04/17/2024

The Association CEO and Ethics

How the CEO must now serve as chief ethics officer, too

Associations, like other professional organizations, are made up of individuals with unique sets of values. Association ethics should embody and support the values held by members, staff and other integral parties; positive alignment of values for the good of an association can be managed when there is commitment by organizational leaders.

When the leader and organizational decision-maker takes on the role of Chief Ethics Officer, and models ethical leadership, it sends a strong message that ethics and integrity are top priorities for the entire organization.

Leading With Ethics

The CEO is always expected to do the right thing in the right way, even when the path is difficult. Part of the role is to mitigate risk, as ethical lapses can lead to significant legal, financial and reputational damage. Overseeing the association with an ethical lens allows the organization to proactively identify and address potential ethical issues. Members, partners and the public are more likely to trust associations that demonstrate a commitment to ethical behavior.

Please select this link to read the complete article from ASAE’s Center for Association Leadership.