People’s morals, ethics and values are very individually defined, so leadership can also be seen as a personal starting point. Leaders have an important role to play in fostering ethical standards both in their own practices and in the organisation, as it has wide-ranging implications for job performance, success, well-being and organisational performance. Sometimes a manager has to make decisions that may not be beneficial to all parties involved,but are necessary for the success of the organisation or to minimise harm in the longer term.
Ethical leadership is essentially about moral principles, integrity and accountability, both in the way we act and in the way we make decisions. Ethical leaders not only uphold ethical standards but also promote them in addition to a positive organisational culture. Ethical leadership is seen as essential for long-term success (Chat GPT 2024.)
Integrity, justice, appreciation of others, accountability, transparency and ethical decision making are key characteristics of ethical leadership. By acting according to ethical standards, a leader earns the trust of his or her followers. An ethical leader treats everyone with equality and respect and treats individuals with empathy. Ethical leadership involves openness, as demonstrated by transparency in discussions, information sharing and decisions. Decisions are also openly justified. When failures occur, ethical leaders take responsibility and learn from their mistakes. The ethical leader encourages mutual respect, shared decision-making and inclusive environments. Encouraging dialogue and a culture of feedback is the way ethical leadership works. (ChatGPT 2024).
The promotion of equality is also realised in decision-making processes. For an ethical leader, it is more important to consider the ethical implications of decisions rather than self-interest. By ensuring the moral fairness and rationality of decisions, different perspectives are mapped out. Decision-making processes are carried out in cooperation with other staff. An ethical leader is considered loyal, contributing to the motivation, commitment, satisfaction of work and well-being of followers. Ethical leadership contributes not only to individuals or organisations, but also to societal challenges, promoting the Sustainable Development Goals and social responsibility. (ChatGPT 2024).
It’s easy for me to identify with the principles of ethical leadership. In the previous self-reflection section, I did a personality test which showed that I represented the executive personality type. This personality type, like me, is characterised by justice, honesty and integrity. I like to treat people with respect and I cherish equality. I don’t let my emotions lead me, which helps me stay neutral in situations, but also consistent. Consistency, dedication and respectful treatment make me trustworthy. I want to work according to my values, and values help me navigate the choices that are right for me. Principles and values are very important to me and I do not hesitate to challenge unethical or unfair actions. I wonder what might be difficult for me in ethical leadership and I can see it is related to conflict in decision making. Sometimes it can be difficult for me to make big decisions or decisions where I have to disappoint someone. I should therefore pay attention to develop as an ethical leader in the decision-making process.
References:
ChatGPT 2024. Ethical leadership. https://chatgpt.com/c/08304eb8-d57f-4429-b64b-bc5f63ac47cd. Accessed: 17.05.2024.