Demonstrate moral leadership

Ethics has become a headline issue in the business world. This is especially true in the U.S., where recent scandals like that of Enron and stories of unscrupulous executives are regularly featured in the media. These recent episodes do not tell the whole story, but are representative of an underlying trend: a growing number of constituents – the general public, consumers, investors, regulators, the judicial authorities, etc. – are demanding more and more of corporations in terms of ethical compliance.

Yet, the moral values of a company are not defined only by a few strategic decisions at the top. All managers or executives are confronted with ethical dilemmas every day. Most people usually want to “do the right thing.” However, given the rising tension and often contradictory pressures in the workplace, doing the right thing is not always as simple as one might think.

The publications that we have selected on this topic incite managers to gain perspective on the concept of ethics. We found the following suggestions to be particularly helpful:

– Continuously define and refine your personal values and make sure that your behavior is aligned with these values.

– Do more than just do the right thing: set an example by cultivating an ethical reputation.

– Take active steps to influence the ethics of your subordinate.