Ethical leadership and moral dilemmas

1. What Is Ethical Leadership?

Ethical leadership is the practice of leading with integrity, fairness, and accountability. Ethical leaders do more than follow rules—they model values such as honesty, respect, empathy, and responsibility in their words and actions.

They:

• Set the tone for ethical behavior in their teams or organizations

• Make decisions that balance results with doing what is right

• Are consistent and transparent, even when it’s difficult

• Accept responsibility for their actions and expect the same from others

Key idea: Ethical leadership isn’t just about avoiding wrongdoing—it’s about actively doing the right thing, especially when it’s not the easiest or most profitable path.

 

2. Why Ethical Leadership Matters

• Builds Trust: People follow leaders they trust. Ethical leadership fosters loyalty and commitment.

• Shapes Culture: The leader’s behavior sets expectations for the entire team or organization.

• Reduces Risk: Ethical decision-making helps prevent scandals, legal issues, and reputational harm.

• Enhances Reputation: Ethical leaders attract talent, customers, and partners who share their values.

3. Understanding Moral Dilemmas

A moral dilemma occurs when a leader faces a situation with no clear “right” answer—where values may conflict, and every option has consequences.

Examples of moral dilemmas:

• Should you protect a high-performing employee who behaved unethically, or report them and risk team performance?

• Should you delay telling a client about a mistake to fix it quietly, or be upfront and risk losing their trust?

• Should you promote someone for political reasons, even if someone else is more deserving?

These situations challenge a leader’s ethics because they often involve:

• Conflicting values (e.g., loyalty vs. honesty)

• Pressure from above or outside (e.g., financial targets, stakeholders)

• Uncertainty about the outcome (e.g., will honesty hurt the team?)

4. How Ethical Leaders Approach Moral Dilemmas

Ethical leaders use a thoughtful process, which might include:

• Clarifying the core issue: What’s really at stake?

• Considering values: What principles are in conflict? (e.g., fairness, transparency, loyalty)

• Consulting others: Who can help you see this from another perspective?

• Weighing consequences: Who will be impacted by each option?

• Taking responsibility: Am I prepared to stand by this decision?

Reflection question: Think of a time when you had to choose between two conflicting values. How did you decide what to do?

 

5. Summary

Ethical leadership is about more than avoiding bad choices—it’s about actively promoting integrity and navigating difficult decisions with courage and clarity. Moral dilemmas are part of leadership, but how leaders handle them defines their character, credibility, and long-term success.