Being an ethical leader in an organizational context is essential due to the need to solve issues that often arise in the workplace and are concerned with moral decisions and their outcomes. In the Forbes article, Zwilling (2013) explores the ways in which leaders can make an ethical difference in their setting to ensure that ethical issues do not have an adverse effect on businesses. Among the five recommendations given in the article, facing relevant facts is a great solution that would help organizational leaders make an ethical difference. Facing the relevant facts implies looking for facts upon which all affected parties would agree while also searching for non-debated and contested facts. Depending on the findings, it is important to test the effect of each fact on the situation at hand to make an ethical decision.
When it comes to addressing an ethical dilemma, such as utilizing inside knowledge for organizational profit, the strategy of facing the relevant facts will allow a leader to look at the situation from multiple perspectives. Inside knowledge can be greatly beneficial for companies to gain a competitive advantage against rivals in the industry; however, the morality of its use is debatable. First, the facts upon which all parties will agree upon should be determined. For example, these may include that using inside knowledge in the business allows to gain a competitive advantage. Second, the leader may evaluate non-debated facts, such as that inside knowledge is unethical to use. Third, relevant contested facts in the given scenario may include the possibility to become profitable with the help of inside knowledge while putting the company’s reputation and image at risk. Depending on the findings, the leader will make a decision either in favor or against the use of inside knowledge at the organization to gain profit.
References
Zwilling, M. (2013). How to make an ethical difference in your business. Forbes. Web.