision. The
nurturing aspect of leadership can also raise an organization’s culture and
employee’s values to higher levels of ethical behavior. By demonstrating
ethical leadership we promote a high level of integrity that stimulates a sense
of trustworthiness, and encourages subordinates to accept and follow our
vision. Character and integrity provides a strong foundation for other personal
characteristics that direct our ethical beliefs, values, and decisions.
Ethical
leaders are likely to be people-oriented, and aware of how their decisions
impact others. They therefore use their power and authority to serve the
greater good instead of self-serving interests –a “win/win” for employees and
the organization. This modeling serves as a guide and motivator for others to
put the needs and interests of the group ahead of their own. Such engagement
creates an intellectual and emotional commitment between leaders and their
followers that makes both parties equally responsible in the pursuit of common
goals. Further characteristics of ethical leaders include: inspiring,
stimulating, and other visionary behaviors that make up transformational
leadership. Ethical leaders also coach cohorts in gaining a sense of personal
and professional competence that allows them to excel while being more
resilient, loyal and profitable.
According
to the Center for Ethical Leadership, a 4-V Model of Ethical Leadership framework
that aligns leaders’ internal beliefs and values with his or her external
behaviors and actions for the purpose of advancing the common good of
employees, leaders, organizations and beyond. The model was created and based
on research by Center founder Dr. Bill Grace. A quick overview of the 4-V Model
is as follows:
- Values – Ethical leadership begins with an understanding of and commitment to a leader’s core values. By discovering the values which make up the core of our identities and motivators, we begin the process of integrating our unique values with our choices in our personal, professional, and civic lives.
- Vision – Ethical leadership requires the ability to frame our actions within a picture of “what ought to be” – particularly in the area of service to others.
- Voice – Ethical leaders must be able to articulate their vision to others in an authentic way that enlivens them into action.
- Virtue – Ethical leaders strive to do what is right and good. They practice virtuous behavior by asking “How are my values, vision and voice in alignment with and supporting the common good?”
Adaptive
a 5th “V” to this list: VALIDATE – increase the ethical
know-how of everyone in the organization by hiring for ethics and values as
well as capabilities, including ethical behavior in appraisals and firing
people who fall short of ethical standards.
Ethical leadership is essential for today’s leaders. “Be a yardstick of quality. Some people are not used to
an environment where excellence is expected.” – Steve Jobs
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