Episode 209: Ethical Voice

In this episode of the Leading and Learning Through Safety podcast, Dr. Mark French explores an often-overlooked leadership skill: ethical decision-making. Rather than focusing on major ethical failures, this discussion examines the small, everyday moments where leaders decide whether to speak up, look the other way, or take action.

Drawing from a recent Journal of Applied Psychology article, Dr. French discusses the concept of "sharing as ethicizing"—the idea that discussing workplace ethical dilemmas with trusted family members or close confidants strengthens our willingness to act ethically at work. Those conversations help clarify our values, reinforce our sense of responsibility, and make it more likely that we will speak up when something doesn't feel right.

Using personal experiences from his career in safety and human resources, Dr. French reflects on times when difficult conversations felt easier to avoid than confront. He explains how experience has taught him to replace simple "ignore it or discipline it" thinking with a more thoughtful leadership approach that balances consistency, influence, and accountability.

The episode introduces two practical mental frameworks leaders can use whenever they face an ethical crossroads: "Would I be proud to tell this story to my family?" and "What would an exceptional leader do in this situation?" These simple questions help remove emotion from the moment and provide a clearer path toward doing the right thing.

Whether you lead safety, HR, operations, or any team, this episode offers practical tools for strengthening ethical leadership one decision at a time.