towards the environment and future |
ture and values that differ from region |
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generations. |
to region. On the other hand, as men- |
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• Supply chain and compliance: The ethical leader ensures processes are in place to identify risks of human rights violations, labor rights, child labor, and environmental risks. They work with suppliers to address these risks or even terminate business relationships if risk reduction is not possible. In doing so, they prioritize people before profit. |
tioned at the beginning, the approach of ethical intelligence is a set of skills and can be operationalized. When discussed in this context, it is certain that it could also be standardized as a globally acknowledged tool. In this regard, the ISO( International Organization for Standardization) would be the prime candidate for this task. |
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• Culture of dealing with mistakes: Leaders are human, too. When an ethical leader makes a mistake, she or he does not try to sweep it under the carpet, but acknowledges it transparently and ensures that it is not repeated.
• Speak-Up Culture: Ethical leaders not only promote the culture of disclosing misconduct but also ensure safe circumstances and effective protection mechanisms, ensuring no retaliation will be undertaken against a whistleblower.
• Integrity: Leaders not only demand that corporate values be demonstrated in daily work, they also demonstrate them personally and make no compromises. This is the essence of " tone from the top " and " walk the talk."
For most world leaders, the decisions described above are obvious. For some others, however, this is not the case, as evidenced by various compliance scandals. The concept of ethical intelligence can help to identify problematic situations and resolve them in accordance with the ethical compass. Significance of Global Initiatives While these individual and organizational actions are the foundation of
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ethical practice, their impact can be magnified. To truly embed ethical intelligence, it is necessary to look beyond individual organizations and consider the role of international cooperation and global-level initiatives.
First and foremost, global forums and international cooperation play a crucial role, and it is vital that the results are made available to an even wider audience. A major role exists here for international organizations— not only those such as the OECD, which is already working strongly to promote integrity, but also others like the WTO, or important economic meetings such as the Davos Forum. These platforms should be used to promote ethical thinking, instead of always dealing only with profit, security, and geopolitics. Ethical intelligence is also an innovation that will pay off and, as a collateral effect, make the world better. Another challenge is that on the global stage, a common language is often lacking. Ethical intelligence is based on cul-
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Summary This leadership duty brings the focus back from the global stage to the individual. Ultimately, the advancement of ethical intelligence is not just a top-down or systemic challenge; it is a personal one. The journey requires seeing ethical intelligence not as a fixed trait, but as a definable, learnable skill( Chapter 2) that is demonstrated through concrete, responsible leadership actions in moments of challenges( Chapter 3). While these actions are personal, their impact and standardization are global challenges that require international cooperation( Chapter 4). The most important step, however, is the first one. Individuals must always start with themselves before demanding ethical behaviour from others or judging others in ethical terms. One must always ask oneself first: what can be done better in terms of ethical intelligence? If everyone starts with themselves, much can be achieved overall. As Martin Luther King Jr. said:“ The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy |
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