Ethical Leadership - DR Buabeng

The task
Ethical Leadership
Facilitator : Dr. Thomas Buabeng

Expected outcome
The objective of this module is to equip the participants with the tools
that enable ethical decision-making and behavior under all foreseeable
conditions.
This module provides opportunity for the individual to explore ethical
reasoning and decision-making in real life conditions.
On completion of the module, the participants will have gained the
ability to make ethical choices when faced with ethical dilemmas.
To achieve the above, participants shall be exposed to examples of
leadership in action and be given opportunities to apply the theoretical
aspects of the modules to specific case studies from African countries
and beyond.
Outline
The key topics to be covered in the session are as follows:

Understanding ethical leadership
Importance of ethical leadership
Practicing ethical leadership
Some Definitions
Values - Core beliefs that guide actions.
Morals – Customs, traditions, and beliefs that are reflected in

personal convictions about right and wrong.
Ethics - Standards of conduct. Ethiko (Greek) – habit. Two dimensions

-prudence (right) and virtue (good).
 Ethics are the standards of right and wrong that influence behavior
Right behavior is considered ethical
Wrong behavior is considered unethical
elements of ethical leadership
Ethical leadership involves both acting and leading ethically all the
time.
In the ways they treat people in everyday interaction, in their

attitudes, in the ways they encourage, and in the directions in which
they perform their leadership roles.
Ethical leadership is both visible and invisible.

The visible part is in the way the leader works with and treats
others, in his behavior in public.
The invisible aspects lie in the leader’s character, in his decision-
making process, in his mindset, in the set of values and principles on
which he draws, and in his courage to make ethical decisions.
Ethical Leadership Reputation Matrix
Moral Person
Weak Strong
Strong Hypocritical Leader Ethical Leader

Moral
Leader
Weak Unethical Leader NEUTRAL

CONT.
 To be perceived as an ethical leader, must be a visibly
ethical PERSON and an ethical LEADER with a consistent
message
Being a moral person alone is insufficient

Executives are distant from most employees and,
without “moral management,” bottom line messages
can overwhelm all others.
Being a moral manager is insufficient

Moral leader (proactive words and actions) gain
legitimacy only if employees believe the exec is a
principled, caring person who means what s/he says
(counters cynicism)
Why practice ethical leadership?
As a role model who transfers ethical behavior to the organization
or community.
Leaders are role models – to ensure that your organization or
community and those who work in it behave ethically, the leader
must model ethical behavior.
Ethical leadership builds trust. Leadership –is based on trust.

People will follow an ethical leader because they know they can
trust him to do the right thing as he sees it.
Cont.
Ethical leadership brings credibility, respect and integrity,
both for you and the organization.
Ethical leadership attract collaboration.

Other leaders and organizations will be much more willing
to collaborate with you if they know that you’ll always deal
with them ethically.
Ethical leadership creates a good climate and high

performance within the organization.
If everyone in the organization knows that power will be
fairly shared, that they’ll be dealt with respectfully, and that
the organization as a whole will operate ethically in the
community, they’re likely to feel more secure, and to be
dedicated to the organization.
Cont.
Ethical leadership allows you to occupy the moral high among
competitors
You can look very small in comparison if your ethical standards are
not up to theirs, discrediting your cause and alienating your allies.
Ethical leadership is simply the right way to go.

Everyone has an obligation to themselves, to their organization,
and to society to develop a coherent ethical system that seeks to
make the world a better place. Leaders, have a particular obligation
in this respect.
Ethical leadership affords self-respect.

Because you know that you consistently consider the ethics of your
decisions, actions, and interactions, you can sleep at night and face
yourself in the morning without questioning your own integrity.
Why practice ethical leadership?
affords self-respect
As a role model builds trust
brings credibility,
attract collaboration Increase
respect and integrity
Performance
THE AFRICAN STORY
Application
Nelson
Mandela
SHORT DOCUMENTARY
Practicing ethical leadership – A too box
Ethical leadership requires a clear and coherent ethical
framework on which the leader can draw in making
decisions and taking action.
 sources of ethical framework:
 to some people, ethical standards
arise in opposition to their socialization
 others grow out of cultural or religious
teaching, or out of academic learning.
Your ethical framework should agree with the ethical

framework, vision, and mission of the organization or
initiative.
Cont.
Ethics should be a topic of discussion
Both the ethics of an organization and that everyone in it should
be regularly discussed by all concerned. Everyone’s ethical
assumptions, should be open to questioning, and everyone should
be willing to hear that questioning.
 Ethics should be out in the open - explain your ethical framework

and your ethical decisions, and to stand by them because you have
a responsibility to stand up for what you believe in, not just to talk
about it.
Ethical thought must be connected to action.
Ethical leadership is a shared process.
Everyone in an organization or community should have the
chance to exercise it – and to follow through with exercising it –
when appropriate. 15
some basic do’s and don’t’s
Put the good of the organization and the general good before
your own interests.
Encourage the discussion of ethics in general and of the ethical
choices involved in specific situations/ decisions as part of the
organizational culture.
Institutionalize ways for people to question your authority.
Don’t take yourself too seriously – some sense of humor is
ideal.
Consider the consequences of your decisions on others to
minimize harm.
Treat everyone (organizations) with fairness, honesty, and
respect all the times
 Treat other organizations in the same way you treat other
people – with fairness, honesty, and respect.
16
Cont.
Collaborate with inside and outside the organization.
Communicate
Work to become increasingly culturally and
interpersonally competent.
Take cultural sensitivity and cultural competence
seriously.
Work to be inclusive.
Be serious with your leadership responsibility, and be
accountable for it.
Constantly re-examine your ethics and strive to increase
your competence.
Don’t outstay your usefulness.
17
EXERCISE 1
Identify any ethical (popular) political or corporate leader

in your country and identify five (5) ethical qualities in that
leader.
Each Number Group should identify and discuss five (5)
ethical qualities of these leaders.
Each River Group should identify and discuss five (5)
ethical qualities of these leaders.
Finally, each Animal Group should identify five (5) ethical
leadership qualities (in order of priority) in these leaders
and recommend how one can acquire such qualities.
18

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The task

Facilitator : Dr. Thomas Buabeng

The key topics to be covered in the session are as follows:

Morals – Customs, traditions, and beliefs that are reflected in

Ethics - Standards of conduct. Ethiko (Greek) – habit. Two dimensions

In the ways they treat people in everyday interaction, in their

Ethical leadership is both visible and invisible.

Strong Hypocritical Leader Ethical Leader

Weak Unethical Leader NEUTRAL

Being a moral person alone is insufficient

Being a moral manager is insufficient

Ethical leadership builds trust. Leadership –is based on trust.

Ethical leadership attract collaboration.

Ethical leadership creates a good climate and high

Ethical leadership is simply the right way to go.

Ethical leadership affords self-respect.

Your ethical framework should agree with the ethical

 Ethics should be out in the open - explain your ethical framework

Identify any ethical (popular) political or corporate leader

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