Question: Ethical behavior remains as a key to effective leadership.

Leadership is the essential element of organizational success, as it is the leader’s role to set the example for the rest of the organization to follow. In order to be an effective leader, it is important that the leader exemplifies ethical behavior and morality. Ethical behavior remains as a key to effective leadership as it creates trust, encourages respect, and facilitates organizational cohesiveness. In the current times, leaders are faced with a variety of challenges that threaten ethical behavior. These challenges can be divided into two main categories: external pressures and internal pressures. This paper will explore the most critical challenges facing ethical leaders today and identify what two issues require the most attention. The Most Critical Challenges Facing Ethical Leaders Today External Pressures External pressures are those challenges that come from outside the organization and can be divided into two sub-categories: legal and societal. Legal pressures refer to any laws or regulations that dictate how the organization must conduct its operations. For example, the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 requires that public companies have an internal system of controls to ensure accuracy and integrity in financial reporting. The act also requires that the leaders of these organizations certify the accuracy of the reports. Ethical leaders must adhere to these laws and ensure that their organization is in compliance. Societal pressures refer to any expectations set by society regarding ethical behavior. These expectations include the principles of corporate social responsibility, which require organizations to consider the social and environmental impact of their operations. Ethical leaders must understand and adhere to these principles in order to ensure their organization is seen as a responsible corporate citizen. Internal Pressures Internal pressures are those challenges that come from within the organization and can be divided into two sub-categories: structural and cultural. Structural pressures refer to any constraints that are built into the organizational structure. For example, a hierarchical structure can lead to ethical challenges as the power dynamic between leaders and followers can lead to unethical behavior. Ethical leaders must be aware of these structures and ensure that the power dynamic is balanced. Cultural pressures refer to any expectations that are set within the organization regarding ethical behavior. These expectations can be communicated through the organization’s mission statement, values, and code of conduct. Ethical leaders must ensure that these expectations are enforced within the organization and that any unethical behavior is addressed quickly and effectively. In conclusion, ethical behavior remains as a key to effective leadership. In current times, ethical leaders are faced with a variety of challenges that threaten their ability to exemplify ethical behavior. These challenges can be divided into two main categories: external and internal pressures. External pressures include legal and societal pressures, while internal pressures include structural and cultural pressures. In order to be an effective leader, it is essential that ethical leaders understand these challenges and ensure that their organization is in compliance with all applicable laws and regulations. Additionally, ethical leaders must ensure that their organization is seen as a responsible corporate citizen and that any unethical behavior is addressed quickly and effectively. All of these challenges require attention and must be addressed in order for ethical leaders to be successful.Leadership is the essential element of organizational success, as it is the leader’s role to set the example for the rest of the organization to follow. In order to be an effective leader, it is important that the leader exemplifies ethical behavior and morality. Ethical behavior remains as a key to effective leadership as it creates trust, encourages respect, and facilitates organizational cohesiveness. In the current times, leaders are faced with a variety of challenges that threaten ethical behavior. These challenges can be divided into two main categories: external pressures and internal pressures. This paper will explore the most critical challenges facing ethical leaders today and identify what two issues require the most attention.