HOW YOU CAN BE AN
ETHICAL LEADER
Jerry Swon
Unfortunately, a lot of business owners and managers have forgotten what it means to be an ethical leader. Granted, due to how competitive things are nowadays, it’s no wonder why some people do whatever they can to be on top. However, this can ultimately break even the biggest companies. If the leaders of a company don’t follow a code of ethics, then it’s only a matter of time before an unethical action is performed.Continue reading to learn how to be an ethical leader.
Treat Everyone as an Equal lOne of the most important traits of an ethical leader is being fair. Leaders don’t play favorites nor do they make important decisions on their own. Showing favoritism towards one employee over another can cause resentment among other members of your team. In the same vein, employees should not be promoted because of a personal relationship. An employee should be promoted because of how they perform and how qualified they are to do the job.
Have Respect If a leader doesn’t show respect, they won’t receive any back from their subordinates. A good leader gives respect to everyone in their team, regardless of their rank. Giving respect means showing compassion, listening to what others have to say and being appreciative towards their contributions.
Be Honest Honesty is another crucial factor when it comes to being an ethical leader. It’s also common knowledge that people want to follow someone who is dependable and honest. An ethical leader will always give facts, regardless if they are popular or not. Becoming transparent with your employees helps to foster a more trusting environment, causing your team to be more honest with you.
Show, Don’t Tell Although being an ethical leader requires good communication skills, that’s not all there is to it. In order to show true ethical leadership, initiative must be taken. Leaders lead by example and always expect others to follow suit. This is how they earn respect and trust.
Do Not Allow Ethical Violations Although being an ethical leader requires good communication skills, that’s not all there is to it. In order to show true ethical leadership, initiative must be taken. Leaders lead by example and always expect others to follow suit. This is how they earn respect and trust.