Ethics determine how a person distinguishes between right and wrong in their own behavior and the behaviors of others. Individuals’ ethical values drive their decisions and comprise their character. A leader’s influence transmits his or her values to followers and the overall organizational culture. When an organization has an ethical culture, performance increases and misconduct decreases, and the converse is also true. Research has shown that leaders’

misconduct in particular erodes organizational conduct, it negatively influences workers’ morale, it increases fear of retaliation and it can force workers to compromise their own ethics. Leaders should assess their ethical values relative to how they influence their means of getting work done, their motivations, and their accomplishments. If the leaders’ behaviors do not reflect ethical values, they should strive to change them in order to protect themselves, their followers, and their organization from the results of impropriety. Ethical leadership spans beyond the workplace. In every situation, leaders should be people oriented, choose their values, and motivate others to serve the greater good. The time is always right to do what is right.? LO857