Ethical Leadership in the Diverse Workplace
Ethical behaviour is determined by the underlying necessity to recognise and do the right thing. Ethics are based on the societal norms and the belief in what is right which is in itself a flexible term (“Chapter 13. Orienting Ideas in Leadership |Section 8. Ethical Leadership”, n.d.). What is right varies among cultures, people and societies. Additionally, ethics differs from morality as it is more logical in its approach. Leadership plays a vital role in the structure and functioning of an organisation, and the approach towards leadership acts as a tool that helps to shape the culture of the organisation (“Chapter 13. Orienting Ideas in Leadership |Section 8. Ethical Leadership”, n.d.). Ethical leadership requires the person in the leadership position to act and make decisions which are ethically acceptable (“Chapter 13. Orienting Ideas in Leadership |Section 8. Ethical Leadership”, n.d.). It also entails that they must exercise an inherent fairness in the way they act and treat the people around them, especially in the cultural context. As organisations become bigger and expansive, they become more diverse and have to deal with a socially diverse population too (“Chapter 13. Orienting Ideas in Leadership |Section 8. Ethical Leadership”, n.d.). It is in such a scenario that ethical leadership needs to be exercised to shape the organisational culture which is acceptable and inclusive for all.
A number of researchers highlight the importance of ethical leadership as they deem it necessary for the leader to base all the decisions that affect the organisation and its employees on ethically sound principles (Lawton and Paez, 2015). It should be done with an aim towards the benefit and common goal of the good of the people involved (Gustafson, 2013). A leadership of this sort will ensure that the employees retain their trust which ensures a tight knit organisational structure and culture (Llies, Judge, and Wagner, 2006).
(I.C. RDS 3323)