Business and leadership ethics is a hot topic these days and for good reason.  Examples of ethical breeches are so pervasive that it is hard to take it all in.  The public is angry and concerned about losing their jobs and savings.  Just look at the protests that are being staged at the G-20 summit in London this week.

How should organizations respond to the cry for more ethical leadership?  According to a study conducted by the Fugua/Coach K Center on Leadership and Ethics at Duke University, the most important leadership skills identified by executives surveyed included:

• Promoting an ethical environment
• Acting with authenticity
• Accurately interpreting the competitive environment
• Developing trust

This study also found that leaders who place the long-term interests of a group ahead of their personal goals are more likely to ensure the long-term survival and success of the organization.

Can leaders develop these skills and abilities if they don’t currently possess them?  I think the answer is yes because these skills are associated with emotional intelligence.  I recently re-read a 1998 Harvard Business Review article by Daniel Goleman entitled What Makes A Leader? As you may know, Daniel Goleman is an authority on emotional intelligence and has written several books on the topic.  One of the components of emotional intelligence is self-regulation, which includes how an individual deals with impulses and emotions.  As I was reading, this paragraph jumped off the page at me:

“I want to push the importance of self-regulation to leadership even further and make the case that it enhances integrity, with is not only a personal virtue but also an organizational strength. Many of the bad things that happen in companies are a function of impulsive behavior. People rarely plan to exaggerate profits, pad expense accounts, dip into the till, or abuse power for selfish ends. Instead, an opportunity presents itself, and people with low impulse control just say yes.”

Sound familiar?  I think Goleman is on to something here.  What do you think?