Making Moral Decisions as a Leader

Within all organisations, leaders make choices. These choices may be framed by laws, regulations, revenue, goals, or more. However, at the heart of every choice is someone trying to determine the best course of action.

Or perhaps they are trying to figure out the right course of action.

Over the past ten years, I’ve made many decisions that, on the surface, clashed with my personal values. More than once, these decisions tested my ethical reasoning. They required a courage I didn’t know I had. I am very pleased to say this courage was supported by the organisation I worked for.

One key thing I learned quickly was that the best course of action and the right course aren’t always the same. Even with shared organisational values, two leaders might view an ethical situation very differently.

Ethical Frameworks for Values-Driven Decisions

Making moral judgments is, frankly, hard. You might have a rough or detailed understanding of your personal values. However, applying them to the specific situation before you is often not straightforward. Like any skill, improving your ethical decision-making requires patience, practice, and a commitment to continuous learning.

The Importance of Ethical Frameworks

To get started, consider applying an ethical framework. Here are a few examples:

• Utilitarian Ethics: This framework focuses on producing the greatest balance of good over harm for the most stakeholders. It requires a deep understanding of what constitutes good and harm for your stakeholders.

  
  

• Virtue Ethics: Here, you select an appropriate virtue (honesty, integrity, courage, compassion, transparency, etc.) and aim to achieve it. Choose the virtue most relevant to your situation and tailor your decision accordingly.

  
  

• Community-Centric Decisions: This approach emphasizes strengthening community bonds of interdependence and empathy. It centers on the mutual good of the community as a whole.

  
  

A Practical Example

Imagine you lead a grant-giving charity. You have three competing applications for a grant. Your team has laid out the facts about each proposal and their potential positive impacts. Based on your ethical framework, you must decide which application to approve. Depending on your chosen framework, you might favor the application that helps the largest number of people, focuses on the most vulnerable, or funds partnerships that benefit the entire community. None of these decisions is wrong, but one will align better with your values and morals.

Ethical Governance Foundations

I often relied heavily on my colleagues when making challenging decisions. Any leader wanting to be guided by their values must ensure their organisation upholds ethical governance. This serves as the foundation for making ethical decisions.

Key Aspects of Ethical Governance

What is ethical governance? It’s a topic worth exploring in depth, but for now, let’s cover some key aspects:

• Culture of Accountability: This involves holding yourself accountable to your Board, your team, stakeholders, and customers. It should be founded on values like transparency, integrity, and honesty.

  
  

• Effective Communication: Communicate the process you followed and the decisions you made. Be courageous enough to be open without resorting to complex or obscuring “spin.”

  
  

• Stakeholder Involvement: Allow stakeholders a voice while strategies are being determined. Listen to their opinions and build consensus on the best path forward.

  
  

• Evidence-Led Policy Development: Commit to policies that rely on accurate data analysis. Be curious about the insights revealed through this.

  
  

• Psychological Safety: Ensure genuine psychological safety exists at all levels within the organisation.

  
  

The Business Benefits of Ethical Leadership

Acting ethically is crucial for a values-driven leader; it is also a smart strategy.

Building Trust Through Transparency

Being transparent about your moral framework and the values you uphold builds trust among stakeholders and customers. They come to know what to expect from you, finding reassurance in your consistent alignment with your stated values.

Increasing Employee Engagement

Clear moral priorities can enhance employee engagement and retention. They foster a strong sense of belonging and motivation. When your teams know their efforts will be supported, they are more likely to innovate and adapt to different circumstances, reinforced by the moral boundaries you establish.

Resolving Your Ethical Dilemmas

Over the coming weeks, we will explore various aspects of the complex topics of ethics and values for leaders. When facing your own ethical dilemmas or leadership challenges, consider investing in a coach. Focusing their time on you can provide valuable insights. Take a look at Raw Identity Coaching to see the packages we offer and the help we can provide.

This exploration into ethical leadership and decision-making is vital for nurturing a values-driven workplace. As you navigate your journey, remember the importance of aligning your decisions with your core values. This alignment not only strengthens your leadership but also enhances organizational integrity.

In conclusion, making moral decisions as a leader involves much more than following rules. It requires deep introspection, a solid ethical framework, and the courage to uphold your values in challenging situations. Embrace the complexity of ethical leadership, and remember: your choices shape not just your organization but the greater community as well.