admincorporations that have had a serious impact on the well-being of whole economies and societies.
From Enron in 2001, to the world recession of 2008, the scandals of one form or the other that have rocked our economy, and the manifest general breakdown of ethical standards in business, are telling examples.
People are justifiably raising ethical questions about the role of corporate leaders in managing organisational ethics.
As stewards of these organisations, leaders must raise the bar on corporate ethics and inspire staff to conduct themselves responsibly.
The clamour is for ethical leadership to impose its authority and transform business conduct in corporations. Ethical leadership demands corporate leaders to propagate ethical business conduct through the decisions they make and actions they engage in because demonstrable ethical character is a proven stimulant for behavioural change.
If leaders are ethical, they can ensure that ethical practices define “the way we do things here”.
An ethical culture results in an honest, transparent, and trustworthy business environment that subsequently bolsters employee productivity.
Exhibiting ethical leadership opens up the future of the organisation to greater understanding by its leaders.
It reveals to the leaders insights about the bigger picture, the goals and dreams of the organisation. Leaders must engage in thought leadership, and should tell a compelling story about organisational ethics to staff and all stakeholders.
Ethical leadership ensures that workplace ethics is practised beyond having a list of values posted on the wall to become an integral part of what it is to be productive and profitable in the organisation.
An ethical leader is characterised by the following;
l Being reliable and dependable
l Willing to admit to mistakes
l Being true to one’s word
l Keeping promises
l Being sensitive to other people’s feelings and perspectives
l Taking an active interest in others’ concerns
l Being attentive to emotional cues
l Listening deeply
l Being willing to change your mind or direction to accommodate others
l Being able to walk in someone else’s shoes
l Seeking to be clearly understood
l Participating effectively in give-and-take
l Dealing with difficult issues straightforwardly
l Share information
l Being receptive to both good and bad news
l Making it a point to keep others informed
l Caring about the legacies you leave for future generations.
Bradwell Mhonderwa is an Ethics Coach and Trainer with the Business Ethics Centre. Send feedback to [email protected], or visit www.businessethicscentre.co.zw, or call 0772 913 875.
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