Five Principles of Ethical Leadership
I have been exploring the domain of the leadership for a while and suddenly bumped into this topic. A topic that worth writing. Ethics have to be right at the core of each leader. If you don’t have it, you are not fit enough to be a leader. In regard to leadership, ethics is concerned with what leaders do and who leaders are. Most of us take this topic for granted, thinking that they naturally understand this topic. However, each person’s understanding and the level understanding could be different from one another. Following five principles provide a common basis to think and act upon this topic in the workplace.
Ethical Leaders Respect Others
Every religion teach us how to respect others. Therefore, if you are a spiritual person, this is part of your character. However, in the context of leadership what it exactly means ? Respect means that a leader listens closely to followers, is empathic, and is tolerant of opposing points of view. Every individual needs to value the differences of each individual and bear in mind that everyone is superior to others in some way. In other words, team members don’t have to be like you or you don’t have to be like them. Let each individual be themselves, have their own values, needs and purposes.
Ethical Leaders Serves others
It is about leader’s altruism behavior. They place their followers’ welfare foremost in their plans. In the workplace, this translates to activists such as mentoring, empowering, team building, etc. Ethical leaders have a deep understanding of each individual and make decisions pertaining to them that are beneficial and not harmful to their welfare. Ethical leaders must refrain from advancing their ambitions at the expense of team members.
Ethical Leaders are Just
Ethical leaders make fairness and justice a top priority to treat all of the team members in an equal manner. Equality is an core basis of any social group. As a rule, no one should receive special treatment or special consideration except when his or her particular situation demands it. In other words, equality necessarily means that leaders apply the same set of actions on each individual. As mentioned in Seven Habits of Highly Effective People, it could also mean “ Treat them all the same by treating them differently”. However, basis for different treatment must be clear and reasonable and must be consistent across all individual.
All in all, it all boils down to one golden rule which was there for many generations and taught in many religions “ Do unto others as you would have them do unto you”.
Ethical Leaders are Honest
Again, if you are spiritual person this must be in your blood. To be a good leader, one must be honest. Honesty is easier understood by understanding the opposite which is dishonesty. Dishonesty is form of lying, a way misinterpreting the reality. Honesty is not only about saying the truth but also about being open. Having said that, leaders still have to strike balance between when to say what. Because there could be sensitive information that could result in unintended consequences if it is disclosed at the wrong time or in the wrong way. Therefore, leaders have to be matured enough to handle information. In organizations, it goes further to behaviors such as,
- Not promising what you can deliver
- Not hiding behind spin-doctored evasions
- Not suppressing obligations
- Not evading accountability
- Not accepting that the ‘survival of the fittest’ pressures of business release any of us from the responsibility to respect another’s dignity and humanity
Ethical leaders build community
Leadership is process whereby an individual influences a group of individuals to achieve a common goal. Defining the common goals requires the involvement of the entire community as these goals need to be compatible with everyone. Working towards these mutual goals change both leader and team members and this change must have a positive impact on everyone. A positive impact that is unique to each individual. An ethical leader is
concerned with the common good, in the broadest sense.
