Ethics and values in leadership
Ethics and values should be visible in every aspect of a leader’s life. Influential leaders recognize how important values and ethics are. They behave in ways that inspire others.
Values
Values are often defined as a person’s significant beliefs. Everyone has a collection of core values. Values and ethics do not exist separately from each other. However, they may develop differently over time.
A child’s values develop slowly by observing the actions of adults in their lives. Moral values are often personalized during the transition from teenage years to adulthood. During this stage, individuals look at rules imposed upon them and examine which practices or ideas they agree with. They also begin to understand how their actions have consequences.
Significant life events often cause an individual to re-evaluate their values. As life experiences shape a person’s worldview, their values may also shift.
People who understand change and are clear on their values are much more likely to become involved in their organization.
Leaders are responsible for setting standards for their organization. Leaders who are unclear about their own values will lose trust quickly. This is especially true if they reflect attitudes and behaviors that do not match the ethical standards and values that their people hold dear.
Ethics
Ethics are the principles that regulate our actions. They are likened to the internal compass that shapes behavior. Ethics can refer to a person’s work performance and how they conduct business.
The ethics a person holds determine how they interact with the outside world. Personal ethics help instill trust and motivate others.
There are a few key differences between personal and professional ethics. One difference is that professional ethics is often imposed on an employee. Professional ethics can often override personal ethics within the workplace. They are essential for maintaining consistent expectations.
How Important are Professional Ethical Standards?
Approximately 94% of employees stated that it is critical or important that the company they work for is ethical. High ethical practices are crucial for creating successful organizations that employ satisfied and loyal individuals.
- 82% of employees said they would prefer to be paid less but work for a company with ethical business practices than receive higher pay at a company with questionable ethics.
- 80% of employees cite that the biggest reason for leaving a job is disagreement with the ethics of fellow employees, supervisors, or management. In comparison, 21% cite the reason as pressure to engage in illegal activity.
- 56% of U.S. workers define their company as having an ethical culture. Yet one in four U.S. workers say that in the past six months, they witnessed unethical and even illegal behavior where they work.
- Among those, only 11% say they were not affected by it.
- Virtually all Americans want to work for a company they believe is ethical, with 57% stating it is critical. (RP news wires, n.d.)
Final Thoughts
Students that are a part of the Master’s program in organizational leadership at Charleston Southern University find themselves with multiple opportunities to develop their personal ethics and values.
These students learn early in the program that personal ethics and values cannot be separated from leadership; they must function synergistically. Understanding the connection between leadership roles and values helps graduates prepare for future positions of leadership.
Daniel Woodward is a first line leader at the Boeing Company. He is currently a CSU graduate student.
References
RP news wires. (n.d.). Survey: ethics impact employment and productivity. Retrieved July 28, 2022.
WUNDENGBA, C. (n.d.). Define your position: values, ethics, and leadership. wundef.com. Retrieved July 23, 2022.
