Most would agree we live in a rapidly evolving and often unpredictable world where ethical decision-making sometimes feels more like a balancing act than ever before. As leaders, we are faced with difficult choices that can significantly impact our companies, our employees, and the communities we serve. As the CEO of RX Medical, a family of healthcare businesses, my team and I encounter countless situations where the right decision wasn’t always clear, but the foundation of ethics in leadership allows us to navigate those challenges with clarity and confidence. In this month’s LinkedIn leadership blog, we’ll explore core principles and influences that continue to drive our leadership approach and help shape the ethical culture at our company.
The Complexity of Modern Decision-Making
As leaders, would you agree we can no longer rely on simple rules of thumb or traditional guidelines to navigate the ethical dilemmas we face? The complexities of operating in the healthcare industry, societal expectations, technological advancements, and evolving regulatory environments (to name a few) add layers of difficulty to decision-making. At RX Medical, we understand that a decision made today could have ripple effects far beyond what we can immediately see. We’re not just in the business of serving our clients (surgeons and other healthcare professionals) with innovative medical devices; we’re in the business of improving lives, making decisions that affect patient outcomes, and the integrity of our industry. Every action, whether it’s a new product launch, a partnership agreement, or a strategic initiative, requires us to take a step back and ask ourselves: “Is this the right thing to do?”
Ethics as a Strategic Framework
In the book The Power of Ethics: How to Make Good Choices in a Complicated World, Susan Liautaud shares the importance of ethics in leadership and decision-making. She believes ethics are not just a nice-to-have; they are an essential component of strategic leadership. Ethical decision-making must be woven into the fabric of a company’s culture and strategy. It’s not enough to simply focus on profit; ensure that your decisions align with your core values of integrity, responsibility, and transparency. When approaching an ethical decision, consider using Liautaud’s framework below.
Approaching Dilemmas | 4 Ways
- Principles – To be effective, your core principles should be clear, but not too prescriptive. The most common principles are honesty, integrity, kindness, compassion and loyalty.
- Information – With technology advancing so quickly, people face a gap between what they know and what they need to know to make ethical decisions. Ask questions, listen, observe and repeat as new information emerges.
- Stakeholders – Your decisions don’t affect only you. You may not know the downstream effects, but try to identify the people or categories of people who may suffer or benefit from your choices.
- Consequences – Consider the short-, medium- and long-term effects of your decision, now and over time.
“Fight for truth. Fight as if the ethical decision-making that tethers us to our humanity depends on it. Because it does.” – Susan Liautaud
Within our family of healthcare businesses, we follow know our decisions shape how we hire, develop, and reward talent. We look for individuals who share our ethical commitment and hold themselves to the highest standards. We also provide continuous training to ensure each team member—from entry-level employees to seasoned members of our leadership team—understand the importance of ethical decision-making and know how to handle complex situations.
The Role of Leadership in Ethical Decision-Making
At the end of the day, leaders set the ethical tone for their organization. For example, I know that my actions, words, and decisions serve as a model for the entire company. When employees see that leadership prioritizes ethics, they are more likely to follow suit. That’s why we foster an open and transparent environment where employees feel comfortable discussing concerns, asking questions, and challenging decisions. It’s important to create a culture where ethical considerations are discussed openly, not just when something goes wrong, but proactively as part of our daily operations. Leadership also involves being prepared to make difficult decisions that prioritize long-term integrity over short-term gains. In some situations, the ethical choice is not always the easiest or most financially rewarding, but we’ve learned that when we stay true to our values, we ensure that our company remains a respected leader in the healthcare industry.
Building Ethical Resilience
Liautaud says it’s important to build “ethical resilience” in her publication. This concept refers to the ability to navigate ethical challenges without compromising one’s principles. It’s not about avoiding tough decisions; it’s about having the courage and the framework to make the right ones, even when the stakes are high. We’re building that resilience by continuously evaluating our decisions and holding ourselves accountable. We leverage real-world case studies and examples of ethical dilemmas to engage our team in discussions that sharpen their ability to navigate complex situations across each of our locations. Ethical resilience doesn’t just come from making the right decisions; it’s about learning from past experiences, growing from them, and using that knowledge to strengthen future decision-making.
Building Trust
Ultimately, the strength of any business lies in the trust it builds with its stakeholders. Whether it’s patients, healthcare providers, investors, or employees, trust is the foundation of all successful relationships. By consistently making ethical decisions, we build that trust, ensuring our company remains an organization people can count on to do the right thing, even when it’s difficult. Our focus on ethical decision-making has allowed us to build strong, lasting relationships with healthcare professionals, suppliers, and partners. These relationships are not just transactional; they’re rooted in mutual respect and shared values. When our stakeholders know that we consider the ethical implications of our actions, it strengthens our reputation and enhances our ability to make a positive impact in the medical devices field.
In a world where ethical dilemmas are inevitable, we choose to meet them head-on with the knowledge, support, and resilience to make the right choices. By prioritizing ethics in our decision-making, we ensure that RX Medical doesn’t just succeed—we thrive, with purpose, integrity, and a lasting impact on the world around us.
📌LEADERSHIP CHALLENGE: Use ethical decision-making to confront dilemmas you face at work and in life. When you do, you’ll find that it can lead to better outcomes and builds a culture of trust and respect with those around you, creating a stronger foundation for long-term success and fulfillment.re resilient, making smart financial decisions, finding happiness, and building meaningful relationships in 2025
Brandon Rouse, CEO of Rx Medical, a family of healthcare businesses, leads a diverse & growing team of professionals well-versed in the challenges facing the medical field today. Headquartered in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, Brandon’s experienced team represents various technological & innovative medical device solutions. ZB RX Medical and Rx Medical are direct distributors of Zimmer Biomet among others.