Leadership and Ethics

“The greatest leader is not necessarily the one who does greatest things. He is the one that gets the people to do the greatest things” Ronald Reagan.

 

Who is a leader and what do you mean by ethical Leadership?

 (Source: Fotosearch 2016)

 

This blog contains an overview of what an ethical leader is and what frameworks and examples are used to evidence them.

Leadership is defined as “the ability to evaluate and or forecast a long term plan or policy and influence the followers towards the achievement of the said strategy” (Mayowa 2009). Both organizational developments along with individual’s progress are improved through an effective leadership (Wilson 2013). Ethical Leadership is one of the concepts of Leadership which was explained as “leadership that is directed by respect for ethical beliefs and values and for the dignity and right for others” (Seidman 2010). Ethical Leadership usually follows two fundamental principles: Deontological (duties) and Teleological (consequences) (Sendjaya 2005).

 

Figure 1: Approaches to Ethics

(Source: Ethics model 2016)

 

According to William K. Frankena, 1973, Duty-based or deontological ethics demonstrates that “established moral rules should precept and delineates the rights and wrongs in actions” (Groves and LaRocca 2011). Howard Schultz, CEO of Starbucks was acknowledged with a pace award for leadership in ethics for his installation of a value-based company providing respect for mankind with service to the public and without negotiating the definitive quality (ECI 2014). Here, the leader tried getting right things done so as to get a good result which influenced the workers to perform their duty in the right way. Howard Schultz can be entitled as an ethical leader as he encouraged two way and effective communication and also helped in solving problems by making specific decisions (ECI 2014). Whereas, teleological ethics is “based on the principles; whether an act is right or wrong depends only on the results of that act and the further good consequences an act produces, the superior or extra right that act” (BBC 2014). For example, Apple is presently the world’s best computer hardware company generating revenue of more than billions of dollars each year. Steve Jobs, the CEO of Apple could be labeled as an unethical leader since he has broken certain promises like, he made workers work under high stress and exhaustively every day, committing suicide and more with the only aim of end result which was profit making and failed to consider the impact of their choices on stakeholders involved (Bilton 2014). Plus, Apple relies more on child slave labor by making children work for more than 10 hours and exposing them to cancerous vapors and even avoided some taxes using the Irish loopholes (Boney 2014).

 

We shall now consider the 4 V model of ethical leadership,

Figure 2: The 4V model of ethical leadership

         (Source: The Centre for Ethical Leadership 2014)

 

The Ethical Leadership model was introduced by Dr. Bill Grace based on his preceding researches on leadership and intimate affection about ethics (Our History 2016). This framework helps to regulate the internal and external journey.

Values and Vision analyses the group and gives them the purpose and direction. Claiming voice to values and vision bring dynamics to groups. The mixture of principle, awareness of commitments and relationships is Virtue (Concepts and Philosophies 2016).

Like the two sides of a coin, there are even criticisms relating to the 4 V model which states that, the model is proposed to expand the leader’s boldness for being a representative of the common good and one who is willing to face all challenges to acquire his destined target. But, leaders these days neglect following these models and believe they are invalid (Google Books 2006).

The 4V model of ethical Leadership maybe illustrated with the example of an organization, Microsoft. Bill Gates, the inventor of Microsoft, outsets with the inward exploration of ethical leadership. Passion, intensity and tenacity were discovered as his core values (JD 2011). By reducing inequity the world could be improved and the working in one computer with one screen and keyboard is going away. This was the vision pinpointed by Bill Gates (Yarow 2014). By spotting his vision, it becomes easier for Bill Gates to coordinate his behavior towards what are the appropriate things to be done. Furthermore, he explores his intimate voice to explicit perception through administration, concentrating all his time, resources and energy on building an enhanced world. Secondly, Bill Gates operates in the desire of serving the virtue. To exemplify, Bill Gates has set a family foundation in which the major role is played by philanthropy (Thorpe 2012).

In a nutshell, ethical leadership can be a monumental device by which the ruler administers their organization. In order to provide competent optimal performance, the four sides of 4V model should be arranged accurately by the leaders by coordinating the internal and external factors. Howalt Schultz and Bill Gates represented strong ethical leadership because they focused on value, vision, voice and virtue rather than individual benefits in the organization (JD 2011). The strategy of practicing ethical leadership by mangers is an effective tool so as to encourage and motivate employers, which thereby brings better profit and further goodwill to the organization. Although ethical leadership could impact positively on individuals and organizations, ethics is not the only way to value a leader or a company.

 

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References

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