Ethics in Leadership
Student 2025
1.3Discussion-CharacterandCompetence.docxBackground Information
Do most people intend to make unethical choices? Incrementalism explains how people with apparently good character eventually engage in unethical actions.
Incrementalism
Watch on YouTube Incrementalism/ Concepts Unwrapped
Clark (2016) proposed that leadership starts from the inside (sound familiar?) with one’s character. Then, comes a leader’s competence. According to Clark, character has four cornerstones: integrity, humility, accountability, and courage. Competence also has four cornerstones: learning, change, judgment, and vision.
Covey (2006) noted leaders who display good character and competence can build an environment of trust. He stated, “Trust is a function of two things: character and competence. Character includes your integrity, your motive, your intent with people. Competence includes your capabilities, your skills, your results, your track record. And both are vital” p. 30).
While developing and maintaining these cornerstones and trust has challenges, Clark (2016) concluded, “At times you will stumble in your pursuit, and your weaknesses will be exposed. But if you are determined, you will accelerate your progress. You will lead with the intent to contribute rather than consume, bless rather than impress. You will literally change people’s lives and leave a legacy that lingers far into the future” (p. x).
4. Read the Henriks et al. article(new tab) . Focus your reading on the following sections. Look for key ideas about virtuous leaders, character, and how these things affect organizational members and organizational performance.
a. Introduction, pp. 952-953
b. Theoretical framework and hypotheses, pp. 953-957
c. Discussion, pp. 964-965
d. Practical implications, p. 966
5. Write an initial response (300-400 words) to the following prompt(s) or question(s):
a. Select one of Clark’s cornerstones, define it, and discuss how it might relate to the development of trust between leaders and followers or within organizations (and, by extension contribute to an ethical environment).
b. To aid the class in covering as much as material as possible, select different cornerstones than other classmates. Once all the cornerstones have been selected by a classmate, then some of the cornerstones could be repeated by later-posting students – but everyone’s posting should be original.
Background Information
Do most people intend to make unethical choices?
Incrementalism
explai
ns how people with apparently good character eventually
engage in unethical actions.
Incrementalism
Wat
ch on YouTube Incrementalism/ Concepts
Unwrapped
Clark (2016) proposed that leadership starts from the inside
(sound familiar?) with one’s character. Then, comes a leader’s
competence. According to Clark,
character has four cornerstones:
integrity, humility, accountability, and courage. Competence also
has four cornerstones: learning, change, judgment, and vision.
Covey (2006) noted leaders who display good character and
competence can build an environment of trust. He stated, “Trust is
a function of two things: character and competence. Character
includes your integrity, your motive, your intent with people.
Compet
ence includes your capabilities, your skills, your results,
your track record. And both are vital” p. 30).
While developing and maintaining these cornerstones and trust has
challenges, Clark (2016) concluded, “At times you will stumble in
your pursuit, and
your weaknesses will be exposed. But if you are
determined, you will accelerate your progress. You will lead with
the intent to contribute rather than consume, bless rather than
impress. You will literally change people’s lives and leave a legacy
that lin
gers far into the future” (p. x).
4.
Read the
Henriks et al. article
(new tab)
. Focus your reading
on the following sections. Look for key ideas about virtuous
leaders, character, and how these things affect
organizational members and organizational performance.
a.
Introduction, pp. 952
-
953
b.
Theoretical framework and hypotheses, pp. 953
-
957
c.
Discussion, pp.
964
-
965
d.
Practical implications, p. 966
5.
Write an
initial response
(300
-
400 words) to the following
prompt(s) or question(s):
Background Information
Do most people intend to make unethical choices? Incrementalism
explains how people with apparently good character eventually
engage in unethical actions.
Incrementalism
Watch on YouTube Incrementalism/ Concepts
Unwrapped
Clark (2016) proposed that leadership starts from the inside
(sound familiar?) with one’s character. Then, comes a leader’s
competence. According to Clark, character has four cornerstones:
integrity, humility, accountability, and courage. Competence also
has four cornerstones: learning, change, judgment, and vision.
Covey (2006) noted leaders who display good character and
competence can build an environment of trust. He stated, “Trust is
a function of two things: character and competence. Character
includes your integrity, your motive, your intent with people.
Competence includes your capabilities, your skills, your results,
your track record. And both are vital” p. 30).
While developing and maintaining these cornerstones and trust has
challenges, Clark (2016) concluded, “At times you will stumble in
your pursuit, and your weaknesses will be exposed. But if you are
determined, you will accelerate your progress. You will lead with
the intent to contribute rather than consume, bless rather than
impress. You will literally change people’s lives and leave a legacy
that lingers far into the future” (p. x).
4. Read the Henriks et al. article(new tab). Focus your reading
on the following sections. Look for key ideas about virtuous
leaders, character, and how these things affect
organizational members and organizational performance.
a. Introduction, pp. 952-953
b. Theoretical framework and hypotheses, pp. 953-957
c. Discussion, pp. 964-965
d. Practical implications, p. 966
5. Write an initial response (300-400 words) to the following
prompt(s) or question(s):
