Inclusive Leadership: The Future of Civility, Ethics, and Humanity in Business

Leaders who prioritise civility, ethics, and humanity in their decision-making are more essential than ever. The stakes are at an all-time high as organisations navigate a complex mix of economic pressures, industry challenges, societal expectations, and geopolitical issues. Against this backdrop, the question arises: in a globally connected industry, how can we lead in a way that achieves optimal business results and upholds the values that connect us all together?

Inclusive Leadership: The Business Case for Gender Diversity

Effective leadership requires more than technical skill; it demands a mindset rooted in civility, ethics, integrity, fairness, and empathy. These qualities strengthen organisational culture, drive financial success, and contribute to societal progress. A critical component of this is gender representation, which is a business imperative achieved through inclusive leadership. Despite women making up 59% of college graduates in the United States and 48% of the workforce, they hold only 33% of management positions, represent 27% of Fortune 500 Board seats, 21% of Chief Executive Officer roles, 13% of Chief Financial Officer positions, and just 8% of Fortune 500 CEOs. (Sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Deloitte/Alliance for Board Diversity, Women in the Workplace 2023, IBM Workplace Report 2023, Fortune, Catalyst, Statista, CEO World).

Moreover, women experience a 34% drop in promotions between entry-level and management roles, indicating the existence of a “broken rung” in corporate pipelines (McKinsey 2021). Addressing this gap presents both a challenge and an opportunity. Companies that actively promote gender diversity see better financial results and enhanced decision-making. Diverse teams deliver 30% better results, make decisions twice as fast, and require fewer meetings (Cloverpop and Forbes). Research from Korn Ferry shows that diverse-by-design teams make better decisions than homogenous groups do 87% of the time and are 70% more likely to capture new markets. The future of leadership requires inclusivity, not only because it’s the fair and right thing to do, but also because it delivers measurable, enhanced business results.

Civility: Building a Foundation of Respect

Civility is the cornerstone of effective leadership and is characterised by engaging with others through genuine politeness and respect. Civility rises above emotion and transcends hierarchy, power dynamics, and conflict, embodying the practice of treating others with dignity and consideration - even if it is not reciprocated. In an increasingly divided world, civility in leadership goes beyond mere manners; it forges an environment of open dialogue, trust, and collaboration.

The impact of incivility is like dropping a silent bomb on the culture, with consequences far more detrimental than can be seen or quantified on the surface. Data collected from Management Researcher, Christine Porath, at Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business, outlines the negative impact of incivility on corporate cultures in her widely respected 2018 Ted Talk, “Mastering Civility: A Manifesto for the Workplace”. Her research found that workplace relationship problems result in lost productivity, absenteeism, and turnover, causing managers to spend 133% of their time resolving them, with 95% of respondents in a survey agreeing that workplace incivility exists.

Leaders who prioritise civility create workplaces where people feel heard and valued, which is key to retaining top talent and driving innovation. In fact, organisations that cultivate mutual respect between leadership and employees are more likely to achieve breakthroughs, create loyalty, and maintain a competitive edge in the marketplace.

Ethics: Leadership with Integrity

Ethics in leadership is more than simply knowing right from wrong. The foundation of ethics is knowing our personal values and applying them to guide decisions that serve the greater good. In 2022, the HOW Institute for Society released the State of Moral Leadership in Business Report, stating that employees strongly desire moral leaders and that such leadership can positively impact team performance.

Ethical leadership extends beyond compliance with laws and regulations to a greater moral compass that points toward long-term success and sustainability. It is essential that as we look to the future, we hire for values as a priority, even over skill. Experienced team leaders agree that while skills can be taught, instilling values is a much more challenging, some say impossible, endeavour.

When leaders make decisions grounded in ethics, they inspire trust and loyalty among their teams and stakeholders. More importantly, they ensure that their organisations contribute positively to society by aligning business goals with broader social responsibilities.

Ethics drive the culture. Implementing fair and equitable practices, such as providing advancement opportunities and standardised evaluation criteria to all team members, is crucial for inclusive leadership. This approach promotes transparency and fairness, ultimately driving organisational growth and revenue.

When looking at gender parity, companies whose top management includes a higher percentage of women outperform their peers, showing a return on equity 19% higher than the average. Boards with greater gender diversity outperformed less diverse boards by 36% (Cloverpop and Forbes), making a very strong case that ethical leadership grounded in inclusivity not only elevates the morale of the culture, but also drives strong financial results.

Humanity: Prioritising People in the Pursuit of Profits

In the corporate world, humanity is often overshadowed by the relentless, and in many cases, wild goose chase, in pursuit of bottom-line profits. Yet, when tough market conditions hit, corporate values rise to the top, with a consistent demonstration of profits over people. The fallout has long-standing implications and high-level consequences. From widespread employee burnout to deepening inequities in our global supply chains, the ripple effect of neglecting the human component of leadership is severe. Corporate leaders, however, hold the key to breakthrough solutions by using their influence to advocate for marginalised groups and improve the quality of lives for their employees, organisations, and local communities.

Humanity in leadership necessitates individuals to actively champion systemic change, which ultimately drives significant improvements in both revenue and reputation.

Final Thoughts

Through civility, leaders create environments of mutual respect; through ethical behaviour, they ensure that their decisions provide equity for all while realising the business goals of the organisation; and though humane practices, they harness the potential of the corporate world to make a positive impact on communities and society at large.

The future of leadership is about more than driving goals and metrics; it is about facing the challenges that come with systemic change and remaining committed to the integrity of our guiding leadership principles, especially in the face of adversity. This kind of leadership will drive revenue and define the next generation of successful, innovative organisations.

Women in Electronics: Join Us in Shaping the Future of Leadership

Women in Electronics/WE United is dedicated to leadership with civility, ethics, and humanity. We believe in the unity and the hope of a shared vision to create pathways for everyone to rise to the levels of their highest leadership potential within the electronics industry and beyond.

To learn more about how you can be part of this movement, visit us at www.womeninelectronics.com or Jackie@womeninelectronics.com.

Together, we can pave the way towards a more inclusive and innovative future.