This
is a brief essay of what I believe ethical leadership is and why it is
important for any leader to posses this leadership style. I will show why demonstrating ethical
behavior is imperative to achieving success in the business world as well as
familial life. In addition, I will
attempt to share with the reader clear examples of this leadership trait and
how I have attempted to possess and demonstrate ethical leadership in my own
life on a daily basis. A short video
will also be included which will offer ideas on how to change the cooperate
culture of an unethical company.
Ethical leadership is a leadership style
in which the leader of a company or organization possesses quality leadership
traits and implements policies and directives that are fair and beneficial to
everyone involved. Ethical leadership is
not based on a company’s “bottom line.”
It is based on setting clear and undisputed examples of how a leader
makes decisions based on morals and doing the “right” thing no matter the
fallout.
It is my belief that subordinates take on
the personality of their leader. The
behavior displayed by one’s leader can trickle down and have a positive or
adverse effect on his or her staff. A
staff that believes their leader is fair and ethical is more likely to follow
that person and support their decisions.
They will fall in line if they feel that their leader is fair, competent,
knowledgeable, but equally important, ethical.
The leader-subordinate relationship is crucial to the success of any educational
system or company. Rubin (2012) stated, “Perceptions of fairness can have a
significant effect on a business’ reputation and thereby impact the company’s
bottom line.” This delicate relationship
magnifies the need for an established value system.
A value system that places a priority on
the leader treating his or her staff with respect and honesty can go a long way
in establishing and fostering a positive workplace atmosphere. This will in
turn aid in overall productivity. I am
of the belief that there are many leadership styles one can use besides the
authoritative approach to foster success.
Ethical leadership is contagious.
A hard working honest staff that truly cares for and respects one
another is always beneficial. This value
system also holds true when dealing with the dynamics of a family.
When dealing with one’s own family,
having a value system in place that not only requires, but also expects all of
its members to be ethical in their dealings with one another, in my opinion is
an absolute necessity. In a
“traditional” family makeup, the parents are the leaders of the household. The ethics they display or do not display can
have a profound and long lasting effect on their children and family
members. Children are impressionable and
they often model what they see and hear.
It is up to the parents, as in the case of a CEO, to display ethical
leadership themselves if that is what they expect from their children and
subordinates respectively. “Mistrust,
cynicism or indifference from topmost leaders can erode others’ loyalty to the
organization, to its mission, to employees and to shareholders.” (Krause &
Voss, 2007)
In the on-line video titled “Ethics in
the Workplace,” Debra Shapiro of the Robert H. Smith School of Business
believes that offering incentives, having “whistleblowers, and incorporating
ethics training would go a long way in preventing a company from becoming
unethical as well as changing the culture of one that has already become
unethical. youtu.be/IFJvO0UtcFQ.weblocIn conclusion, ethical leadership is when
the leader of any business or company promotes ideas and directives that are
fair and in the “common good” to the majority of those he or she leads. John Rawls, a contemporary ethicist defined
“common good” as “certain general conditions that are…equally to everyone’s
advantage (Velasquez, et al., 1996). As
a parent and educator myself, I have strived to become this type of
leader. I try to lead by example though thoughtful
insight, firm but fair decision-making, and an overall sensitivity to the
students I am privileged to care for and serve.
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