A message from Dov Seidman, Founder and Chairman

At the heart of The HOW Institute’s mission is our unwavering dedication to developing novel metrics that delve into the "how" of moral leadership, principled decision-making, and values-based behavior. Our newest report – The 2024 State of Moral Leadership in Business – explores the nature and impact of moral leadership, examining how moral leadership not only fosters exemplary organizational culture and robust performance across a range of workplace metrics, but also nurtures meaningful relationships within teams and builds stronger links to society more broadly. What we found is that in this extraordinary moment where we, collectively, are facing so many simultaneous crises, moral leadership has evolved from a worthy pursuit to a critical survival skill. Our research shows that people are seeking leadership that works to forge shared truths and engender an abundance of trust, and that scales deep, human moral values at all levels. It is our sincere hope that this year’s report will encourage leaders to take the deliberate and necessary steps to build their own moral authority, scale moral leadership across their organizations, and seize the opportunities of our reshaped world.

We see a collective yearning for leadership that is deeply rooted in values, driven by purpose, and committed to elevating behavior at all organizational levels: From entry-level employees to senior executives, respondents indicated a shared recognition of the importance of moral leadership. 

Artificial Intelligence is a Frontier of Moral Leadership

Our study indicates that generative AI is already making its mark, with 29% of respondents noting that their organizations are integrating AI tools into everyday operations.

Leaders must balance leveraging AI’s analytical capabilities for societal benefit with mitigating the risks associated with its potential for acting in ways that are not aligned with social good. To enhance (rather than undermine) moral leadership, AI systems must be designed and operated in a manner that is clearly aligned with ethical principles.