In reading the “Value Based Leadership Paradigm,” I found it most interesting how even team based activities are very individuals. This could seem obvious, but one unethical person could ruin the goals and reputation of the whole team. Leaders must be careful when selecting who they want to represent their teams. Also, leaders need to take differing ethical opinions and morph them into one set of organizational principles. Companies work towards common goals, hoping to achieve them while satisfying the most amount of team members.

In order to be an ethical company, you must prioritize the mental health of your members. Sometimes leaders need to sacrifice certain things to make sure that their team members are doing well. Leaders need to be more mindful of this than anyone, as their are responsible for leading the team in a healthy and ethical direction. Communication is also important for ethical leadership. Leaders should be fostering an environment where communication is welcomed and appreciated. If a team member is too afraid to go their team lead, then that is not an ethical company.

Leaders face a lot of ethical dilemmas. Balancing goals with the needs of various team members is challenging. Remaining supportive and open minded is very important when being an ethical leader. Different people will naturally have different values, but will need to come together for the sake of the team. An ethical leader is willing to compromise and meet the team where they are while offering support. A supportive environment makes for an ethical environment.

Shatalebi, B., & Yarmohammadian, M. H. Value-based leadership paradigm [PDF]