Unit 5 Ethics and Leadership Theories: Leading in a World of Competing Values

Overview

In this unit, we reflect on the role of Ethics and Leadership within the context of Normative Theories. First, and foremost, it is important to understand that leadership theories are descriptive or normative. Descriptive theories describe how leaders act. On the other hand, normative leadership theories tell leaders how they ought to act.

As someone studying leadership, it is important to differentiate between the two. Throughout your studies (and probably through personal experience), you will be exposed to a variety of leadership theories. While this is important in the larger context of leadership, as we are beginning to learn, knowing how to act is different than know how you should act.

Learning Outcomes

When you have completed this unit, you should be able to:

  • Identify and describe some leadership theories specifically designed to improve the ethical behaviour of leaders and followers.
  • These include transformational leadership, servant leadership, authentic leadership, aesthetic leadership, responsible leadership, and Taoism.
  • Explain processes leaders can model that promotes an ethical culture.
  • Analyze how organizations and their leaders create an ethical culture that emphasizes the need to learn how to compete in an environment of moral values

Topics

This unit is divided into the following topics:

  1. Transformational Leadership: Raising the Ethical Bar
  2. Servant Leadership: Put the Needs of Followers First
  3. Authentic Leadership: Know Yourself and to Your Own Self Be True
  4. Ethical Leadership: Moral Persons and Moral Managers

Activity Checklist

Here is a checklist of learning activities you will benefit from in completing this unit. You may find it useful for planning your work:

Learning Activities

  • Read & Reflect: Read Chapter 8 from your Meeting the Ethical Challenge of Leadership text.
  • Read & Reflect: This article from the Journal of Group and Organizational Management reviews some research of Transformational Leadership models.
  • Read & Reflect: Read Chapter 10 from your Responsible Leadership text.
  • Read & Reflect: This article provides an interesting read on some ways you can incorporate Servant Leadership practice’s into your own day-to-day life.
  • Read & Reflect: This article is a look at Authentic Leadership Theory and how we can develop our skill’s to be authentic leader’s.
  • Learning Lab: We begin this Learning Lab with some self-assessments. These self-assessments will serve the basis for this unit’s discussion during Learning Lab. Come prepared to share your results and thoughts!

Assessment

  • Discussion Forum Post: Assessment for this unit will consist of another post to your Discussion Forum. Visit the Assessment page for this unit to see the guiding questions for your reflection.

Resources

Here are the resources you will need to complete this unit.

  • Johnson, C. E. (2021). Meeting the Ethical Challenge of Leadership: Casting Light or Shadow. 7th Ed, Sage Publication Inc. - ISBN: 9781544351643 (alk. paper)
  • Maak, T.& Pless, N. M. (2006). Responsible Leadership. Routledge. - ISBN: 978-0-415-35581-0
  • Other online resources will be provided in the unit.

5.1 Transformational Leadership - Raising the Ethical Bar

The first section of Unit 5 introduces the Transformational Leadership model. The primary purpose of Transformational Servant Leadership is to “create healthy organizations that nurture individual growth, strengthen organizational performance, and, in the end, produce a positive impact on society” (Northouse, 2019). Because Transformational Servant Leaders appreciate individual differences and exhibit individualized consideration, they are more likely to embrace and foster diversity within their work environment, as well as the community at large. A central focus of Transformation Servant Leadership is cultivating personal growth by serving the needs of people. By embracing a Transformational Servant Leadership model, organizations develop a culture of trust and collaboration that improves employee engagement and employee performance. Ultimately, Transformational Servant Leadership benefits individuals, businesses, non-profit organizations, and the larger community.

The video below helps to explain more:

Learning Activity - Read and Reflect

We begin with our first reading from our Meeting the Ethical Challenge of Leadership: Casting Light or Shadow text. Read Chapters 8 and think about how it connects to some of the concepts and examples discussed in the video above.

Learning Activity - Read and Reflect

Next, we have an article from the Journal of Group and Organizational Management that provides a review of some of the ongoing research in Transformational Leadership models. Click on the link below:

5.2 Servant Leadership - Put the Needs of Followers First

In our next section, we explore Servant Leadership. At is foundation, the role of a leader, in this model, is serving others and stems in part from the teachings of Jesus. There are 10 characteristics that describe servant leaders:

  • Listening
  • Empathy
  • Healing
  • Awareness
  • Persuasion
  • Conceptualization
  • Foresight
  • Stewardship
  • Commitment to others’ growth
  • Building community

According to Parolini, Patterson, and Winston (2009), servant leadership employs moral authority. Consequently, transformational servant leaders can guide the team to work in ethical ways so as to build up an ethical corporate culture. This is largely the result of the fact that ethics is at the core of this model, and allows leaders to support the establishment of organizational values - this, ultimately will influence how their team’s function (Northouse, 2015, p 337).

The video helps to explain:

Learning Activity - Read and Reflect

Take a moment to read through Chapter 10 in your Responsible Leadership text. Again, as you read through this chapter, try to think of experiences in your own life and how this content relates to our study in Unit 5.

Learning Activity - Read and Reflect

The following article provides an interesting read about the impact on organizations that integrate a Servant Leadership model into their day-to-day operations. Read more about the culture that was created and the results of their efforts:

5.3 Authentic Leadership - Know Yourself and to Your Own Self Be True

Next, we turn our attention to the Authentic Leadership theory. Authentic Leadership is built on strong ethical convictions that guide behavior. It is important to note, however, that these convictions are not based on avoiding what is wrong, rather, they are focused on trying to do what is right.

Recently, Authentic Leadership theory has gained popularity because it has been found that:

  • Enhancing self-awareness can help people in organizations find more meaning and connection at work.
  • Promoting transparency and openness in relationships builds trust and commitment.
  • Fostering more inclusive structures and practices can help build more positive ethical climates.

These qualities are all central to the Authentic Leadership model. The following video explains more:

Learning Activity - Read and Reflect

In the article below, you will continue to explore your understanding of Authenic Leadership. Building upon the ideas learned above, this article provides a pragmatic foundation that will serve to help your better understand the Authentic Leadership theory.

5.4 Ethical Leadership - Moral Persons and Moral Managers

Finally, we turn our attention to ethical leadership and the pragmatic implementation of these theories. An important note to make here, is that being a moral person is not, in and of itself, enough to earn an ethical reputation. Rather, one has to function as a moral manager to promote ethical behaviour throughout the organization.

An important “take-away” here is that ethical leadership is more than simply good character. Ethical leadership demands that a leader model ethical behaviour and actively promote it amongst followers. The video below explores more:

The Learning Lab for this unit will focus on expanding our understanding of the leadership theories discussed throughout the unit. We will be conducting some self-assessments before shifting our focus to a larger discussion that focuses on the application of these theories.

Self Assessment

For our first activity, we will be using your Meeting the Ethical Challenge of Leadership: Casting Light or Shadow text. As you may have noticed, the text provides a variety of activities for students to build upon their understanding of the topics discussed throughout. For this activity, you are being asked to complete:

  1. Self Assessment - Transformational Leadership Scale
  2. Self Assessment - Servant Leadership Scale

Both of these will be used as references for discussions and assessments!

Group Discussion

During this activity, your Facilitator will be guiding you through a group discussion that focuses on sharing your understanding and experiences. Drawing upon the content of the lessons and readings, you will be asked to share your thoughts with a partner or the group. Consider the following as your prepare for this discussion:

  • What is the relationship between transformational leadership and fellowship?
  • Is the pursuit of socially responsible business practice always consistent with ethical principles? What should managers do when they encounter such conflict?

Assessment

Discussion Forum

Formal assessment of the content discussed this unit will take place in the form of a Discussion Forum. For this assignment, you will be asked to draw upon your understanding of the content from Unit 5, as well as any insights you gained during our Learning Lab for this unit.

Your Discussion Forum response will address the following:

Our Discussion Response for this Unit focuses on the reading done in Topic 1 Using the ideas discussed in the “Transformational Leadership and Performance Across Criteria and Levels,” respond to the following questions:

  1. What are the main implications for managers in the article?
  2. How can you use this information to become a better leader?

Your response should include direct references and connections to the readings, notes, videos, discussions provided throughout the unit. The rubric below provides more information.

Grading Rubric - Click to expand
Exceeds expectations Meets Expectations Minimally Meets Expectations Does Not Meet Expectations
Addresses the questions or problems that are posed in an insightful manner Addresses the questions or problems that are posed Addresses some the questions or problems that are posed Does not address the questions or problems that are posed
Clear, precise and well-reasoned responses Mostly clear, precise and well-reasoned responses Some clear, precise and well-reasoned responses Responses lack clarity, logic and/or precision
Demonstrates independent thought, insight, and creativity (applies course concepts, raises questions, recognises competing perspectives, and evaluates implications) Demonstrates some independent thought, insight, and creativity Demonstrates a minimal amount of independent thought, insight, and creativity. Response lacks independent thought, insight, and creativity
Spelling and grammar are accurate. Minor and/or few spelling or grammatical errors. Several spelling or grammatical errors.

To submit your response, scroll to the bottom of the screen and click on the “Unit 5 - Discussion Forum” dropbox.

Checking for Learning

Before moving on to the next unit, be sure you are able to:

  • Identify and describe some leadership theories specifically designed to improve the ethical behaviour of leaders and followers.
  • Explain processes leaders can model that promotes an ethical culture.
  • Analyze how organizations and their leaders create an ethical culture that emphasizes the need to learn how to compete in an environment of moral values