Learning to Lead with Ethics (and a Little Grace)

Learning to Lead with Ethics (and a Little Grace)

This week in class, we dove into ethical leadership, and I have to say, it hit home in a way I did not expect. I have always known that being a leader is not just about knowing your stuff. It is about how you treat people, how you make decisions, and how consistent you are when things get hard. But reading about ethical principles and how they actually show up in real leadership really helped me see myself more clearly.

The three ethical principles that stood out to me most were justice, beneficence, and fidelity. These are fancy words, but basically they mean be fair, do good, and keep your promises. That is how I try to lead. Whether I am helping a first-generation student figure out how to study for their first exam or standing up for a student who has been overlooked, these principles are part of everything I do even when I do not realize it.

A quick story. Last semester, a student came to me in tears after a rough clinical day. She felt like she was failing and that she did not belong in nursing school. My first instinct was to jump in with reassurance, but instead, I just sat with her and listened. Then I told her the truth. Nursing is hard. Everyone feels this way at some point. What matters is not being perfect but showing up and trying again tomorrow. We came up with a plan for her to get extra support, and she ended up not only passing but also finding her confidence.

That moment reminded me that ethical leadership is not just theory. It is in the little things. It is in showing up with consistency, telling the truth kindly, and treating every student like they matter because they do.

Reading Brown and Treviño’s work on ethical leadership helped me realize I do not need to have all the answers. I just need to lead with integrity, model the kind of behavior I hope my students carry into their own careers, and keep growing. And maybe most importantly, lead with heart.