BHU LS 600 Chapter 11

© 2015 SAGE Publications, Inc.

Chapter 11:Chapter 11:Addressing Ethics in Addressing Ethics in

LeadershipLeadership


Chapter Objectives• Explain the concept of ethical leadership.• Discuss leadership ethics in practice by

reviewing the six factors related to ethical leadership.

• Examine the six pillars of character.• Discuss the three principles related to actions

of ethical leaders.

• Examine the five bases of power and its relationship to ethical leadership.


• Are there times when “the ends justify the means” in leadership?

• Have you experienced times when someone’s leadership has been questionable?

• How did it make you feel?

Discussion Questions


• Leadership has a moral dimension because leaders influence the lives of others.

• There is an obligation to work for the common good.

• Despite this there have been a number of scandals in the business and the public sectors.

• Ethical leadership is the influence of a moral person who moves others to do the right thing in the right way for the right reasons (Ciulla, 2003).

Ethical Leadership


• Factors include:

oThe character of the leader

o The actions of the leader

o The goals of the leader

o The honesty of the leader

o The power of the leader

o The values of the leader

Factors of Ethical Leadership


Factors Related to Ethical Leadership


• A leader with strong character is seen as a good & honorable human being.

• Character refers to the disposition & core values of the leader.

• Aristotle argued that a moral person demonstrates the virtues of courage, generosity, self-control, honesty, sociability, modesty, fairness, & justice.

Character of the Leader


• Character is something that is developed.

• Schools are including character education in curricula.

• There is a focus on training students to be good citizens.



• The Josephson Institute (2008) has identified six dimensions of character:

o Trustworthiness

o Respect

o Responsibility

o Fairness

o Caring

o Citizenship




• The way a leader goes about his or her work determines whether or not he or she is an ethical leader.

• We must ask, “Do the ends justify the means?”

• Ethical leadership involves using morally appropriate actions to achieve goals.

Actions of the Leader


• Almost everything a leader does has ethical overtones.

• A leader rewarding some people & not others raises questions of fairness.

• Ignoring health problems & demanding that a job be done quickly raises questions about the leader’s compassion.



• Three ethical standards emerge from the research into ethical leadership.o Showing respect

Respect requires valuing others’ ideas and affirming them as unique human beings.

o Serving others The leader places others’ interests foremost in his or

her work & acts in ways that will benefit all.o Showing justice

Justice demands that a leader place the issue of fairness at the center of decision making.

Ex.: Richard Lee coaching son’s Little League team



• Identifying & pursuing just & worthy goals are the most important steps an ethical leader will undertake.

• The goals incorporate many perspectives:o The interests of others in the group or

organizationo The interests of the community o The larger culture in which they work

• An ethical leader tries to establish goals on which all parties can mutually agree.

Goals of the Leader


• More than any other quality, people want their leaders to be honest.

• Being honest is synonymous with being ethical.

• Dishonesty has a negative effect on a leader’s interpersonal relationships.

• Dishonesty, even when used with good intentions, contributes to the breakdown of relationships.

Honesty of the Leader


• There are times when telling the complete truth can be destructive or counterproductive.

• The challenge for a leader includes:

o striking a balance between being open & being candid

o at the same time, monitoring what is appropriate to disclose in particular situations

Honesty of the Leader


• Power is the capacity to influence or affect others.

• A leader has power because of the ability to affect others’ beliefs, attitudes, and courses of action.

Power of the Leader


• French and Raven (1959) identified five common and important bases of power:

o Referent power

o Expert power

o Legitimate power

o Reward power

o Coercive power

Power of the Leader


• Referent power is based on follower’s identification and liking for the leader.

o Ex.: a college professor who is highly admired by students

• Expert power is based on the followers’ perceptions of the leader’s competence.

o Ex.: a person with strong knowledge about a software program

Power of the Leader


• Legitimate power is associated with having status or formal job authority.

o Ex.: a judge presiding over a court case

• Reward power is derived from having the capacity to provide benefits to others.

o Ex.: a supervisor who can give bonuses to employees

Power of the Leader


• Coercive power is derived from being able to punish or penalize others.

o Ex.: a professor who can lower a student’s grade for missing class

Power of the Leader


• Values are the ideas, beliefs, and modes of action that people find worthwhile or desirable.

• James MacGregor Burns suggested that there are three kinds of leadership values: o Ethical values—such as kindness and altruism

o Modal values—such as responsibility &

o accountability

o End values—such as justice and community

Values of the Leader


Leadership Snapshot: Warren Buffett, Bill & Melinda Gates

• Started with three billionaires promising to give away half their fortune during their lifetimes.

• Now encompasses more than 100 other super-rich families promising to do the same thing.

• The Giving Pledge lead by Bill and Melinda Gates & Warren Buffett.

• The Pledge is simple: the signers have to be billionaires and they have to promise to give away at least half of their fortunes during their lifetimes.

• The Pledge is less about the financial promise than a public statement meant to inspire others.


Leadership Snapshot: Warren Buffett, Bill & Melinda Gates

• Bill Gates said that the “goal is to raise the visibility of philanthropy and the great things it can do”.

• Critics maintain that the Pledge uses the power of the super-rich to shape issues of public concern like education and healthcare.

• Critics also claim that the pledges will increase the gap between the large and small nonprofits.

• Pledge singer Nicolas Berggruen states that “wealth is an advantage, but it also is frankly a responsibility”.


Case Study: The Write Choice• Even though Professor Ramirez deviated from the

college’s policy regarding plagiarism, do you feel that she acted ethically?

• If you were a student in this class and learned Professor Ramirez made an exception for this student, would you think she acted ethically? Explain.

• In table 11.1 the six pillars of character are detailed. Which of these six pillars did Professor Ramirez display in consideration for her student and how?

• Professor Ramirez’s actions ultimately brought into question whether or not the ends justify the means. Do you feel that her leniency in this case made her a stronger or more ethical leader? Explain.


• There is high demand for ethical leadership today.

• Ethical leadership is comprised of the character, actions, goals, honesty, power, & values of the leader.

• Ethical leadership has many dimensions.

o To be an ethical leader, you need to pay attention to who you are, what you do, what goals you seek, your honesty, the way you use power, & your values.

Summary

Education

BHU LS 600 Chapter 11