Positive Leadership Behavior

Morality

Morality can be defined as a system of beliefs and behavior based upon perceptions about what is right or wrong (Philosophy, n.d.). This belief system may be unique to a person or society. However, multiple influences help shape morality perceptions. For example:

Family and parent(s): Your parents and family were given their standards by their parents and other family members.

Educational institutions: Your school has standards established by educational policies.

Religious organizations: Religious organizations follow standards from holy texts, like the Bible and the Qur'an, or from denominational organizations.

The community: The community uses standards set by its members and the laws of the city.

Associations and organizations: Associations and organizations use standards determined by their members and by the bylaws created by the organization or association.

Your parent(s), extended family members, church, and community have taught you morality in a certain way. However, dominant influences in business are the laws agreed upon and enacted by city, county, state, and federal government, as well as the culture of the industry in which the business operates. It is important to note that there are often wide variations in what is considered moral business behavior throughout the world.

This is the main reason why it is important for employees to understand their own personal ethics and the ethics of the business community in which they operate. The two need to coincide with one another to ensure that personnel do the right thing in any situation.

Although there is always a possibility of bad decisions being made in any situation, employees who are familiar with codes of conduct set by organizations, governmental agencies, and associations can reduce the incidence of unethical decisions.

Reference:

Philosophy. (n.d.). Morality. Retrieved from http://www.allaboutphilosophy.org/morality.htm

Anthropologists have found people share the same principles all over the world, which is also confirmed in an analysis of the world's major religions.

The following seem to be universal principles. 

Integrity: Integrity means, fundamentally, to be honest or true to high standards. It differs from credibility in having a moral element but, similar to creditability, is demonstrated by a person’s behaving in accordance with the intention to speak truthfully.

Responsibility: Responsibility refers to being accountable for a specific behavior or state of affairs. 

Compassion: Compassion is the ability to empathize with other people and to sense their feelings. 

Forgiveness: Forgiveness is the ability to extend compassion and understanding to another person who has wronged you or others.

Your Personal Beliefs

Your moral compass consists of many beliefs. Beliefs are transient because they are your ideas about the world, yourself, and others, based on whatever information, whether true or not, is available. As you acquire new information, you are likely to alter your beliefs.

However, the number of erroneous beliefs you hold might be astounding. Depending on how you perceive and interpret the world, and the effort you make to verify your beliefs, the extent of the inaccuracy of your beliefs will vary widely over the course of your life. For example, you can probably think of some things you used to hold as true that you no longer believe.

Regardless of their accuracy, beliefs influence your values and vice versa. If you believe success is measured in the dollars earned, you will undoubtedly value wealth and choose a career with the probability of a high salary.

The key elements of your moral compass—principles, values, and beliefs—influence the goals you set for yourself, and drive your behavior. When your moral compass and behavior reflects the universal principles, your leadership strategy is likely ethical.

Whenever you find your behavior at odds with your values and the universal principles, you are likely to experience a gap between what you know inwardly to be right and what you actually do. Pay attention to your feelings in this situation, and allow your moral compass to guide you toward the appropriate behavior. You will be able to close the gap between what you know to be right and your outward behavior. You will then reflect the universal principles and act ethically.

The concept of the moral compass is an important one as it is our moral compass that guides us in decisions involving what is right and what is wrong.  Our compass is made up of our principles, beliefs, and values.  Take a look at this supplemental piece that will help you explore these concepts.  

Ethical Criteria

Leaders often face ethical dilemmas in their tasks because of the use of power to make decisions and accomplish organizational outcomes. The use of power and decision making typically impacts other individuals and creates the possibility of outcomes negatively affecting others. Velasquez, Moberg, and Cavanagh (1983) created a framework for integrating ethics into decision making. The authors suggest that leader behavior needs to satisfy certain criteria to be deemed ethical.

Utilitarian Outcomes: Decision or action results in the greatest amount of good for the greatest number of people both inside and outside the organization.

Individual Rights: Decision or action respects basic human rights including free consent, free speech, freedom of conscience, privacy, and due process.

Distributive Justice: Decision or action treats people equitably or fairly rather than arbitrarily.

Although many decisions can adequately satisfy all three criteria, some decisions might satisfy one or two of the criteria but not the others. Velasquez et al. (1983) suggests that behaviors may still be considered ethical if it passes a fourth criterion:

Overwhelming factors: Decision or action is based on overwhelming factors of the scenario as might be necessary if there are conflicts between the other three criteria or the leader is unable to apply the other three criteria.

The principles, values, and beliefs that one holds pertaining to utilitarian outcomes, individual rights, distributive justice, and overwhelming factors are a part of one’s moral compass.

Reference:

Velasquez, M., Moberg, D. J., & Cavanagh, G. F. (1983). Organizational statesmanship and dirty politics: Ethical guidelines for the organizational politician. Organizational Dynamics, 12(2), 65–79.

Did you know the average person has four different ethical systems in which they live?  Did you also know that virtues are not the same as ethics and morals?  Read more to gain a better understanding of your own ethical systems and just how virtues fit in the picture.