As the need to attract, engage, motivate, and retain employees becomes more important, so does the need for leaders who will lead by example. Having a workplace driven by high moral standards is a desire for most organisations, but to truly see this move beyond a wish in the hearts of CEOs into a reality, leaders need to develop and showcase ethical leadership skills.

What is Ethical Leadership?

As described by Business News Daily, Ethical leadership involves business leaders demonstrating appropriate conduct both inside and outside of the office. Ethical leaders demonstrate good values through their words and actions.

Here are 5 tips to help you develop ethical leadership skills.

1. Align your morals

Remember “never take what is not yours”? How about “treat others the way you want to be treated”? We all grew up learning different morals and a few common ones. As the world evolves and things change by the second, some of the things we used to know as right, good, truth, and fair are now being questioned and tested.

Once we assume or take up leadership positions, we must define and align our morals to that of the organisation.

2. Be the custodian of Ethics.

To be leading an organisation, you must be the epitome of ethics. Spend time mastering the ethics projected by the organisation and others that align with the growth path and goals of the organisation. As you lead, inevitably, people look up to you for varying things. One way to spread ethical values across a team you lead is to be an example.

3. Champion open communication

Create a conducive environment where anyone can speak up about issues related to ethical violations and other matters by championing open communication.

4. Keep improving

Never settle for good. Always try to be the best. Be your own competition. In a fast-changing world, our skills and knowledge can become obsolete even before we get the chance to put them to use.

In that light, it is critical to learn, unlearn, and re-learn. As leaders, we must be on top of happenings in our industry and related industries. Take courses, enrol for fellowships. Network with people who can provide mentorship.

5. Avoid being Bias

Leaders are human and every human has biases. There is that thing we are inclined towards. To truly develop ethical skills and become an ethical leader, one must truly be consistent with what is addressed as wrong or right and how wrong or right is addressed.

Consistency, of cause, draws respect and trust, something every leader need from those they lead.