"leadership is always, in some sense, a matter of values."

- Warren Bennis, a leading authority on leadership research, in the introduction to the American Psychologist Special Issue on Leadership, January 2007.

Historically, the words "leader" and "ethics" would have been difficult to find in the same sentence. To gain or maintain a position of influence it was understood that ruthlessness may be required, along with bending or outright breaking of rules. Over time, and coupled with steady advances in the recognition of fundamental human rights, emancipation, freedom of thought, and freedom of expression, we've learned that moral leadership is the only kind worth having.

The Ethical Leader exhibits:

• Respect for all others, including the planet, the environment, its flora and fauna
• Loyalty and sense of responsibility. Loyalty to others breeds loyalty from others
• Humility. Recognizes his relative place in the universe
• Confidence, but not arrogance
• Self sacrifice. Accepts the notion of servant leadership, in which the leader serves others by assisting them in their efforts to meet organizational goals
  
• Leadership by example. Doesn't ask others to do anything s/he wouldn't do
• Exhibits a sense of proportion and perspective
• Possesses an unwavering sense of right and wrong, especially in pressure situations, and in the presence of temptation

While values and morals can be developed, this shaping ideally should take place early in a person's life. It's much easier to shape a soft blank slate than struggle at a later date with hardened stone.

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