THE ETHICAL MANAGER
Dr. Adalat Khan
August 08, 2007
THE ETHICAL MANAGER
In the quest for achieving greater competitiveness and market share businesses use all sorts of strategies to win and defeat their competitors. These approaches may be classified into two categories. The first category is based on ethical practices. This include using innovation, better productivity and high value addition to out wit one’s competitors. However, many businesses also use unscrupulous approach involving cheating, lying, and many other types of illegal tactics. The first approach is healthy and ethical while the second one is unhealthy and unethical. However many businesses are also using the second approach to achieve their goals. One negative result of this phenomenon is the negative influence on the managers who in order to get ahead in their careers adopt unethical methods. Granted that many people can succeed through these negative tactics, but the question is - is it the only way? The answer is definitely no and as such managers should opt for a better and nobler approach, that is the approach of an ethical manager.
WHAT IS AN ETHICAL BEHAVIOUR:
The ethical behaviour of a manager is that behaviour which aligns with legal, moral, societal, spiritual and human values. All actions which go against these values will be regarded as unethical.
All managers must opt for the ethical paradigm and acquire qualities commonly practised by good managers. The following are some of the qualities commonly possessed by ethical managers:
HONESTY AND INTEGRITY:
Honesty is still the best policy which must be practised by all good managers. Honest managers are those who whole heartedly commit themselves towards positive organisational goals, take care of the interest of employees, and provide excellent goods and services to their customers. Honesty is a highly desirable quality. Ironically, even employers who are not themselves seek for honest people. A manager must maintain his/her integrity by working hard, taking care of organisational resources, and protecting the interests of all stake holders.
PROFESSIONALISM:
Closely related to honesty and integrity is a quality called professionalism. Though difficult to define, it may be described as a work behaviour of a person which aligns with the rules and regulations of the organisation and one’s profession. Maintaining secrecy, loyalty to one’s employer, refraining from actions which may harm the company a person is working for etc are some of the traits of a professional person.
HUMANITY:
Treating all human beings with dignity and respect and living as a good global citizen by contributing to the welfare of humanity and safeguarding environment falls under humanity. A humane manager is a person who believes that one of the purpose of his/her life is to help others without seeking a reward in return.
SPIRITUALITY:
Spirituality is one’s belief in something bigger and nobler than oneself. All motivation theories have at a greater length discussed human needs and its relations with human motives. However very few has been written about spiritual needs of human being. I believe that the highest level of human needs is not self actualisation but attaining spiritual enrichment and satisfaction. This is at the top of the five human needs mentioned by Abraham Maslow in his famous Needs Hierarchy motivation theory. Spirituality is a state of mind which enables us to get connected to the greatest power through deeds. Spiritual deeds will include non for profits projects like philanthropical works etc.
The core of good management is ethics, However, sadly today’s managers face a dilemma of how to succeed without indulging in foul play and unfair means. Rather blindly following the crowd good managers can carve their own and a better niche by practising managerial ethics. If all managers become ethical, it will lead to ethical organisations catapulting a universal society based on good moral values and sound business ethics.
In the quest for achieving greater competitiveness and market share businesses use all sorts of strategies to win and defeat their competitors. These approaches may be classified into two categories. The first category is based on ethical practices. This include using innovation, better productivity and high value addition to out wit one’s competitors. However, many businesses also use unscrupulous approach involving cheating, lying, and many other types of illegal tactics. The first approach is healthy and ethical while the second one is unhealthy and unethical. However many businesses are also using the second approach to achieve their goals. One negative result of this phenomenon is the negative influence on the managers who in order to get ahead in their careers adopt unethical methods. Granted that many people can succeed through these negative tactics, but the question is - is it the only way? The answer is definitely no and as such managers should opt for a better and nobler approach, that is the approach of an ethical manager.
WHAT IS AN ETHICAL BEHAVIOUR:
The ethical behaviour of a manager is that behaviour which aligns with legal, moral, societal, spiritual and human values. All actions which go against these values will be regarded as unethical.
All managers must opt for the ethical paradigm and acquire qualities commonly practised by good managers. The following are some of the qualities commonly possessed by ethical managers:
HONESTY AND INTEGRITY:
Honesty is still the best policy which must be practised by all good managers. Honest managers are those who whole heartedly commit themselves towards positive organisational goals, take care of the interest of employees, and provide excellent goods and services to their customers. Honesty is a highly desirable quality. Ironically, even employers who are not themselves seek for honest people. A manager must maintain his/her integrity by working hard, taking care of organisational resources, and protecting the interests of all stake holders.
PROFESSIONALISM:
Closely related to honesty and integrity is a quality called professionalism. Though difficult to define, it may be described as a work behaviour of a person which aligns with the rules and regulations of the organisation and one’s profession. Maintaining secrecy, loyalty to one’s employer, refraining from actions which may harm the company a person is working for etc are some of the traits of a professional person.
HUMANITY:
Treating all human beings with dignity and respect and living as a good global citizen by contributing to the welfare of humanity and safeguarding environment falls under humanity. A humane manager is a person who believes that one of the purpose of his/her life is to help others without seeking a reward in return.
SPIRITUALITY:
Spirituality is one’s belief in something bigger and nobler than oneself. All motivation theories have at a greater length discussed human needs and its relations with human motives. However very few has been written about spiritual needs of human being. I believe that the highest level of human needs is not self actualisation but attaining spiritual enrichment and satisfaction. This is at the top of the five human needs mentioned by Abraham Maslow in his famous Needs Hierarchy motivation theory. Spirituality is a state of mind which enables us to get connected to the greatest power through deeds. Spiritual deeds will include non for profits projects like philanthropical works etc.
The core of good management is ethics, However, sadly today’s managers face a dilemma of how to succeed without indulging in foul play and unfair means. Rather blindly following the crowd good managers can carve their own and a better niche by practising managerial ethics. If all managers become ethical, it will lead to ethical organisations catapulting a universal society based on good moral values and sound business ethics.
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