Leaders Matter: An Investigation of Media

Every story involves conflict, or it wouldn’t be interesting.  Sometimes conflict is personal or perhaps geographical, but today the focus is on conflict that arises from different ethical systems.

This type of conflict is seen in shows like Game of Thrones, The Walking Dead, Lost and The Bear. Tywin Lannister and Ned Stark have vastly different ethical systems that shape how they view right and wrong. Rick and The Governor have differing opinions on how an ethical society should be rebuilt. Jack and Ben investigate the age-old question of fear versus love in leadership. Carmie and Richie fight over the desire to innovate versus the desire to honor tradition.

Each of these individuals have values that they hold dear and in turn, pass along to their followers. The Stark children value community, honesty and hard work while the Lannister children grow up valuing ambition, achievement and status.  In the same way, Rick passes on a respect for law, Jack passes on valuing community over the individual, and Carmie continually pushes for innovation.

Leadership in the workplace is no different. Leaders set the tone for what will be valuable within their team through example and reward. Leaders who embody and embrace honesty, integrity, fairness and respect will in turn have honest, fair and respectful direct reports.  Unfortunately, the opposite is also true. Leaders who are overly driven by results, cutthroat and demeaning indirectly teach a team that exhibiting those qualities is how they will advance. When lying to secure a client, fudging the numbers to be awarded a grant, and abusing company policy become the norm, a toxic workplace culture is born.  

Unethical leaders beget toxic, unethical cultures, but how damaging can an unethical culture really be? The answer is very, very damaging. The Global Business Ethics Survey from ECI states that ethical workplace culture is the single most important contributing factor to the ethical health of a business. Workers with an ethical workplace culture are 74% less likely to feel pressure compromise ethical standards. Additionally, there is an 80% drop in observed unethical conduct in businesses that report ethical work cultures.  

Ethical business culture can be seen like bonfire. Ethical leaders will tend the fire with care, making sure it stays contained and beneficial for all. Unethical leaders, however, will stoke the flames too high or put the fire out completely- causing ethical employees to burn out or freeze to death as a result. 

While it might be tempting to push the limits of what is ethical because no one will notice, we learned from Aristotle that we become what we habitually do. While it might be tempting to use leadership status to excuse certain behaviors, we learned from Kant that no act can be ethical unless it would be ethical for everyone to do it. While it might be tempting to take advantage of opportunities at the expense of others, Mill teaches us that what is good is good for the greatest amount of people. Ethical leaders will remember these teachings and remember to lead by example- creating an ethical workplace culture along the way.

             

– Alyssa Gallas, Operations Manager