The Ethics of Leadership Essay Example

Introduction

Respect is of great importance in our day to day lives. While growing up, children are taught how to show respect to elder, parents, teachers, traffic rules, traditions, leaders and people's feelings. It is until we grow older that we come to value respect for such things. Sometimes, we are tempted to develop respect for individuals we consider exemplary and lose respect for those we find to be of less value and many times we only show respect to those who are worth it. However, there has been increasing calls from experts and scholars to have individuals show respect to human life regardless of gender, race, color, sexual orientation and even offence. While calls to respect everyone are growing, the value of self-respect could be taken for granted or we might also realize that self-respect is threatened especially in a hostile environment. Leaders are not left behind in the fight for respect because scholars believe that ethical leadership begins from the top and starts with respect. Kant's moral theory develops a stringent view on morality which could cause conflict between self-interest and duty.

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Price (2008) argues that respect for morality is paramount because it keeps us balanced on a personal level and at a societal level. Sometimes, leaders could be cheated by their positions and thus tempted to break the rule of law thinking that the leadership circumstance makes them unique after all. For leaders, morality should be respected because top positions are not exceptional and leaders have no reasons whatsoever to justify why they break laws. Other than making us balanced, respect for morality is necessary for leaders; it makes them and their followers aware of moral rules. Many times, we express ethical rules by our actions without necessarily saying them or conforming to them. Leaders are therefore not allowed to impose moral standards on followers and have their activities overlap their demands for morality. To show awareness, leaders should also develop not just respect by Kantian respect for morality. Another reason Price (2008) gives for leaders developing Kantian respect is to show togetherness. Since moral rules must be designed to function in a moral system, voluntary compliance should be the tool to binds the system together where respect for rules becomes the spirit of the enterprise (Norman, 2000).

Leadership Instances

In chapter three of Ciulla's 'The Ethics of Leadership', readers are introduced to the moral philosophy of Immanuel Kant (Ciulla, 2000). Kant develops a set of ethics that would guide individuals in decision making and in the end help us judge whether the actions we are about to take are morally correct. Referring to the story of Bathsheba and David in the Bible, Ciulla says that 'most times, leaders are tempted to lie because of the belief that they would not get caught or because they have the power to cover up for their lies'. This statement rings so right in the light of government scandals involving the increase in US politicians lying about their use of public funds. Being in office and having access to funds meant for the public is normal. Those in power have even redefined the parameters of acceptability to allow the use of these funds and release cover up statements. Why then is America too obsessed with public fund theft scandals? And what does this say about the morality of its leadership? To act concerning morality, Kantian ethics reminds us of the prominent ethical principle of universal law. Universal law is a principle that tests whether our choices are morally fair. According to universal law, it is never right to steal from the public and therefore stealing public funds is not the right thing to do especially when one is appointed to ensure the public gets access to these funds.

Another ethical dilemma a leader can face is in the scenario that follows. As a leader, you are in a conference with other top officials, and one of your employees is exaggerating his team's performance. He is saying that their project is expected to increase company earnings by 12 per cent yet in a real sense the promising percentage is 4 per cent, what do you do as a leader considering he is a close friend and a colleague? Many times, we do what we feel is right because it comes quickly. Our present society also seems to be obsessed with finding happiness, a factor which Kantian philosophy is against. According to Kantian ethics, every one of us is a moral agent, and we have to ask ourselves whether we are doing the right thing. Granted that it would cost your colleague and friend his position at the company but saying the truth about the project would be the right thing to do while showing respect to morality.

Conclusion

In the end, the morality of the message does not depend on the virtue of the messenger because the word would have a more significant impact if it comes from an individual who practices and lives morality on a day to day basis. Although tricky morality situations face leaders, it would be refreshing to have leaders stay simple, honest and say 'I am living up to everyday leadership ethics'.

References

Ciulla, J. B. (2002). The Ethics of Leadership. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth/Thomas Learning.

Price, T. (2008). Leadership Ethics: An introduction, Cambridge University Press.

Norman B., (2000). A Kantian Theory of Leadership. Leadership & Organization Development Journal, 21(4), pp.185-193, https://doi.org/10.1108/01437730010335427