Why the World Needs More Ethical Leaders

Sometimes, being a good leader means knowing when to follow someone else. If you do your job well, you should inspire creativity and the generation of brilliant ideas in others. Then, you should give them credit. Send out an email to the staff and call out those deserving of applause. Throw a party. Seriously. Or at least pat the successful team or person on the back every now and then.

Too often, leaders let their staff make them look good and never give them credit. At best, it is an oversight. At worst, the executive is fine with taking credit for someone else’s work, which is akin to plagiarism. Spreading the love is not just the right thing to do; it also boosts morale by helping employees feel appreciated and part of the company’s success.

You would think this was obvious. But time and again presumed leaders make headlines for violating the law. In 2017, in fact, 11 companies paid more than $1.92 billion to resolve cases of the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA), which is an anti-bribery law.

Sometimes, people who gain power see shortcuts and take chances in the name of greed. Eventually, it catches up with them. The most egregious case in recent history is Bernie Madoff, whose Ponzi scheme cost investors billions. While there are practical reasons for following the law, such as avoiding violations and scandal, it is also a question of morality. Those who have studied Madoff have to wonder if he ever had any scruples.

Certainly, a bad guy who goes to business school will be a bad guy who graduates business school. But most people possess a sense of morality. They might just need guidance and an education in the regulations by which they must abide.

The stereotype of the MBA is a loud-mouthed, abrasive boss. Who says you have to be mean to be a leader? While you can’t be a pushover, you should have good manners. Respect everyone in the office – from the board of directors to the custodian. Give direction and disagree with people without raising your voice or undermining their opinion. Be secure in your own intelligence. Give people the chance to shine as opposed to micromanaging them. Rather than name calling, you should offer constructive criticism to help them improve their skills. Your aim should be to get the best out of everyone. You can be nice and still get stuff done.

Being nice is one thing. But the leader sets the tone for everyone else. As a result, you cannot tolerate boorish or inappropriate behavior, poor communication, ineptitude, or illegal acts on the part of your employees. Being ethical isn’t always easy. You might have to fire or suspend people. Or you might have to reprimand them. The point is that you must hold people accountable and serve as the moral compass for the company. Most importantly, you must hold yourself to the highest standard. This is both to serve as a role model but also to create the culture of the place.

What separates us humans from the robots – and will keep us employed long after AI takes over – is our ability to empathize. We can share and understand the feelings of fellow men and women. That is our superpower, and we should use it wisely. As a leader, you should use empathy in your decision-making. It comes in handy as you develop relationships with employees and clients. In other words, be like a boss and never forget your humanity. 

*This article was originally published on LinkedIn. Please feel free to follow me to share your thoughts and comments.