Question

Identify and analyze the ethical complexities often faced by leaders

Answer 1

• One complexity of ethical leadership is the ability to consistently adhere to the rules the leader establishs for his business. Following your own ethical standard serves as an inspiration to the employees, indicating that the leader stands by his core values. For example, if the leader expects the workers to treat everyone with respect, they won't take him seriously if he disparage them or gossip. The same applies if the leader is willing to bend the rules for convenience. For instance, if his organization is required to adhere to federal and state laws, the employees will react negatively if labor standards or environmental regulations are violated. Employees will see his hypocrisy and interpret the company's mission and vision as a public facade.
• Ethics can be complex. To ensure clarity, leaders need to write clear policies in the form of mission statements, rules, regulations and practices. From the moment they're hired, employees need written copies of the above policies. These must also be documented in a way that is easy to understand and free of exploitable loopholes. If the leader is unsure of where to begin, he should try modeling company's vision and policies after those of other organizations that he finds particularly admirable or successful. He can also hire a consultant to assess the organization and determine the best way to approach the issue.
• Workplace culture and environment can also be a challenge to ethical leadership. In oppressive environments, employees who may notice serious ethical problems may be afraid to speak out for fear of being ostracized or even terminated.Managers who are good at what they do may not be effective ethical leaders if they are introverted or anti-social. Once the leader hires the right people,he should emphasize on an open door policy, meaning that employees can approach their supervisors openly about any issues they notice.