In reading the Triangle Business Journal article, Strong Ethics Provide Guidance, I am reminded of how someone I view as a leader showed how to be an ethical leader during a difficult time. As the article states, during these difficult times, people are uncertain and have concerns, hoping to search for some sense of stability and meaning. Recently, there have been many attacks on institutions for promoting diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility; actions that are often deemed as the practices of ethical institutions since they align with core moral principles about fairness, dignity, and responsible treatment of people in organizations and society. Yet, these ideologies are currently being portrayed as negative.

During these times, my role model of ethical leadership played a pivotal role in easing this uncertainty by offering transparency, reassurance, and unwavering support. Through his open dialogue and consistent actions, he reinforced that our organizational values remained intact and reminded every employee that they belong. He actively listened to concerns and provided clear updates about the path forward as soon as he was given information. His integrity showed during these moments of tension and helped to restore a sense of stability. By reaffirming his commitments of fairness and respect, he helped employees feel anchored amid pressures put on our organization from external sources. He constantly reminded us that what was most important to him was to make sure that we were okay. This helped to build our organization’s trust in him and truly showed how his ethical approach was perfect for guiding us through a difficult time.

Marshall, E. (2017, February 17). Strong ethics provide guidance. Triangle Business Journal. https://www.bizjournals.com/triangle/news/2017/02/17/guest-column-strong-ethics-provide-guidance.html