Ethical Leadership Is Mostly About Leadership Integrity

Question 2: Ethical leadership is mostly about leadership integrity. Discuss. Ethical leadership is defined as “the demonstration of normatively appropriate conduct through personal actions and interpersonal relationships, and the promotion of such conduct to followers through two-way communication, reinforcement and decision-making” (Brown et al 2005). The growing number of unethical behaviours, such as the National Kidney Foundation in Singapore has resulted in putting the role of leadership in shaping ethical conduct in the spotlight, as most employees turn to significant others for ethical guidance (Kohlberg 1986). It is never easy to truly stay ethical due to business requirements and the competitive environment businesses are in. Thus, organizations need ethical leaders to be there, to serve as guidance and instil ethics into the employees. According to Michael and Francis 2007, there are empirical researches that linked aspects of integrity to leadership, such that it is considered a characteristic for good leaders. Also, it was said that integrity is necessary for effective leadership (Morrison 2001). However, ethical leadership may not be mostly about leadership integrity. There may be other factors or traits contributing to ethical leadership that are equally important too.

Hence, this essay will discuss and evaluate if ethical leadership is mostly about leadership integrity

What are Ethical Leadership and Leadership Integrity? Firstly, we have to first understand, the meaning of leadership and ethical. Ethical would be values of honesty, integrity, fairness and responsibility for one’s own actions (Gronner 1996). Whereas, the general meaning of leadership, is the course of action of influencing others in order to attain specific goals (Yukl 2006). Thus, the definition of ethical leadership can also be said as having ethical leaders that are fair and upright decision makers who consider and be bothered about the ethical consequences of their