Ethical Leadership: The Secret Seasoning Behind Organizational Success
If you’ve ever eaten good party Jollof, you know there’s something special about it. The taste, the aroma, that slightly smoky flavor, kai, it’s unbeatable. But anyone who has tried to make it at home knows that the secret lies in the pepper mix.
You see, when you bake or roast your red bell peppers, tomatoes, Scotch bonnet (atarodo), onions, ginger, and garlic before blending, something magical happens. The heat draws out the flavor, balances the spice, and gives that deep, rich taste we all crave at weddings and birthdays. Equal portions, just enough spice, and the patience to let it cook properly — the secret to good Jollof.
Now, what does Jollof Rice have to do with leadership? Not so much.
Because just like Jollof, leadership has its secret seasoning, which is ethics.
When you think of ethics, you might picture a long list of rules or principles. And that’s okay. You could also liken ethics to compliance, but that’s where we most times get it wrong. Ethics isn’t about compliance. Compliance is following the law, ticking the boxes, and doing what you must to stay out of trouble. Ethics, on the other hand, is doing what’s right, even when no one is watching, and no rulebook exists for the situation. Your value system powers it.
Let’s paint a picture.
Imagine you’re the manager of a mid-sized firm. A top-performing staff member accidentally discovers that the company has been overbilling a long-term client. Reporting it could cost the company millions and possibly lead to layoffs. Your boss says, “Let’s just adjust the numbers quietly. No need to create a scene.”
Now, the ball is in your court. Do you stay silent to protect your job and the company’s reputation, or do you speak up for what’s right?
That’s the moment where ethics steps in.
No written policy tells you what to do when integrity conflicts with loyalty. But ethical leadership demands that you choose the harder right over the easier wrong.
The motive of ethics is not just to avoid scandals; it’s mostly about building trust.
Organizations that thrive long-term understand this. They know that culture doesn’t form from slogans or posters that say, “Integrity is our core value.” It forms from the small, everyday decisions leaders make when no one is watching, like owning up to a mistake, treating people fairly, or refusing a bribe even when everyone else “does it.”
Leadership integrity is like the slow simmer in Jollof. It might not look dramatic at first, but over time, it seeps into every layer of the organization, creating a culture that is deeply ingrained in the hearts and minds of all the employees.
A leader who acts ethically doesn’t just inspire compliance; they inspire character. They make people believe that doing right is not just possible, but profitable. Because truth be told, businesses built on shortcuts may rise fast, but they crumble faster.
When building lasting organizational success isn’t derived through strategy, money, or even talent. It is integrity that flavors every action, every decision, and every relationship with honesty and consistency.
Remember, it all starts with you, the leader.
At Havivah Trust Consult Limited, we help organizations build this kind of flavor through ethical leadership training, compliance strategy, and governance consulting. Because just like Jollof, success tastes better when it’s seasoned with integrity.
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