Module 5 Building Trust as an Ethical Leader

Module5Ethics Through the Lens of Our Everyday Work

Reflection Blog: Building Trust as an Ethical Leader


Prompt

In the article, Leadership Values and Workplace Ethics (The Balance Careers),Links to an external site. Heathfield stated that trust is a problem in the workplace. Specifically, Heathfield spoke about the need to follow your ethical guiding principles as both a leader and an organization.

Reflect on your guiding principles, and write a reflection blog about how you build trust as an ethical leader in your organization and how that impacts the entire organization at every level from the top to the bottom.

Building Trust as an Ethical Leader


Prompt 1

    Trust is extremely important in an organization and in relationships, in general. It is not surprising that "a lack of trust is a problem in many workplaces" (Heathfield, 2020). The worst individuals one might meet in their lifetime are ones they simply cannot trust. There is most certainly a reason that specific professions are disliked, such as politicians and lawyers, because people have a hard time discerning what they can believe and what they cannot. In workplaces, leaders must understand how important building trust is, and they must also recognize that they need to identify and share their values openly while living by them day in and day out (Heathfield, 2020). 

    According to Heathfield (2020), "if the organization's leadership has a code of conduct and ethical expectations, they become an organization joke if the leaders fail to live up to their published code. Leaders that exhibit ethical behavior powerfully influence the actions of others." Leading requires one to be true to their values and beliefs, but still be open-minded and willing to change; a wishy-washy person is not performing the act of leading. People want to get behind someone with a stance, beliefs and passion. Heathfield (2020) claims that living by the values and ethics that one believes in, which define their character, is powerful and can "help [one] lead and influence others." Additionally, this behavior transcends to "selecting and living organization values" (Heathfield, 2020). 

    Value-based leadership is essential in a leaders ability to build trust in an organization. Gurley and Kraemer (2015) write that leaders should "focus on doing the right thing rather than being right all the time," and they can follow "four essential principles of values-based leadership:" ongoing self-reflection ("identify your core values and goals"), balance ("ability to see more than one side to a story"), true self-confidence (accept strengths and weaknesses), and genuine humility (remembering "where you came from" and keep "your leadership role in perspective").

    The trouble with values-based leadership is that it is hard for one to truly know oneself and what they stand for. However, once this phase takes place, a leader is noticeably much more effective and confident in their craft.  According to Simpson (2015), "it seems a lot of people think they know their core values, but when you truly discover what they are and the power they hold, they totally transform the way you show up. They are our 'inner compass' and impact all our decisions, our relationships and communications and the goals and intentions we set and achieve – or fail to achieve, whichever the case may be." As a follower, a leader who exhibits these behaviors is much easier to get behind because their intentions are more well-known and understand (i.e., followers can better understand 'the why'). Simpson (2015) also alludes to the fact that known and understand values can lead to a more visible purpose and passion while reducing frustration and stress; they can help "in times of challenge, and joy." Ultimately, values serve as guiding principles that are key ingredients in a leaders ability to build trust at every level within an organization as a leader. 

    In my own experience, I identify quite strongly with principles similar to the ICARE acronym - Integrity, Compassion, Accountability, Respect, and Excellence (Heathfield, 2020). I believe that every person deserves to be treated as an equal, and that goes for their thoughts and opinions as well, regardless of background, rank, education, etc. Every person has a unique lived experience and can provide profound insight if given the opportunity. No person is any less than due to their race, gender, or alma mater. I also believe that doing the right thing when no one is watching is important to live by, and that it is a cornerstone of what makes someone trustworthy. I also believe that people should care for the well-being of others and should never be so selfish that they always put themselves above everyone else. 

    In some cases, I have seen leaders who say they have an open-door policy or are team players but they really are not; they did not walk the talk. These leaders did not genuinely care about other people but simply would say they conduct these behaviors and abide by these principles, which seemed like it was all for show. These leaders would say they want the best for the team but then go and accept and hog all the credit for the team's work; they would feel justified because they were the leader of the team. To me, these felt like unethical behaviors that destroy trust. Today, I strive to be a leader who does not make these same mistakes so that I can build trust at every possible level in the organization. I try to get to know every person on a human level, even the custodial crew who comes in at night. Every person has a role and purpose to play and should feel valued because of it. Ultimately, I try to do the right thing as much as I can and treat people like people. I will strive to live according to my values better and walk the walk better to improve my trust building ability.


References:

Gurley, G., & Kraemer, H. (2015). The Values-Based Leader by Harry Kraemer. Kanopy Streaming.

Heathfield, S. M. (2020, October 4). Leadership Values and Workplace Ethics. LiveAbout. https://www.liveabout.com/leadership-values-and-workplace-ethics-1918615 

Simpson, J. (2015). The restless executive : reclaim your values, love what you do and lead with purpose (1st edition). John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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