10 Things Ethical Leaders Believe (Part 4)

By Linda Fisher Thornton

Our purpose is to create value for others.
How we treat people matters.
Our moral grounding is more important than our goals and opinions.
Everything we do has a ripple effect, and that ripple is global.
We must take responsibility. The world is changing. There is a powerful responsibility movement going on. We know more about what leaders should be doing, and we know more about what responsible leadership looks like. People need to be able to count on us to take responsibility. Everyone is counting on us to take responsibility. Taking responsibility for using ethical thinking and behavior will not only change everything we do, it will earn the respect of others, and change how we feel about ourselves.
We need to be proactive. We need to take the initiative. We can’t wait to make mistakes and appear in the news. We can’t wait for someone to tell us what to do. At that point any initiative we take will look forced, reactionary, and insincere. We expect and reward ethical behavior. Being proactive about ethical leadership means taking the initiative to learn; weighing our choices carefully; and creating a culture where ethical behavior is expected and rewarded. If done well, and proactively, these actions will be rewarded with the loyalty of conscientious customers.
We should serve as positive role models.
We will embrace the learning journey.
We will enjoy a competitive advantage.
We will build a better world.