By Frank Ojeme Anyasi
Leadership plays a crucial role in shaping the decision-making process within the polity. A true leader enriches, uplifts, and illuminates, fostering an environment where everyone feels not only led, but important, seen, heard, and valued.
Ethical leadership is defined as “leadership demonstrating and promoting normatively appropriate conduct through personal actions and interpersonal relationships.” Leaders must inspire those around them to behave ethically. They place national interest above personal interest. When they set good examples and behave ethically, they are noticed and emulated. In this way, ethical leaders positively influence others by presenting them with a set of actions they too can adopt for the common good.
Ethical leadership is essential for credibility and reputation. Becoming a leader is a long-term goal. Unethical behaviour can greatly discredit a leader and damage personal reputation. Additionally, unethical conduct often undermines self-esteem, making it difficult to achieve optimal results or reveal one’s full potential.
Ethical leaders know their intrinsic values. Knowing oneself is the first trait such leaders must possess. By being clear about their values and principles, they make them visible to others, take a stand, and negotiate from a position of strength. They behave ethically over a long period; reputations are built on repetition. The trust others place in leaders can disappear very quickly if they deviate, even after a history of good conduct. Leaders must continually send signals that they can be trusted.
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They dare to tackle problems even at the risk of losing popularity. They stand by their convictions. They do not desperately seek fame. Ethical leaders understand that omitting certain details can have serious consequences. They admit mistakes, take responsibility, and communicate their corrective plans when necessary. If things go wrong, they look for solutions and ensure stakeholders are informed. Ethical leaders respond in both good and difficult times. They are the first to show up on stormy days. They guide and help their followers to overcome challenges, knowing they are there to serve the interests of others before their own.
They act fairly, make tough decisions, and face complex negotiations. They do not fear the people or simply obey popular opinion. Their decisions clearly favour long-term gains. They encourage meritocracy and fair treatment of everyone, regardless of ethnicity, age, or any other factor that may lead to discrimination. They act with integrity and practice what they preach. Their values, discourse, and actions are aligned and visible to all. If they fail, even once, to meet the expectations they set for others, they risk losing both credibility and reputation.
In the face of prevailing challenges in various spheres of our society, ethical leadership stands as a beacon of hope, steering collective consciousness towards moral rectitude and shared prosperity. As we navigate the complex landscapes of politics and economics, the transformative power of ethical leadership cannot be overemphasised.
The true leader thus emerges as a guardian of moral integrity, guided by the principled light of righteous conduct, instilling a profound sense of self-worth in others, safeguarding the sanctity of leadership, and inspiring a chain reaction of virtuous behaviour. Leaders who follow their moral compass create environments ripe for growth, self-expression, and the realisation of potential.
Empathy is the fuel that keeps ethical leadership running. You know your leaders and employees are empathetic when they understand and share the feelings of those around them. Empathetic leaders are skilled at putting themselves in the shoes of others, responding with compassion, and doing all they can to ensure people are heard and valued.
Creating a culture of ethics and compliance often begins with building empathetic connections, where doing the right thing becomes the everyday norm. Empathetic leadership also involves emotional intelligence: the ability to understand the needs, feelings, and thoughts of others. It means being more person-focused, improving social interactions, fast-tracking conflict resolution, and ultimately ensuring organisational harmony.
Unfortunately, the attitude of many youths toward leadership is uninspiring. They are politically inactive. For instance, they are yet to fully take advantage of the Not Too Young to Run Act of 2018. Many of them appear distracted and desperate to escape the country rather than contribute to building it.
Nevertheless, ethical leaders can support the youth by offering personalised guidance and creating a supportive environment. The youth, standing on the shoulders of giants, can become even more effective and visionary in administration.
There is a Greek proverb that says, “A society grows great when old men plant trees in whose shade they may never sit.” People are often motivated when they understand the benefits of working hard and making daily sacrifices. Anyone who educates children, be it a parent, teacher, or volunteer, knows that change does not happen overnight. One generation plants the tree, and another enjoys the shade. Planting a tree is an act of selflessness, hope, and a lasting gift to the future.
The Holy Book tells us: “Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the Lord, and He shall repay him for his deed.” Life is not just to be lived but to live meaningfully. Sadly, today’s politics is heavily skewed toward the elderly, those who have the means to fund their political aspirations. Yet this group often prioritises short-term interests over the long-term well-being of their grandchildren.
We need ethical leaders who will invest in training the younger generation to take over the mantle of leadership. We must prioritise leadership development. The joy of a father lies in the prospect of worthy successors.