X|Ethical Leadership Module Section 2
Three Approaches to Improve our Ethical Leadership
Ethical Leadership Video #2 Transcript:
As we want to be ethical leaders what are some of the strategies that we can use to overcome
the natural challenges that we face? I would like to share three foundational strategies or
attitudes that can help us. These three strategies will appear in other modules throughout this
course, but just as research tells us that ethical leadership forms the foundation of great
leadership, I hope that these three strategies will form a foundation of supporting all of your
leadership challenges.
Number one, start with, and keep returning to your vision and values. You are going to be
developing your personal values and vision statement as part of your Personal Leadership Plan,
and you're going to be learning more about creating organizational values and a vision as part
of this course. We want to keep our larger vision and values as key components both
personally and organizationally in every decision. It's more than just following the rules, or
the law, or doing things that would make me look good, but it is instead being aligned in thought,
word, and deed. It's reminding ourselves of our ultimate vision and values that can help orient
us towards ethical decisions being in our integrity and accomplishing our mission. How can you
keep your vision and your values in the forefront of your team's mind daily and in your own?
Number two, to be ethical leaders we want to practice and value moral courage. Courage is
an English word with French roots. Courage comes from Coeur, or heart. Moral courage calls us
to be brave and connected to our hearts. With moral courage I want to first pause before acting
to assure that I’m truly aligned with my ethics instead of forging ahead and doing what might be
expected, or might be considered safe, or it might even be legal. Moral courage is defined by
ethicists as when we do what's good for all involved regardless of how I am personally affected.
When have you needed moral courage? You might want to pause and think about that. When
have you had to wrestle with the complexity of a situation, and your competing values, and then
be brave and do what was right even though others might not have understood? As a practical
tip I suggest asking that question about when you've needed moral courage with your team and
hear the results. Not only do you hear inspiring stories, but it makes moral courage a priority
within your team.
Number three, leadership calls us to look again when we're making a decision. If I'm easily
making a decision, it's important to stop and wonder if I'm not considering everything. As we've
discussed, respect is the willingness to look again. Our fast thinking brain meanwhile doesn't
like complexity so we want to make it a practice to ask ourselves, what have I not yet
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considered? In addition to exhibiting moral courage, keeping our visions and values as constant
priorities, ethical leaders need to continue to look again and look for the win-win. To
overcome my own limited thinking have I sought out opposing opinions? The UN General
Secretary Kofi Annan stated that when dealing with ethical challenges the answer lies as always
in promoting dialogue, respect, tolerance, and understanding. It's said that Kofi Annan would
ask at least a dozen opposing opinions before rendering any decision.
Win-win thinking reminds us not to look for the simple solution, but for the breakthrough or
creative one that brings in the opposites instead of leaving them out. In holding a win-win
approach as ethical leaders we also want to think about not only just being kind or just being
strategic but being both kind and strategic. How can I care for the business, and the employees,
and the planet at the exact same time? To overcome our innate limitations, I hope that you will
put your core values and vision first, to practice as well moral courage, and to look again for that
win-win solution before acting. I hope that this will support you in your greater goal of being an
ethical leader. As you hold these three strategies throughout your leadership challenges, I hope
that you will find that it brings your team closer, and you into a place where you are finding
breakthrough solutions for the most problematic issues of our times.
This document is an internal document shared only with Community Solutions Program finalists. Please do not share this document
with any other individuals.