Ethics, the Heart of Leadership

Top academic scholars ponder the question of ethics as it pertains to all aspects of leadership in business, government, and nonprofit organizations. If leaders were defined by their influence on history, Hitler would be on par with Gandhi, Lincoln, and Mother Theresa. Yet most of us believe that our superiors have a responsibility to exercise power with a purpose far greater than any political agenda and a motive more noble than personal gain. This thought-provoking collection of essays explores the ethical challenges that leaders face in their relationships with followers, the choices they make, and the ways in which they influence others. Joanne Ciulla and her contributors examine the traits and characteristics of top-tier leaders. She questions the assumption that moral fortitude is an inherent part of being in charge; analyzes the roles that charisma, morality, and delegation play in the leadership paradigm; and considers whether individuals who want to lead with integrity but are sometimes forced to get their hands dirty for their constituents can be called "moral leaders." Readers will gain an appreciation for how ethics is not an add-on to the practice of leadership but rather an integral part of it—an element that informs the very idea of what it means to lead and to lead well.

The chapters in this book explore the ethical dynamics between leaders and followers in business and in society as a whole. They argue that power and authority in today's world stem not from position or coercion, but from trust, commitment, and values shared with those who are led. The authors raise important questions such as: How do people give and get trust? What moral hazards are inherent in transformational and charismatic leader/follower relationships? What roles do deception and self-deception play in giving and receiving power? The reader will gain a better understanding of the complex moral interaction of leaders and followers and why healthy moral relationships between leaders and followers are central to effective leadership. Practitioners, academics, and students will find this passionate collection invaluable in understanding the exciting and often controversial field of leadership and ethics.