In my role as an associate professor in our Doctorate of Strategic Leadership program, few courses have been as challenging, yet as rewarding, as “Ethical Leadership,” which I’ve had the privilege of teaching for the past two semesters. What makes this class uniquely demanding, pushing both me and my students to our best, is its core requirement: a deep, honest examination of our motives and a commitment to 100% ethical decision-making.
Please note, my students are a remarkable group: highly intelligent individuals, including military personnel, Navy officers, business owners, teachers, and seasoned professionals in their respective fields. I emphasized to them from day one that we would lead by example. Leaders, I explained, cannot truly lead without the cooperation of their followers. This means followers have a crucial role in shaping the ethical landscape of an organization. Knowing the intensity of this introspection, I made a very clear promise to my students at the outset of each 8-week course: I would ensure all their work was graded and posted by Thursday. More than just a deadline, I framed it as an ethical imperative. “If you don’t see your grades posted by Thursday,” I told them, “you must hold me accountable. Call me out on any errors or mistakes. Followers must hold leaders accountable.”
Then, one week, I intentionally withheld the grades. I waited, expecting an email, a call—any form of challenge. But the silence was deafening. Not a single student reached out to hold me to my stated commitment. When I finally inquired why they hadn’t, none could offer a clear excuse.
This experience brought to light a significant challenge many organizations face: the reluctance to hold leadership accountable. This is precisely what happens when followers allow unquestioned actions from leadership, a dynamic we often see playing out in various organizations. It’s a common hurdle, yet a critical one, because as the saying goes, “The ultimate test of a moral society is the kind of world that it leaves to its children.” Our ability to build a truly ethical and responsible future hinges on our willingness to challenge, to question, and to demand accountability from those in leadership, including ourselves.
Evans Akpo 