Leading ethically at work

Most of us live in the midst of changing priorities and fast-paced lifestyles, which makes it all the more difficult for us to retain our ethical compass. And yet, it is so important today for a people leader to be the ideal role model to their team by demonstrating high moral standards through their behaviours and actions. Unethical behaviour can cost companies a fortune — Twenty of the world’s largest banks have been fined 235 billion dollars in the last decade for scandals and misconduct!

While being ethical as well as modelling ethical behaviours might require us to be bold and seem difficult at times, behavioural science reveals that every successful leader can learn to lead with justice, good-will and honesty. Ethical leadership has tremendous benefits at all levels of the organisation, for instance, it can improve engagement and productivity amongst team members.

As always — here are some LeadMojo tips backed by research to help you lead and guide your team with a more moral lens.

1. Lead by building belief

Building trust and belief in your teams can make a big difference in how you as a leader make as well as inspire ethical decisions and choices. In order to behave in an ethically conscious way, your team should believe that it is not only the right thing to do, but that it is also right for them! For instance, science shows that when we indulge in an ethically questionable activity, we tend to feel unsettled and keep contemplating our actions. Addressing such instincts can help leaders build belief and set the tone of ethical behaviours in their teams. Research shows that when people’s basic psychological needs are met, it helps build belief. These five basic needs are -

• Autonomy — When the ethical decision comes from within and is one’s own decision;
• Advantage — The person feels they will be better off by aligning to high ethical standards;
• Argument — When they see through the logic and evidence behind the ethical decisions, they feel it is the right path to take;
• Attention — When they are able to take in the information well;
• Affinity — When associating with an ethical belief or choice makes one feel good. In fact, when a number of people align to the same ethical choices and behaviours, it increases their sense of belonging as they feel connected by a common moral/ethical code.

2. Get out of the echo chamber

In an ideal world, senior leaders and managers have loyal but honest counsellors and mentors who are not only supportive of them, but also keep their ethical actions in check by being prepared to speak the truth. In reality though, the challenge is that leaders often build out networks of advisors who think and act like them. Many may not realise that they are failing to seek diverse opinions. It is natural to feel more inclined to work with people who have similar attitudes and beliefs as us, but in the longer run, and especially in the case of ethical decisions and choices, it can lead to dire consequences. Luckily, there are a few ways this can be avoided:

• Firstly, find someone who can act as a trusted advisor to you within the organisation.
• Next, try and have a sounding board outside the organisation. This could be someone you have worked with in the past — a colleague or even an ex-manager or boss.
• Finally have a genuinely independent board — someone who is not personally invested in your work or the organisation, and can give you as much of an objective take on matters as possible.

Many research studies have shown that reaching out to people from one’s own personal network can be beneficial. Invest in a group of advisors who can provide diverse points of view, play the devil’s advocate and bring new perspectives to the table. When you listen to them and take their opinions into account, you cannot go far too wrong.

3. Set goals: Contribution over achievement

Framing your professional goals with a mindset to contribute instead of achieve can be helpful if you wish to develop a virtuous career. As professional leaders, we often set goals and targets for many aspects of our lives, but we forget to prepare in advance for ethical challenges we could face. Research and past practice on workplace morality and ethics has shown that goal setting can help us get there. Here’s a quick exercise that you can embrace to start developing a moral mindset:

• Identify five traits that you think are absolutely essential for a righteous and ethical life (e.g. justice, honesty, humility, etc).
• Create a chart to track your daily progress with each of these five traits.
• Reflect on your moral successes and failures every couple of weeks.
• Add more traits once you feel embody these ethical values.

While your practice and documentation need not necessarily be this rigid, it is a good framework for lifelong character development.

4. Recognise unethical work climates

When you are in alignment with your organisation’s culture and process, your moral compass strengthens. Learn to look out for signs of what your organisation truly values and be prepared to question the underlying systems if necessary.

These questions can help guide your thinking:

Do you feel proud of the company you work for? Does the compensation scheme reward the right things? Is every leader treated fairly across the organisation? How transparent and objective are the growth opportunities?

Uncovering a lack of trustworthiness, value and disengagement in your company can imply that you have a huge ethical problem on your hands. This self-awareness can help you detect your organisation’s moral structure and give you the courage to make the right choices. As a leader, this might translate to speaking up and addressing these issues so you can create a more ethical climate for your team at work.

It is common knowledge that people follow the behaviours and actions of others, especially those in positions of power. When leaders behave ethically, they help pave the way for their teams and colleagues to follow the ethical route as well. By establishing what is right and good, not only through words, but also actions, you as a leader can motivate your team and the organisation as a whole to be more ethical and moral.