Navigating Ethical Dilemmas at Work - Kyle Payne

Most of us like to believe we'd make the ethical choice. But in the moment, competing pressures—loyalty, fear of consequences, career ambitions, or uncertainty about what's right—can make ethical decisions far more complicated than they appear. In this episode, Sharna talks with Dr. Kyle Payne about why good people sometimes stay silent, what makes it difficult to challenge authority, and how individuals can respond with integrity when faced with questionable decisions or behavior.

Kyle works in technical services at the American Welding Society, teaches in the Heller College of Business at Roosevelt University, and supports clients with Development Dimensions International and his own consultancy, Quality Culture. He has a PhD in human capital management and master’s degrees in philosophy, education, and business. 

You'll learn:

• Why ethical dilemmas at work are often more complicated than they seem
• The barriers that keep people from speaking up
• How employees can influence ethical leadership without formal authority
• Strategies for responding to difficult situations 
• Why creating ethical organizations is a shared responsibility—not just a leader's job

Research References 

• Mary Uhl-Bien, Ronald E. Riggio, Kevin B. Lowe, Melissa K. Carsten. Followership theory: A review and research agenda. The Leadership Quarterly, Volume 25, Issue 1, 2014, Pages 83-104.
•  Carsten, M. K., & Uhl-Bien, M. (2013). Ethical Followership: An Examination of Followership Beliefs and Crimes of Obedience. Journal of Leadership & Organizational Studies, 20(1), 49-61.
•  Chaleff, I. (2009). The courageous follower: Standing up to and for our leaders (3rd ed.). Berret-Koehler Publishers.
• Hernandez, M., & Sitkin, S. B. (2012). Who is leading the leader? Follower influence on leader ethicality. In D. D. Cremer, & A. E. Tenbrunsel (Eds.), Behavioral business ethics: Shaping an emerging field (pp. 81-104). Routledge. 
• Kassing, J. (2011). Dissent in organizations. Polity Press.
• Payne, Kyle (2024) "“Making Room for Followers: A Grounded Theory Study of Ethical Followership Among Professional Engineers”," The International Journal of Ethical Leadership: Vol. 11, Article 6.

Other References 

• Kasia Urbaniak, Unbound
•  S1 E8: How Courageous Followers can stop Destructive Leadership - Alain de Sales
•  Global Followership Conference

Connect with Dr. Kyle Payne:

 Website: http://www.kylepaynephd.com

 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kyle-payne-phd-98567b50/