Corporate Leaders Are Responsible for Organizational Ethics

In addition, the leader must understand the values important amongst a group in the organization and align these values

Leaders make critical decisions between right, wrong, and the lesser of two evils every day. These decisions can affect the person making the decision, their employees, and goals of the organization. There are many readings that describe ethics and leadership, but ethical leadership is basically knowing your inner values and having the courage to steadfastly live by them for the purpose of the common good. Southwestern College's Master of Science in Leadership program has given me a firm understanding of how important ethical reasoning is and how it impacts, good and bad, an organization.

Craig and Gustafson (1998) maintain that ethics is a matter that requires significant consideration to those in leading positions. Trevino, Hartman, and Brown (2000) affirmed that individuals with power must be strong morally and prove their strength in management to be considered as ethical leaders to those in their work environment (as cited Brown & Mitchell, 2010).

Leadership is responsible for implementing strategy, influencing processes, and stimulating change in attitudes and values. Unfortunately, many leaders and major decision makers cannot make an impartial or truthful decision every time throughout their entire career because of their desire to continue to progress. In the article Leaders as Stewards by Gary Hamel, “a Gallup study revealed only 15% of respondents rated the ethical standards of executives as high or very high.” In my opinion, I believe stewards must possess the ethical values to do the right thing when no one is looking. Of the five elements of stewardships including fealty, charity, prudence, and accountability, from my own experience many lack in the arears of charity and accountability.

By incorporating the principles of ethical leadership it provides the foundation for the development of a ethical organization which will help with decision making. Ethical leaders need to respect others, service others, show justice, manifest honesty, and builds the community. In an organization I believe all leaders should be required to go through a training to teach the development of ethical leadership. I believe we must start with the leaders in order to get others to follow along with the right behavior. Mangers in an organization should also be required to attend a program and training to become more ethically effective at work and in life and to help make ethical decisions. Managers and leaders can benefit and use the information to have a better understanding of themselves and strengthen their own leadership skills. Leaders must understand that to be an ethical leader, they must be sensitive to the needs of others, treat others in ways that are just, and care for

This week I chose to focus on ethical leadership within a company. Most people may already have their own ideas as to what ethical leadership already is, however not everyone will be on the same page as to what it is. Ethical leadership has been defined as the practice of behaviors that are deemed normal through personal actions and interpersonal relationships (Neves and Story, 2013). Because of this what might seem ethical to someone from China, may not be viewed in the same light here in the U.S. The article I read suggests that there are several factors when it comes to ethical leadership within a company. Work environment being one of the factors, as well as job characteristics and trust in leader (Neves and Story, 2013).

The five principles of ethical leadership are to respect subordinates, have a since of community within the organization, have a sense of service to help others, justice which is done by being fair to others and making sure employees act according to policy, and be honest with employees about tasks and current situations (Northouse, 2013). Ethics serves as a guideline to follow in accordance to what is good and bad as it appears in society. Respect is about being compassionate, having a concern for other people’s feelings, and living by a moral code of conduct. If I had to identify my role as a leader I would say I believe in being respectful to my co-workers and making sure I am honest and fair with the people I work with. A leader has to

Another reason these ethical responsibilities do not alter is a leader exhibit several roles that are performed in the public views which involve their characters such as action plans, goals, honesty, power and values of who they are as a person and how to implemented work as an ethical leader. Although portraying the components of good character is vital to leadership like responsibility, trustworthiness, respect, fairness, caring, and citizenship.

Strong ethical leadership ensures setting up an example to the ethical code of conduct. By maintaining it,the leadership and top management will

Within an organization, leaders have the opportunity to influence the ethical direction of all stakeholders.

Plato once asked whether you would rather be "an unethical person with a good reputation or an ethical person with a reputation for injustice." Ethical leadership has long been a debate in regards to its importance and place in the universal business world.

Ethical. Corporate scandals and ethical issues have increased the awareness, attention, and need of ethical leadership in business. Unique from other leadership types, ethical leadership is an overt leadership attempt to influence followers’ ethical conduct by emphasizing moral management. Ethical leaders play a critical role in promoting and perpetuating a social exchange and culture of honesty, accountability, unbiased treatment, consideration, and respect across an organization.

Although someone in a management position may have to assume a leadership role, it does not mean that this person is automatically fit to lead. Just because an organization provides its managers with certain formal rights is not assurance that they will be able to lead effectively. (Robbins & Judge p. 12) Sometimes, leaders emerge from a group without having a formal title or position. With the need for organizations to have not only strong management but strong leadership, it is important to fit the leader’s leadership style to the situation. Finding the right leader for the position is not the only concern however. It is also important to have leaders who are ethical and that can be trusted. Unfortunately, making sure leaders act with proper ethical values is largely overlooked

credibility and public trust. In a case like this, companies should try to integrate ethics more

Creation of Corporate Goodwill – Reputed Stature. Apart from achieving corporate goals, a business has certain responsibilities towards the society, stake holders, employees etc. By running the business in an ethical manner, we not only earn good reputation in the global corporate arena but also create a positive and amiable working environment among investors and employees. So to maintain a long term relationship, we shouldn’t resort to unethical practices. For the time being if it is considered right, a neutral analysis reports that the piracy business runs in billions and this all goes as a loss to the original owners/ organizations. Think for a while due to so many piracy ventures, many companies and private owners are earning billions. Again if we take the example of Microsoft, imagine if the same amount is earned originally by Microsoft, it