Bringing it All Together

Ethical leadership focuses on making decisions that prioritize the common good, rather than just personal or financial gain. While profits are important, ethical leaders consider the needs of customers, communities, stakeholders, and employees alongside company growth. Leaders also encourage their teams to adopt these values, fostering a workplace culture of transparency, collaboration, inclusion, and safety for open communication (Lparsons, 2024).

Applying what I've learned about ethical leadership to my own framework involves reflecting on how my personal values align with broader ethical principles and how I can translate these into action in all settings. I will foster this development by considering the following six principles of ethical leadership (Lparsons, 2024):

  1. Respect: Ethical leaders promote mutual respect, where both leaders and employees value each other’s contributions, fostering healthy relationships and a positive, productive work environment.
  2. Accountability: Leaders hold themselves accountable, making decisions with integrity, communicating openly about challenges, and taking responsibility for their actions.
  3. Service: Ethical leaders prioritize the well-being of employees, customers, and communities, engaging in charitable activities and encouraging their teams to do the same.
  4. Honesty: Transparent communication builds trust within organizations and with customers. Ethical leaders are clear and candid, empowering others to make informed decisions.
  5. Justice: Ethical leaders ensure fairness and equity in decision-making, treating everyone with respect and striving to create a just and inclusive workplace.
  6. Community: Ethical leaders view their organizations as communities, considering all stakeholders in decision-making and fostering collaboration and inclusion across teams.

Based on what I learned in this class, the changes I would like to make in my own framework are:

  • Prioritize the ethical dimensions of my decisions by actively balancing personal goals with the impact of my actions on others. This includes being more transparent in sharing issues with the team and addressing ethical concerns proactively rather than avoiding difficult conversations. I have learned that personal behavior significantly influences a company's reputation, culture, and overall performance, Knowing that I will strive to model ethical behavior that fosters trust and collaboration, ultimately contributing to a positive organizational environment (Santa Clarita University, n.d.).
  • I aim to refine my ability to navigate conflicts with respect for all perspectives, actively listening, validating others' feelings, and ensuring everyone feels heard. By fostering an environment where conflicts are seen as opportunities for growth, I align with the principles of servant leadership, which prioritize the common good. These principles such as inspiration, community building, flexibility, honor, vision, growth commitment, ethical behavior, and humility promote inclusivity, equality, accountability, and ethical decision-making, valuing character over profit. This leadership style encourages moral action, open communication, and a shared sense of purpose, empowering employees to act ethically (7 Values of Servant Leadership, 2024).

Ethical leadership prioritizes the common good while fostering transparency, inclusion, and open communication, aligning with core principles such as respect, accountability, honesty, and justice (Lparsons, 2024). In an organizational context, these principles will guide me in making decisions that benefit the wider community, creating a culture of fairness, collaboration, and ethical behavior. By applying these values, I aim to model ethical behavior, navigate conflicts respectfully, and proactively address ethical concerns, ultimately contributing to a positive organizational environment and strengthening the organization's reputation and performance. This aligns with the broader industry focus on ethical decision-making and fostering inclusive, transparent workplaces.

 

 


References

Lparsons. (2024, May 31). What is Ethical Leadership and Why is it Important? - Professional &Executive Development | Harvard DCE. Professional & Executive Development | Harvard DCE. https://professional.dce.harvard.edu/blog/what-is-ethical-leadership-and-why-is-it-important/

Santa Clara University. (n.d.). Case on executive integrity. Markkula Center for Applied Ethics.https://www.scu.edu/ethics/focus-areas/business-ethics/resources/case-on-executive-integrity/

7 Values of servant leadership. (2024, August 7). Point Loma Nazarene University.https://www.pointloma.edu/resources/business-leadership/7-values-servant-leadership

 

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