Ethical Leadership

Leadership in Today’s World

Leadership is a much-discussed quality that holds significant weight when it comes to achieving success. However, to truly embody leadership, one must understand its true meaning and method.

• Leadership is a continuous process of influential behavior. It does not necessarily require a prime position but demands ownership and leading by example.

• Leadership grants authority, but it also brings responsibility. This responsibility extends beyond achieving goals and deadlines; it includes fostering the growth of every individual under one’s leadership.

• Management and leadership are different. Management ensures the development of systems, while leadership drives innovation for the benefit of both the system and its people. While administration requires good management, it remains incomplete without effective leadership.

The Evolution of Leadership to Ethical Leadership

Leadership has evolved into what we now call Ethical Leadership. It is often observed that where the heart leads, the head follows. When a leader touches the hearts of people, it evokes their full effort and loyalty, mobilizing positive energy within the system. This collective positive energy helps teams overcome even the greatest challenges.

To trigger this energy, a leader must act with pure and benevolent intentions, as these qualities bring about behavioral change in those they lead. A true leader walks alongside the team, guiding and motivating rather than simply instructing from afar. A leader says “we” instead of “I” or “you”, differentiating themselves from a mere boss. As John C. Maxwell famously said,
“A leader is the one who knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way.”

Leadership is an essential tool, but its strength lies in ethics. Let’s explore some key ethical components that contribute to better leadership and sustainable success.

1. Self-Introspection

A progressive and motivated leader sets an example for the entire team. They must have complete awareness of their “Success DNA”—their strengths and limitations.

• If a leader is unaware of their own strengths, how can they leverage them to navigate challenges or help others do the same?

• Recognizing limitations is equally crucial; only by acknowledging weaknesses can they be overcome.

• If a leader hides their limitations and projects only their strengths, their team will likely do the same. This can create a false sense of strength, leaving the team vulnerable when real challenges arise.

Continuous self-introspection leads to harmonious relations with oneself, which is essential for fostering harmony with others. This is a key ingredient for building a strong and effective team.

2. Availability, Compassion, and Accommodation

A true leader is compassionate and maintains a balance between being goal-oriented and emotionally sensitive to others’ feelings.

• They value human resources and ensure that no one is left behind in the pursuit of success.

• A compassionate leader creates a light and positive atmosphere, allowing individuals to perform at their best.

• A happy mind is productive, whereas a tense or unhappy mind struggles with focus and efficiency.

Maintaining this positive and uplifting environment through personal conduct is a leader’s responsibility.

3. Faith, Respect, and Love

A great leader:

• Has faith in themselves and their team.

• Gives love and respect to each individual and their ideas.

• Recognizes people’s strengths and creates opportunities for them.

A nurturing leader provides:

• Trust as the fertile foundation

• Respect as the sunlight that highlights others’ strengths

• Love as the water that strengthens relationships

Mother Teresa once said:
“You are going to change your people, but do you know them, and do you love them?”

By fostering trust, love, and respect, a leader not only achieves goals but also gains unshakable support and loyalty from their team. Trust may be hard to obtain, but a leader with pure intentions earns it effortlessly.

4. Responsibility for the Team’s Progress

A true leader:

• Takes responsibility for their team’s progress.

• Faces challenges head-on and leads by example.

• Does not demand support but naturally earns it through integrity and action.

With such support, a leader gains confidence and courage, fostering innovation and exploration of new opportunities. A true leader does not merely guide; they lead from the front, ready to tackle challenges that arise on new paths.

By doing so, the entire team becomes stronger, more capable, and eventually develops leadership qualities themselves. This is why it is often said:
“A True Leader Creates Leaders, Not Followers.”

5. Other Essential Leadership Qualities

Apart from ethical foundations, a leader must also embody:

• Determination

• Environmental awareness

• Discretion and decision-making power

• Courage to face challenges

• Open-mindedness and adaptability

• Discipline and focus

• Good intentions and effective communication

• Self-motivation and integrity

• Service-oriented mindset

Conversely, a leader should avoid:

• Assumptions, worry, and fear

• Anger and impatience

• Comparison and criticism

• Blame-shifting and abuse of authority

The Need for Ethical Leadership in Today’s Society

Society today would be vastly different if more people led from the heart and cultivated leaders in the true sense. However, leadership has lost its charm due to ego and selfishness. The “I” factor dominates, making personal interests outweigh the common good.

• Ego and selfishness have infiltrated all fields, damaging relationships, communication, and societal unity.

• Unhealthy competition and constant comparison have drained collective energy.

• While people attend leadership trainings and motivational sessions, they often fail to apply these principles in real life.

Many argue that compassion, genuineness, and selflessness are obsolete, but who is responsible for this ethically weak society? We are.

To break this cycle, we must practice true leadership qualities—as discussed above—and embrace self-awareness.

Transformation Begins from Within

Cumulative self-awakening leads to world transformation. Before leading others, we must first lead ourselves.

• Before showing compassion to others, do we practice self-compassion?

• Do we motivate ourselves through challenges?

• Do we have faith in ourselves before expecting others to trust us?

• Do we accept our own strengths and weaknesses?

To answer “yes” to these questions, we must look inward.

The Power of Inner Connection & Meditation

We often search for peace, love, happiness, and power externally, expecting them from others at home or work. However, these qualities already exist within us.

The key is to stop using negative traits (anger, ego, greed, etc.) and instead tap into our original nature—compassion, motivation, love, and faith.

Rajyoga Meditation: A Path to Leadership

The mind and intellect create thoughts and bring them into action. Strengthening these faculties is essential for effective leadership. The practice of Rajyoga Meditation helps restore this inner power.

• Just as a mobile phone recharges when connected to a power source, the soul recharges when connected to the Supreme Energy—the ocean of virtues.

• Rajyoga is not just a meditation technique but a way of life that transforms our thinking, interactions, and actions.

• By practicing constant remembrance of the Supreme, a leader strengthens their ethical foundation and becomes the master of their mind and intellect.

Conclusion

True leadership is about self-awareness, compassion, trust, responsibility, and ethical grounding. By transforming ourselves first, we can create a ripple effect that leads to a more harmonious, empowered, and successful society.

Let us all strive to become leaders in the real sense—leaders who create more leaders, not just followers.