INsight/ How Ethics Matters

Photo by AI GROK.

Manila, 10 April 2025 — How does ethics influence your leadership in relationships?

Story

It happened this month. As turmoil erupted in the world of international trade, many leaders questioned not only the economic rationale of the choices made, but also the ethics. What partner would cause such disruption, many exclaimed?

Ethics, in its simplest way, might be described as “knowing the difference between right and wrong, and choosing to do what is right.” Walking our talk is part of this, often described as integrity.

Yet it’s not so simple. Ethics, fundamentally, is who we care about and not. Psychology shows how this can change. As we navigate human stages of growth, our ethics change too. Let’s double-click on that.

Challenge

In the first years of our lives, as we start identifying ourselves as distinct from our parents, we enter our Egocentric stage. In that stage, we learn to care about ourselves, about ME. It’s often called the terrible twos for the disruption it frequently causes at that age.

In our next growth stage, often called Ethnocentric and conformist, we learn to care about US. That means learning to love and identify with our group, tribe, nation, religion, etc. Note that caring about US doesn’t include ‘them,’ our out-groups. Thankfully, growth continues. 

In the next stage, often called Worldcentric and modern, we learn to care about ALL OF US. That means all human beings around the world, regardless of group. And it doesn’t stop there. The next stage might be called Integrative because it builds on and integrates all of the earlier stages. This is when we learn to care about ALL OF LIFE on our planet and in the kosmos.

Question

How does ethics influence your leadership in relationships? The story of our growth will show up in the ethics of our choices and behaviors in relationships. We all start with ME and progress to care about US. Then, hopefully, to ALL OF US. Next, we can advance to the growth stage of Integrative care about ALL OF LIFE. 

Today, we see more people embracing Integrative care than ever before in human history. And yet, we will need many more people in the Integrative growth stage to reach the world’s sustainable development goals. That can only be done by collaborating in relationships of trust.

Most of the leaders we coach are practicing to embody the ethics of higher growth stages in work and life. Not just for themselves, but for their teams, their organizations, and the communities they serve. Come and see for yourself how ethical and transformational leadership can help us drive more positive changes in relationships of trust, together.