Ethics The Heart of Leadership PLC 2007

Ethics Defined A system for thinking about A system for thinking about What we should do What we should do What we should be What we should be It is about right, wrong, good, and evil It is about right, wrong, good, and evil The relationship of humans to each other and to the world/cosmos The relationship of humans to each other and to the world/cosmos

The Four Dilemma Paradigms Truth versus Loyalty Truth versus Loyalty Individual versus Community Individual versus Community Short-term versus Long-term Short-term versus Long-term Justice versus Mercy Justice versus Mercy

Truth vs. Loyalty Confidentiality Confidentiality Honesty Honesty Friendship Friendship Being true to your word Being true to your word

Individual vs. Community Honoring individual rights Honoring individual rights Serving the community Serving the community

Short-term vs. Long-term Immediate and important concerns Immediate and important concerns Life-long and important concerns Life-long and important concerns

Justice vs. Mercy Legally right Legally right Morally right Morally right The death penalty and minors The death penalty and minors

All Real Dilemmas Involve real people, real situations Involve real people, real situations Whose dilemma is this? Whose dilemma is this? Never Sui Generis Never Sui Generis Each value is right Each value is right Each value appears to exclude the other Each value appears to exclude the other Analysis of a dilemma is not a resolution of it Analysis of a dilemma is not a resolution of it

3 Principles to test the twin rights of a dilemma Three ways of thinking about issues Three ways of thinking about issues Ends-based Ends-based Rule-based Rule-based Care-based Care-based

Ends-based Thinking Utilitarianism or Utilitarianism or Do whatever produces the greatest good for the greatest number Do whatever produces the greatest good for the greatest number Cost benefit analysis Cost benefit analysis The staple of public policy The staple of public policy

Rule-based Thinking Kant’s “the categorical imperative” Kant’s “the categorical imperative” Follow only the principle that you want everyone else to follow Follow only the principle that you want everyone else to follow Create and follow a universal standard (Duty) Create and follow a universal standard (Duty) Opposed to utilitarianism – can’t know the entire consequences of our actions Opposed to utilitarianism – can’t know the entire consequences of our actions

Care-based Thinking Golden Rule “Do to others what you would like them to do to you.” Golden Rule “Do to others what you would like them to do to you.” Empathetic living / walking in another’s shoes Empathetic living / walking in another’s shoes How would it feel if you were the recipient rather than the perpetrator of your actions? How would it feel if you were the recipient rather than the perpetrator of your actions?

The Point These tests will not deliver an airtight answer to your dilemma. These tests will not deliver an airtight answer to your dilemma. They are not a magic answer kit that produces an infallible solution. They are not a magic answer kit that produces an infallible solution. They are ways to exercise our moral rationality. They are ways to exercise our moral rationality. They are lenses that will give us focus on how to proceed to cope with difficult choices. They are lenses that will give us focus on how to proceed to cope with difficult choices.

John W. Gardner "Moral Dimension" "ULTIMATELY LEADERS ARE JUDGED WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OF VALUES.“ "ULTIMATELY LEADERS ARE JUDGED WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OF VALUES.“ 1. Justice 2. Liberty 3. Equality of opportunity 4. Dignity of the individual 5. Sanctity of private religious beliefs

Violations of Moral Leadership Leader inflicts cruelty on constituents. (Idi Amin's 100,000 or Stalin's million) Leader inflicts cruelty on constituents. (Idi Amin's 100,000 or Stalin's million) Leader encourages violations of norms of the culture. (K.K.K.) Leader encourages violations of norms of the culture. (K.K.K.) Leader utilizes violations of norms as a source of motivation and power. (Papa Doc Duvalier or The Ayatollah Khomeini) Leader utilizes violations of norms as a source of motivation and power. (Papa Doc Duvalier or The Ayatollah Khomeini) Leader establishes and maintains an unhealthy dependencies in constituents. (James Jones or David Koresh) Leader establishes and maintains an unhealthy dependencies in constituents. (James Jones or David Koresh) Leader destroys previous processes that generated commonly shared values and norms. (Mussolini or Mao Tse Tung) Leader destroys previous processes that generated commonly shared values and norms. (Mussolini or Mao Tse Tung)

Adolf Hitler The end justifies the means The end justifies the means Extol the virtues of heroic war Extol the virtues of heroic war Control reality (distortions) by all means necessary Control reality (distortions) by all means necessary

Moral leadership within the American Culture should be able to 1. Facilitate, encourage, and develop processes that enable and empower others to create possibilities above and beyond the status quo. 2. Balance individual and corporate needs and purposes (the greater good vs. special interest groups). 3. Defend and preserve shared laws, customs, beliefs, and norms 4. Encourage active participation on the part of others in establishing and pursuing shared goals.

The Paradoxes of Moral Leadership As a culture we want Leaders who don’t hunger for power Leaders who don’t hunger for power Leaders who serve the common good Leaders who serve the common good To dislike paternalism To dislike paternalism To bemoan lack of leadership To bemoan lack of leadership But at the same time The power hungry get the positions Serve our special interests Love Father/mother figures We do not treat our leaders very well