ADM Leadership Lecture 14 – Leadership Ethics

Introduction Very little unifying literature on leadership ethics.

Ethics Defined Ethics derives from the Greek word “ethos” meaning “customs”, “conduct”, or “character.” Concerned with the kinds of values and morals an individual or society finds desirable or appropriate. Also concerns virtuousness of individuals and their motives. Ethics derives from the Greek word “ethos” meaning “customs”, “conduct”, or “character.” Concerned with the kinds of values and morals an individual or society finds desirable or appropriate. Also concerns virtuousness of individuals and their motives.

Ethics Defined In terms of leadership, ethics has to do with what leaders do and who leaders are.

Ethical Theories

Ethical theories can be divided broadly between theories about leaders’ conduct and about their characters. The conduct theories can be further subdivided into theories about consequences and duties or rules. Ethical theories can be divided broadly between theories about leaders’ conduct and about their characters. The conduct theories can be further subdivided into theories about consequences and duties or rules.

Teleological Theories (Consequences)

Deontological Theories (Duty) Is the action itself good? Not just the consequences. Actions of the leader and his or her moral obligation to do the right thing. Is the action itself good? Not just the consequences. Actions of the leader and his or her moral obligation to do the right thing.

Virtue-based Theories Focuses on the character of the leader. Virtues and moral abilities are not innate but can be acquired and learned through practice. Focuses on the character of the leader. Virtues and moral abilities are not innate but can be acquired and learned through practice.

Virtue-based Theories Aristotle (individuals in communities): courage, temperance, generosity, self-control, honesty, sociability, modesty, fairness, and justice. Velasquez (managers): perseverance, public- spiritedness, integrity, truthfulness, fidelity, benevolence, and humility. Our virtues come from our actions; and our actions manifest our virtues. Aristotle (individuals in communities): courage, temperance, generosity, self-control, honesty, sociability, modesty, fairness, and justice. Velasquez (managers): perseverance, public- spiritedness, integrity, truthfulness, fidelity, benevolence, and humility. Our virtues come from our actions; and our actions manifest our virtues.

Centrality of Ethics to Leadership The influence dimension of leadership places a heavy ethical burden and responsibility. Ethical responsibility to treat subordinates with dignity and respect. Leaders have a greater ethical responsibility because of their position. The influence dimension of leadership places a heavy ethical burden and responsibility. Ethical responsibility to treat subordinates with dignity and respect. Leaders have a greater ethical responsibility because of their position.

Centrality of Ethics to Leadership Leaders help to establish and reinforce organizational values. All leaders have values and have an enormous impact on the ethical values of the organization. Leaders help to establish and reinforce organizational values. All leaders have values and have an enormous impact on the ethical values of the organization.

Heifetz’s Perspective on Ethical Leadership Leaders must use authority to mobilize people to face tough issues. Provides a “holding environment” in which there is trust, nurturance, and empathy. Leaders must use authority to mobilize people to face tough issues. Provides a “holding environment” in which there is trust, nurturance, and empathy.

Heifetz’s Perspective on Ethical Leadership Within a supportive context, followers feel safe to confront and deal with hard problems. Leaders get people to pay attention to issues, act as a reality check, manage and frame issues, orchestrate conflicting perspectives, facilitate decision-making. Within a supportive context, followers feel safe to confront and deal with hard problems. Leaders get people to pay attention to issues, act as a reality check, manage and frame issues, orchestrate conflicting perspectives, facilitate decision-making.

Burn’s Perspective on Ethical Leadership Transformation leadership places a strong emphasis on followers’ needs, values, and morals. Move followers to higher plane of moral responsibility. Transformation leadership places a strong emphasis on followers’ needs, values, and morals. Move followers to higher plane of moral responsibility.

Greenleaf’s Perspective on Ethical Leadership Servant leadership emphasizes that leaders should be attentive to the concerns of their followers and empathize with them; they should take care of them and nurture them. Social responsibility to be concerned with the have-nots and recognize them as equal stakeholders in the organization. Servant leadership emphasizes that leaders should be attentive to the concerns of their followers and empathize with them; they should take care of them and nurture them. Social responsibility to be concerned with the have-nots and recognize them as equal stakeholders in the organization.

Common Themes Leader-follower relationship central to ethical leadership. Pay close attention to needs of followers. “Ethic of caring.” Leader-follower relationship central to ethical leadership. Pay close attention to needs of followers. “Ethic of caring.”

Principles of Ethical Leadership

Strengths Timely research on ethical issues. Ethics should be considered an integral part of the broad domain of leadership. Highlights several principles that are important to the development of ethical leadership. Timely research on ethical issues. Ethics should be considered an integral part of the broad domain of leadership. Highlights several principles that are important to the development of ethical leadership.

Criticisms Early stage of development and does not have a strong body of traditional research findings. Most of the leadership ethical theory based on the writings of a few individuals who have written essays and texts strongly influenced by their personal opinions. Early stage of development and does not have a strong body of traditional research findings. Most of the leadership ethical theory based on the writings of a few individuals who have written essays and texts strongly influenced by their personal opinions.

Application Not widely taught or used. But can be taught or used by all individuals at all levels of an organization. Not widely taught or used. But can be taught or used by all individuals at all levels of an organization.

Application Leadership involves values, and leader must know and be concerned about her own values. Leaders can better understand themselves and strengthen their own leadership. Leadership involves values, and leader must know and be concerned about her own values. Leaders can better understand themselves and strengthen their own leadership.

Greenleaf’s Perspective on Ethical Leadership Removes inequalities and social injustices. Uses less institutional and formal power and shifts more responsibilities to followers. Removes inequalities and social injustices. Uses less institutional and formal power and shifts more responsibilities to followers.