10 Things Ethical Leaders Believe (Part 6)

10 Things Ethical Leaders Believe:

Our purpose is to create value for others. When we reflect sincerely on our purpose as leaders, we come to a profound realization: as leaders, we are not the center of the universe. It’s not about us. Leadership is about creating value for others. We are here to create shared value that benefits multiple constituents. We do that with people and communities, and seek plans and solutions that are a mutual win.
How we treat people matters. How we treat people matters. We need to work together with our people in the spirit of understanding. Leading with respect, care, service, and inclusion is transformational. When they know we care and that they can count on us, they can really get to work, bringing their best skills and talents to the tasks at hand. With regards to people, winning means building high-trust relationships.
Our moral grounding is more important than our goals and opinions. When we let our goals and opinions drive our thinking, we begin to believe that “anything goes” in the quest to meet those goals or defend those opinions. When our moral compass drives our thinking, we will question any goals that benefit us at the expense of others. Everything we do needs to be morally grounded. We need to assume that every issue is an ethical issue and approach it accordingly.
Everything we do has a ripple effect, and that ripple is global. Because we are a globally connected village, we need to remember that our choices are not isolated. They have a powerful ripple effect, and that ripple is global. We need to avoid harm and think long-term. Because we are a globally connected village, we need to remember that our choices are not isolated. They have a powerful ripple effect, and that ripple is global. We need to consider the effect of our choices on silent stakeholders, including the environment and future generations.
We must take responsibility. The world is changing. There is a powerful responsibility movement going on. We know more about what leaders should be doing, and we know more about what responsible leadership looks like. People need to be able to count on us to take responsibility. Everyone is counting on us to take responsibility. Taking responsibility for using ethical thinking and behavior will not only change everything we do, it will earn the respect of others, and change how we feel about ourselves.
We need to be proactive. We need to take the initiative. We can’t wait to make mistakes and appear in the news. We can’t wait for someone to tell us what to do. At that point any initiative we take will look forced, reactionary, and insincere. We expect and reward ethical behavior. Being proactive about ethical leadership means taking the initiative to learn; weighing our choices carefully; and creating a culture where ethical behavior is expected and rewarded. If done well, and proactively, these actions will be rewarded with the loyalty of conscientious customers.
We should serve as positive role models. We model ethical leadership through our character, integrity, behavior, and choices. Our role is to listen, learn and improve, serving as a role model for what ethical behavior looks like. We model the ethical behavior we ask of others. We realize that we can only bring out the best in those we lead when we demonstrate our commitment to ethics and show them the way.
We will embrace the learning journey. There is no check-box for ethical leadership. It is an ongoing individual and organizational journey. We will never know everything that there is to know. We never arrive. We understand. We struggle. We grow. We realize what we don’t know. We get past ultimatums and boxes on charts and work to be better leaders every day.
We will enjoy a competitive advantage. Ethical leadership is not just “the right thing” to do; it’s also a competitive advantage in the global marketplace. It unleashes the potential in our people, our organizations, our planet, our communities and our world. Proactive ethical leadership “powers up” organizational success. Why is Proactive Ethical Leadership so Powerful? It simultaneously: Builds trust and creates great places to work. Engages employees and customers. Makes work meaningful and improves lives. Drives business metrics including employee engagement, customer retention, and innovation. Transforms profits, people, the planet, communities, and the world. Gives our companies staying power in a global marketplace.
We will build a better world. When we think of the term “stakeholder” in its broadest interpretation, and lead with care, our proactive ethical leadership generates ripples of trust. We make a difference. When we seek a simultaneous win for many stakeholders, we: Create a better future for the organization, it’s customers and employees. Support healthy communities. Make a difference in the world.

There is no check-box for ethical leadership. It is an ongoing individual and organizational journey.
We will never know everything that there is to know.
Linda Fisher Thornton

These deep beliefs help us create the leadership we need.

This post is an excerpt from What Ethical Leaders Believe: A Leading in Context Manifesto by Linda Fisher Thornton.