With over 20 years of experience leading teams across multiple industries, I’ve understood that Ethical Leadership is not just a practice. Still, for me, it is so immense with my identity as Valerie Ranee Landfair. Ethical Leadership is deeply intertwined with faith and professionalism, guiding daily decisions that align with my core values.
I was confronted with a moment that tested my commitment to Ethical Leadership during my tenure at a Fortune 100 company; a promotional video was produced to showcase the innovation and initiatives of our IT department. While visually diverse, the video should have represented the voices of all our team members. However, the only individuals identified by their names and who had speaking parts were those of European American descent, the white people.
This moment was a stark reminder of Audre Lorde’s words: “When we speak, we are afraid our words will not be heard nor welcomed. But when we are silent, we are still afraid. So it is better to speak.”
I was the only one who spoke up in a room with everyone excited about the footage. Yes, it showed the diversity within our IT Department, but it needed to capture the diversity of our leadership team. Ethical Leadership compels us to speak, act, and lead with integrity. It’s about recognizing the value and voice of every individual, ensuring fairness, respect, and social responsibility in all our actions. It’s about making decisions that align with our core beliefs, respecting the dignity of all individuals, and striving for a collective good that transcends individual success.
I was aware that expressing my concerns could have implications for my involvement in future projects. However, my primary worry was the inadvertent marginalization of our African-American, Indian, Asian American, Hispanic, and Latinx colleagues’ voices.
Not every leader might share my perspective on the subtle yet profound impact of silence, shaped by my own experiences. As leaders, we often navigate the delicate balance between faith and professionalism, allowing our personal beliefs to inform our professional actions. This balancing act isn’t a source of tension but rather the cornerstone of Ethical Leadership. Here, we might discover the courage to lead with transparency, integrity and an unwavering dedication to fairness.
In our journey of Ethical Leadership, we must constantly ask ourselves:
- Have you ever stayed quiet about a matter at work? Then, wished you had spoken up? What insights did you gain from that situation?
- As a leader, how have you managed the hurdles of ensuring each team member’s opinions are acknowledged and respected in workplace settings?
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