What is the relationship between ethical leadership and team performance?

Ethical leadership plays a crucial role in enhancing team performance by fostering trust and collaboration among team members. When leaders demonstrate ethical behavior, they set a standard for the entire team, creating an environment where individuals feel safe to express their thoughts and ideas. This sense of safety encourages open communication, which can lead to innovative solutions and cooperative problem-solving.

Additionally, ethical leaders are often more respected by their teams, which builds a foundation of trust. When team members trust their leader and one another, they are more likely to collaborate effectively, share resources, and work towards common goals. Team performance is significantly enhanced when members operate within an ethical framework that promotes accountability and integrity, leading to higher motivation and commitment to the team's objectives.

In contrast to this, the other options suggest negative or neutral relationships. The first option implies that there is no correlation, disregarding the substantial evidence that ethical leadership positively influences team dynamics. The second option suggests that ethical leadership has a detrimental effect on performance, which contradicts research showing that ethical practices lead to better outcomes. The final option implies that the benefits of ethical leadership are isolated to the leader, neglecting the broader impact on team cohesion and performance. Therefore, the understanding that ethical leadership fosters greater trust and collaboration among team members aligns