BAUU 21 - How To Make Ethical Leadership

In this issue 21, we focus on ethical leadership and how to make integrity the foundation of your leadership style.

The format for Edition 21 is:

• Problem
• TL;DR Solution
• Try This?
• It’s a Wrap

I'll only share the underlying TL;DR if you ask. If you have a problem you want a TL;DR solution, let's hear about it in the comments.

"Integrity is doing the right thing, even when no one is watching." (C.S.Lewis)

Problem

Ethical dilemmas are common in leadership, but maintaining integrity can be challenging. Leaders often face pressures that may tempt them to compromise their values for short-term gains.?

How can leaders ensure their decisions are ethical and promote a culture of integrity within their organisations?

"It takes 20 years to build a reputation and five minutes to ruin it. If you think about that, you'll do things differently." (Warren Buffett)

TL;DR Solution

The answer is I.N.T.E.G.R.I.T.Y. – a framework designed to help leaders make ethical decisions and foster a culture of integrity.

I.N.T.E.G.R.I.T.Y.

I = Integrity

• Best Practice: Commit to honesty and transparency in all actions and decisions.
• Practice: Lead by example, demonstrating integrity in both words and actions.
• Impact: Builds trust and sets ethical behaviour standards throughout the organisation.

N = Nurture Ethical Culture

• Best Practice: Foster an environment where ethical behaviour is encouraged and rewarded.
• Practice: Establish clear ethical guidelines and provide training on ethical decision-making.
• Impact: Creates a culture where integrity is valued and upheld.

T = Transparency

• Best Practice: Maintain openness in communication and decision-making processes.
• Practice: Share information freely and involve team members in key decisions.
• Impact: Enhances accountability and reduces the likelihood of unethical behaviour.

E = Empathy

• Best Practice: Show understanding and compassion in your interactions with others.
• Practice: Consider the impact of your decisions on all stakeholders.
• Impact: Promotes fairness and builds stronger relationships.

G = Governance

• Best Practice: Implement robust governance structures to support ethical behaviour.
• Practice: Establish oversight mechanisms and regular audits to ensure compliance with ethical standards.
• Impact: Provides a framework for accountability and integrity.

R = Responsibility

• Best Practice: Take ownership of your actions and their consequences.
• Practice: Admit mistakes and take corrective action when necessary.
• Impact: Demonstrates accountability and reinforces a culture of integrity.

I = Inclusivity

• Best Practice: Promote diversity and inclusion in decision-making processes.
• Practice: Ensure all voices are heard and considered in ethical deliberations.
• Impact: Enhances decision-making and fosters a more ethical, inclusive culture.

T = Trustworthiness

• Best Practice: Build and maintain trust through consistent ethical behaviour.
• Practice: Keep promises and follow through on commitments.
• Impact: Strengthens relationships and fosters a reliable, ethical environment.

Y = Yielding to Higher Standards

• Best Practice: Hold yourself and your team to the highest ethical standards.
• Practice: Regularly review and update ethical guidelines to reflect evolving standards.
• Impact: Ensures ongoing commitment to integrity and ethical excellence.

"Real integrity is doing the right thing, knowing that nobody’s going to know whether you did it or not." (Oprah Winfrey)

Try This

1 - Create an Ethics Committee

• Action: Establish a committee to oversee ethical guidelines and decision-making.
• Frequency: Quarterly meetings
• Impact: Provides a dedicated team to uphold and review ethical standards.

2 - Conduct Ethical Training Workshops

• Action: Organize workshops focused on ethical decision-making and integrity.
• Frequency: Bi-annually
• Impact: Reinforces the importance of ethics and equips team members with practical skills.

3 - Implement Transparent Communication Channels

• Action: Create open channels for sharing information and reporting unethical behaviour.
• Frequency: Ongoing
• Impact: Encourages openness and accountability.

4 - Whistleblowing Mechanism

• Action: Establish a secure and confidential whistleblowing system where employees can report unethical behaviour without fear of retaliation.
• Frequency: Promote and review regularly
• Impact: Provides a safety net for employees to report unethical conduct, reinforcing the organisation’s commitment to integrity.

5 - Recognise and Reward Ethical Behavior

• Action: Develop a recognition program that rewards integrity and ethical actions.
• Frequency: Monthly
• Impact: Encourages and reinforces ethical behaviour.

6 - Regular Ethics Audits

• Action: Conduct regular audits to ensure compliance with ethical standards.
• Frequency: Annually
• Impact: Maintains high standards of integrity and accountability.

"In leadership, it's not just about making the right decisions, but also about making decisions the right way." (Rick Yvanovich)

It’s a Wrap

That's it for today, see you next week. Comment, follow, like, and share this Newsletter.

As always, be happy, healthy, joyful, and wealthy.

/Rick

#EthicalLeadership #Integrity #LeadershipDevelopment #EthicsInBusiness #TeamGrowth #BusinessAsUnUsual #BAUU #BAUUnewsletter

This edition aligns with "Business As UnUsual: How to Thrive in the New Renaissance."

Get your copy for more on thriving in uncertainty here:

https://www.rickyvanovich.com/books/bauu-book-series/ ??