A few years back I was asked an interesting question. A friend who works training medical professionals asked me, “If you needed heart surgery and the best heart surgeon in the world was callous, constantly cheating on his wife, violent and swore like a trucker, would you let him do the surgery, or would you demand a less qualified, more ethical surgeon.”
I choose the less ethical, more competent surgeon. Who would you choose?
Leaders can be highly effective, but not very ethical. In fact, some people are willing to excuse leader’s ethical lapses because they are effective - the leader can get results.
A few things should be observed.
Leadership and ethics are not as intrinsically connected as many think. A person can be regarded as a leader because of their effectiveness, and be unethical. Likewise, a leader can be very ethical (kind, thoughtful, honest, etc) but be ineffective. Some scholars suggest being effective is the realm of management and not leadership. But, the truth is, effectiveness is a domain shared by both leadership and management studies, and the issue of ethics intrinsic connection to leadership (or even management) is still tenuous.
So why practice effective and ethical leadership?
Today’s leaders need to be effective and ethical. Ethical leadership typically leads to greater trust in workplace relationships and thus helps to ensure partnerships. Ethical leadership almost always leads to increased employee empowerment and engagement. Some also suggest that ethically based leadership is essential in creating sustainable organizations, because ethical leaders create ethically based organizations resulting in greater customer trust. But, the best reason to practice ethical leadership is simply, because you become your actions. Through your actions you create your personal identity, that is, your actions form the person you intend to become.
The 19th century Danish philosopher, Soren Kierkegaard, captured this idea by suggesting the truest version of “you” is the person you are trying to become, your inner identity. And, this identity is eternal and unfolding, and that we must in every act make sure we choose activities which agree with our internal eternal ideal self.
So, what do you stand to lose by not being an ethical leader? Yourself.
References
Kierkegaard, S., Hong, H. V., & Hong, E. H. (1997). Without authority (Vol. 18). Princeton University Press.
Perkins, R. L. (Ed.). (1987). Sickness Unto Death (Vol. 19). Mercer University Press.
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FAQs
Leaders that embrace and encourage ethics ask their employees to look beyond their self-interests and work toward the common good of investors, consumers and fellow workers. Research shows that ethical leaders engender higher satisfaction, greater goal orientation and lower turnover from followers.
What is the difference between ethical and effective leadership? ›
Effective leadership is about the creation, process and achievement of vision. Ethical leadership is about whether or not the vision or objective is morally good for the whole of society. Effective leadership is about the “hows”, while Ethical leadership is about the “outcomes” of leadership.
What is leadership explain the effectiveness of leadership? ›
Effective leadership is the ability to successfully influence and support a team or group of people. It's important to point out there's much more to effective leadership than just delegating from the top. A great leader is also a great negotiator.
Can you be an effective leader without ethics? ›
A leader cannot be entirely effective without ethics since it is a set of guiding principles by which the team conducts business. It's how a leader earns the team's trust and respect, encouraging them to imbibe the same values. It's also a great way to establish a strong reputation for the business.
What is the difference between effective and ethical? ›
Effectiveness, as I will use it, denotes achieving a purpose in the best fashion. Ethics pertains to principles of morality, of right or appropriate conduct in pursuit of goals.
Is there a conflict between ethical and effective leadership? ›
An effective leader might do whatever it takes to achieve the goal (even unethical things) while an ethical leader will not compromise ethical and moral principles just to achieve a goal.
What are the traits of effective and ethical leader? ›
Ethical leaders strive to understand and empathize with their employees. They are empathetic listeners and communicators. They encourage their employees to do the right thing, listen patiently to their grievances, and help them journey through effective solutions.
How do you define ethical effective and empowering leadership? ›
Because ethical leaders are altruistic, trustworthy, fair decision makers, and care for the personal well-being of others, they are likely to be. involved in high quality social exchanges with subordinates, which in turn are. expected to be positively related to loyalty for the leader and commitment to the work.
What is ethical leadership and examples? ›
Ethical leaders hold themselves accountable for their actions. They make decisions based on integrity and stand behind their work. They also lead by example, communicate openly about challenges, and don't look to place blame on others for any shortfalls.
How do you evaluate leadership effectiveness? ›
Review these steps to understand the different ways of measuring leadership effectiveness:
- Gather employee feedback. ...
- Compare year-on-year metrics. ...
- Measure the company's profitability. ...
- Evaluate company goals. ...
- Peer review. ...
- Evaluate workplace innovation. ...
- Match values with outputs. ...
- Use leadership assessments.
Leaders provide direction and vision, motivate and inspire others, and help create an environment conducive to success by promoting communication and collaboration among team members. In short, leadership and strong management are essential for any organization that wants to achieve its objectives.
Why is ethics important for leadership? ›
Ethical Leadership is about leading, inspiring, motivating, and making the employees feel accountable for their work. When this happens, greater business success is achievable because employees are happier to be at work. If ethical leaders can influence results, then they can equally influence workplace culture.
What happens if a leader is not effective? ›
Low Morale: Bad leadership can lead to low team morale. Employees who feel disrespected, undervalued, or unsupported are less likely to be engaged and motivated. High Turnover: Organisations with poor leadership often experience high turnover rates.
Does a leader need to be ethical in order to be effective? ›
Ethical leadership plays a crucial role in shaping the culture and success of organisations. Leaders who embody ethical principles and values have the power to inspire and motivate their teams, fostering a positive work environment and driving long-term success.
What is the relationship between ethics and leadership? ›
Ethical leadership enhances organizational performance by integrating moral values into organizations' practices. Ethics plays a critical role in developing the right set of ideas, thoughts, and principles, influencing individuals' work behavior, conduct, and actions (Rabie and Abdul Malek, 2020).
How are ethical practices a key component of effective leadership? ›
In the long-term, ethical leadership can prevent company scandals, ethical dilemmas, and ethical issues. It can also help organizations gain more partnerships and customers, which can lead to more money at the end of the day. Loyal employees are also a crucial element of long-term success for a business.
How personal ethics produce effective leaders? ›
A strong base of good values, principles, morals and virtues will help develop strong ethics. This will produce good leaders not only able to differentiate between good or bad and right or wrong, but also make ethical decisions.
Does ethical leadership affect organizational effectiveness? ›
Ethical leadership positively impacts employee attitudes, behavior, and overall organizational performance (Kalshoven et al., 2011; Taamneh et al., 2024).
