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Research Paper in Ethics: Assessing Critical Elements in Ethical Leadership
Liberty University, School of Business
BMAL770: Ethical Leadership
December 10, 2023
Abstract
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This research paper examines the complex ideas of ethical leadership in light of a Christian
worldview. The objective is to evaluate, characterize, and support the factors that are considered
most important. The paper will explore key components that define and shape ethical leadership,
providing insights for real-world application and promoting a comprehensive knowledge of
leadership in the context of ethics and faith. It is based on strong ethical reasoning and a
Christian worldview.
Keywords: Ethical Leadership, Christian Worldview, Organizations
Assessing Critical Elements in Ethical Leadership
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Forces Influencing and Challenging the Leader
Each ethical leader is influenced by a variety of situations and circumstances that
ultimately impact their interactions with individuals and their organizations. First and foremost,
the personal values and beliefs of an ethical leader have a significant impact on their approach.
These ideas often stem from one's upbringing, cultural background, and life experiences.
Building open, accountable, and transparent organizational cultures that foster team members'
trust and participation is more likely to be the domain of honest, decent, and egalitarian leaders.
However, executives who have a propensity toward self-interest may behave unethically,
damaging their organizations' reputations and preventing them from growing. According to
research by Joplin et al. (2019), moral leaders live moral lives both at work and in their personal
lives. Leaders that uphold ethics inform their staff members about conduct that is unacceptable in
the workplace and hold them responsible for their actions. <
Addressing Ethical Dilemmas<<<<<<<<
An ethical leader ought to take the organizational environment into account, as well as
the difficulties it presents. Strong organizational cultures generate an environment in which
ethical leaders can act morally. For instance, ethical leaders are more likely to feel motivated and
rewarded for their ethical behavior if they have clear ethical norms and regulations, offer
instruction on how to make ethical decisions, and promote ethical behavior. This might inspire
people to carry on with their ethical actions (Johnson, 2022).
Challenges can arise from social norms and opinions that contradict the ethical values of
moral leaders. A leader can, for instance, feel pressured by individuals to use immoral tactics in
order to hold onto power or accomplish particular objectives. The ethical leader in these
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circumstances must be ready to resist pressure to yield and uphold their moral convictions. The
Bible states that "sin condemns any people, but righteousness exalts a nation." (Proverbs 14:34,
2011 NIV). This verse highlights how crucial it is to follow God's commands in order to advance
righteousness and avert catastrophe. It says that instead of caving in to cultural expectations and
conventions, ethical leaders should make an effort to obey God's commands.
Impact of Globalization and Complexity
<<<<<<<<<<<Since actions that are seen as ethically appropriate in one culture may be seen as immoral
in another, a leader needs to be fully aware of the cultural variables at work. According to Zhu et
al. (2019), developing effective cross-cultural leadership in today's globalized world requires a
firm understanding of the ethical leadership behaviors that are similar and distinct across
cultures. An ethical leader can become more adept at interacting and building relationships with
a diverse array of individuals and organizations by acknowledging cultural differences and
advocating for moral values that resonate with a multitude of stakeholder groups.
Competitive circumstances and industry-specific variables also impact how ethical
leaders interact with their organizations and other stakeholders. Leaders in industries with
intense competition may feel more pressure to prioritize short-term gains over long-term
objectives, even at the expense of their moral principles. However, if they can find a middle
ground between these demands and their moral convictions, ethical managers are better equipped
to foster the long-term success of their organizations.
Reasoning and Ethical Foundations Guiding the Leader
Managers that lead ethically provide advice as well as additional benefits that are both
practical and spiritual for their staff. Brown and Trevino (2006), cited by Strydom (2021), states
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that moral people who make moral decisions and care about the well-being of their team
members and society as a whole are also seen as ethical leaders. Strong leader-member exchange
relationships are expected from this leader's actions, and subordinates will feel compelled to
repay the favor by improving their performance at work.
Leaders trying to raise the bar for ethics within their organizations must also navigate the
legal and industrial frameworks and regulations, which have a significant impact on ethical
decision-making. An ethical leader can improve their standing and build more trust within their
organization and industry by adhering to and even surpassing these guidelines. All things
considered, a multitude of complex and varied influences and dimensions come together to shape
an ethical leader. One must recognize and manage these forces and dimensions in order to
interact with their organization and its members in a meaningful and morally sound manner.
Reasoning, Power, and Worldviews as Decision Forces
A leader's decisions are influenced by worldviews, power, reason, and ethics. Leaders are
often faced with moral dilemmas that need them to think through the potential effects of their
decisions on various stakeholders. Their personal ideals and ethical convictions serve as the basis
for these considerations. When choosing a moral course of action, one must take into account all
pertinent aspects and choose the one that most closely corresponds with their moral compass.
Power
<<<<<<<<<<< Power has a significant impact on ethical behavior and choices when it is being used as
control. Communities typically have social organizational structures, whereby certain individuals
or groups ascend to a higher social position and power than others. People therefore regularly
find themselves in circumstances where they have either high or little power (Sekścińska &
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Rudzinska-Wojciechowska, 2021, p. 2). Those in positions of authority want to hang onto their
power, while those without it want to control.
Reasoning
Rationality is a crucial element of leadership decision-making. The methods they use to
weigh options, analyze information, and form opinions have a big impact on how effectively
their choices work out. Leaders that make judgments based on reason, logic, and facts tend to be
well-informed. These kinds of processes for making decisions are more likely to be welcomed
and supported by teams. In human resources, we have to collect data, assess different policies
and procedures, and present this data in an understandable way to the organization's leadership at
all levels. This can be difficult because there are instances when we have to make decisions
where the lines could be more clearly drawn.
Decision-Making
Maslen et al. (2021) show, decisions made about communication might affect
stakeholders' decisions to pay attention or to dismiss it completely. Helping those around you is
the primary objective of ethical considerations. Leaders need to consider the impact of their
decisions on others in their immediate vicinity. The first step in recognizing a moral dilemma is
realizing that it could affect people's wellbeing (Stenmark et al., 2020, p. 10). Ethical leaders are
able to recognize and reject immoral possibilities in order to arrive at the most moral choice
(Johnson, 2022). A leader's awareness, devotion, and expertise are among the factors that shape
their moral judgments. Everything is motivated by doing the right thing, regardless of the
consequences. Everything is motivated by doing the right thing, regardless of the consequences.
Understanding what moral behavior means in diverse contexts is also essential (Johnson, 2022).
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Worldview
A leader's worldview, which encompasses their values, cultural background, and personal
experiences, also influences their decision-making. Leaders may interpret events and data
through the lens of their worldview, leading to varying conclusions and choices. Leaders need to
be aware of the possible prejudices that their worldviews may introduce into their decision-
making. Leaders that foster diversity and inclusivity within their teams and support a variety of
worldviews are better equipped to make deliberate and well-rounded decisions. This tactic
improves the influence of a varied group of followers by fostering a sense of respect and
belonging.
Conflicts, Groups, and Ethical Deviations
When individuals are at differences over something—be it miscommunication,
perception, interest, or attitude—a conflict results. The result of the fight is abuse, violence, and
a loss of tranquility, which incites conflict and disorder among people (Dahrendorf, 2022).
Cultural norms will always influence how people handle disagreement. Understanding how
conflict resolution strategies affect your company's health is necessary for resolving internal
conflicts (Leicht-Deobald et al., 2022). Understanding the context of each issue is essential to
developing a strategy to solve it and get the business closer to its objectives.
Conflict Management
In the workplace, conflict is considered to be expected and an integral part of the culture.
Neglecting it can lead to reduced productivity, mental health issues, and absenteeism. Conflict
may promote innovation and fresh perspectives which promote flexibility and a deeper
comprehension of collaborative relationships, even while it is associated with undesirable
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conduct and results (Merida, 2015). Collaboration among employees fosters the organization's
objective of successfully managing conflict to see an increase in production. This can be
accomplished by providing guidelines for resolving conflicts and encouraging communication
between the parties.
There are several strategies that can be used to improve the workplace culture and handle
internal conflicts. Koukl (2017) states that the primary method for managing conflicts in the
workplace is cooperating, which means that the goal of bringing collaboration into the workplace
is to find a solution that fully meets everyone's problem. Long-term partnerships work well with
this methodology, and the organization appreciates the outcome. The second style, competing, is
defined by the notion that competitors are inconsiderate and put their own interests ahead of
those of others. When a business is competing to attract a new client, this type of communication
is essential.
Unethical Group Behavior
Anything that goes against the rules of society and is perceived unfavorably by the public is seen
as unethical. Behaving unethically at work is seen as a violation of the organization's rules, and
transgressions are always met with consequences. Group unethical practices are carried out by
cooperating with individuals who commit inappropriate acts (Damer, 2012). In a corporation,
unethical group behavior could include violating the business code of conduct or disobeying
policies by participating in unlawful action. This diminishes credibility and leads to low output,
which diminishes profitability.
Modeling Ethical Group Behavior
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Modeling ethical group behavior provides guidelines for individual behavior on issues of
accountability, integrity, honesty, and open communication inside the company. A well-managed
workplace provides norms and codes that ensure proper behavior at all organizational levels
(Johnson, 2022). To encourage moral behavior among employees and advance equality inside
the organization, they need a fair distribution of resources. A transparent, well-structured model
facilitates open communication by helping to identify weak points and improve them in order to
increase employee involvement.
Ethical Perspectives and Group Dynamics
An ethical point of view promotes improved conflict resolution in the workplace by
providing individuals the authority to make decisions for a variety of scenarios. People always
behave morally and in line with their moral values. To create a successful conflict management
plan, there are morally sound ways to evaluate flexible and open conflict-handling theories. The
self-interest perspective, which directs behaviors toward the benefit of others, is clarified by the
ethical egoism technique (Damer, 2012). The person behaves in a way that minimizes the
possibility of conflict inside the organization and has no detrimental effects on other people.
Christian Leadership and Followership in Ethical Organizational Culture
Leadership is the key to any organization's ability to conduct itself ethically. They carry
an important share of the accountability for establishing goals and principles, creating structures,
and developing ethical surroundings (Johnson, 2022). An ethical organization cannot exist
without its ethical followers. Following an organization's leaders' lead while choosing on its
ethical direction doesn't relieve followers of their ethical duties (Johnson, 2022).
Ethical Christian Leaders
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As leaders, ethical leaders must deal with a variety of issues, including privilege, power,
accountability, information management, loyalty, and consistency. The impact a leader has on
their followers is referred to as the challenge of power. Certain leaders have a tendency to abuse
their influence by being overconfident (Johnson, 2022). A Christian leader must be mindful of
their responsibilities and only utilize their influence in the most morally responsible ways
possible for the organization's benefit. Similar in nature, the difficulty of privilege relates to a
social class or group of friends. These people who are "privileged" shouldn't misuse their
position. What is meant by the "challenge of responsibility" is a leader's accountability to their
followers. While Christian leaders have a need to provide a safe and ethical workplace for their
followers, they also have an obligation to hold their followers accountable for their own
behavior.
Ethical Christian Followers
Followers have their own set of difficulties, such as duty, obedience, negativity,
disagreement, and negativity, in addition to their obligations to their organization and leader. The
sense of duty that followers have to their leader is part of the obligation challenge. Because of
this, a leader may try to utilize their followers, so followers must be careful to uphold their
ethical values. Similar obstacles to obedience exist, but they are mostly focused on their need to
obey their leader's commands. If an order is unethical, followers need to be ready to go against it
and accept the consequences (Johnson, 2022).
Nationalism and Globalization in Ethical Leadership
Nationalism
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Ethical choices made by nationalists are influenced by ethical behavior because it
motivates us to uphold moral principles and support the growth of the economies of our own
countries. Because nationalism connects us to them on a broader scale, it inspires a sense of
belonging in us that motivates us to support others, even if they are total strangers to us (Nelson
et al., 2020). Global citizenship ethics have the potential to be advantageous in education
because they offer students the tools, they need to solve global issues and develop moral
principles like empathy, respect, and teamwork, among others, that will enable them to create
global ethical societies. Berk (2022) states that nationalism and patriotism have distinct meaning
when referring to one other. Nationalism can also be defined as a supporter of national interests
and loyalty to one's own country, according to Eger and Hjerm (2022).
Ethical Diversity
Johnson (2022) describes how ethical priorities are shaped by various cultural value
orientations and emphasizes the need for ethical leaders to learn about ethnic and multinational
differences in order to advance the development of common ground for relationships. Chan and
Anathram (2019) state that the deep-seated, intrinsic, fundamental convictions that guide the
actions of an individual are known as ethical virtues. The establishment of an ethical culture,
fostering more cooperation, and happiness as well as other long-term benefits. By consistently
modeling ethical behavior, Christian leaders set a standard for others to follow. Their actions
speak louder than words and serve as a guide for ethical decision-making.<
Global Citizenship
Ethical choices made by nationalists are influenced by ethical behavior because it
motivates us to uphold moral principles and support the growth of the economies of our own
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countries. Because nationalism connects us to them on a broader scale, it inspires a sense of
belonging in us that motivates us to support others, even if they are total strangers to us (Nelson
et al., 2020). Global citizenship ethics have the potential to be advantageous in education
because they offer students the tools, they need to solve global issues and develop moral
principles like empathy, respect, and teamwork, among others, that will enable them to create
global ethical societies.
Relationship with Other Leadership Theories
Ethical leadership is interconnected with other popular leadership theories. For example,
transformational leadership emphasizes inspiration and motivation, while servant leadership
focuses on serving others. Ethical leadership often incorporates elements of these theories,
emphasizing the moral dimension of leadership.
Transformational Leadership
Leaders that embody transformational qualities inspire and encourage their people to
surpass their own expectations and attain remarkable performance. They frequently possess
charisma, offer an inspiring vision, and encourage an innovative and creative culture. According
to this belief, a leader can inspire followers to reach new heights of dedication and performance.
Unlike other leadership philosophies, transformational leadership enables a leader to build a
relationship with their team members that boosts morale and productivity (Northouse, 2022, p.
186).
King Josiah,<was described as a magnificent monarch in the Merida readings who showed
humility and submitted to God's plan. Through King Josiah's reign, transformational leaders
demonstrated how to motivate their followers to strive toward the achievement of a common
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objective. King Josiah endeavored to oversee Israel's reconstruction during his reign in order to
bring back virtuous worship to the country of Judah. In order to be able to lead people around
him, King Josiah had to change them.
Servant Leadership
The development and well-being of their followers come first for servant leaders. Servant leaders
prioritize meeting the needs of others over their own goals and objectives. They are devoted to
helping their followers grow both personally and professionally, and they are kind and
encouraging. A servant leader will make use of their knowledge and impart it to staff members
so they may retain, make use of, and apply the knowledge for success. Understanding that every
person learns differently and that they must adjust in order to effectively lead others is a
prerequisite for servant leadership.
Servant leaders provide their employees with the assistance they need and the time they
need to absorb the information. Servant leaders understand that people are fallible beings with a
variety of skills and capacities. Positive correlations between servant leadership and
understanding level were discovered by Song et al. (2022). Employees can understand and utilize
information when they are given the right guidance on how to retain it. According to Song et al.
(2022), proactive staff members profited more from servant leadership since they were more
likely to use strategies to help them recall and understand the information.
Conclusion
Effective leaders navigate a complex landscape by drawing on ethical principles, addressing
cultural and global challenges, and actively promoting a positive ethical culture within their
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organizations. A holistic approach that considers internal and external forces helps leaders make
ethical decisions that contribute to both individual and organizational success.
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