ETHICS: THE HEART OF LEADERSHIP

NC Community College Leadership Program

February 21, 2014Dr. Bob Shackleford

KEY TRAITS IN LEADERSHIP

Vision Knowledge

Courage Energy

Charisma Resilience Focus Integrity

THE INDISPENSIBLE TRAIT

A “good” leader can be effective with any combination of these traits.

However, there is one trait without which all the others cannot make you a “great” leader…

INTEGRITY

LEADERSHIP: MYTH

In most situations in life and work, there is right and wrong, good and bad…it’s mostly black and white.

The job of ethical leadership is to simply choose what is right and good, and avoid what is wrong and bad.

LEADERSHIP: REALITY

Most of what you will deal with as a leader will be some shade of gray.

You will often have to choose between good and better, or between bad and worse.

LEADERSHIP: REALITY

You may have to decide whether to do the least desirable thing to obtain the best outcome, or to do the most desirable thing, knowing that it will result in the worst outcome.

It will rarely be black and white!

THE LEADERSHIP CHALLENGE

Set the ethical tone for the institution. Everything else flows from that.

By maintaining a steady course in the midst of moral dilemmas, you can determine the direction the organization goes.

But if you “preach” ethics and then slip, they will eat you alive!

THE STORMY SEA OF LEADERSHIP

In the maze of moral dilemmas, only those with a strong moral base and ethical compass will survive.

The others may fly high for a season but will eventually crash and burn.

Although they have leadership potential and ability, they do not have the moral fiber to survive the scrutiny of leadership.

IF WE HAVE INTEGRITY…

We are dependable, trustworthy, honest.

We say what we mean and mean what we say.

Without pretense, we are what and who we appear to be.

We are the same person wherever we are, whoever we are with.

IF WE HAVE INTEGRITY…

Our behavior is consistent with what we believe and we practice what we preach.

We do what is right, even when it is not convenient, when it is the most difficult decision to make, and when it does not serve our own interests very well.

OUR STATE MOTTO In 1893, North Carolina was one of very few states – and the last of the original thirteen – without a motto.

The motto adopted: “Esse Quam Videri” – To be rather than to seem to be.

In a word: INTEGRITY

CHALLENGES TO ETHICAL DECISION-

MAKING1. GROUP THINK: Space shuttle “Challenger” (1986)

2. MORAL RELATIVISM: “Absolutism” vs. “Relativism”

3. INSTITUTIONAL CULTURE: NSA

4. TRUTH vs LOYALTY: NJ Bridge-Gate

CHALLENGES TO ETHICAL DECISION-

MAKING5. INDIVIDUAL vs COMMUNITY: McDowell Road ramp

6. MEANS vs ENDS: Hiring procedure

7. JUSTICE vs MERCY: The under-performing housekeeper

PRINCIPLES FOR ETHICAL DECISION-

MAKING Identify the problem and why it is an ethical issue.

Identify the people who could be affected by the decision.

Define possible courses of action.

Determine the consequences of each course of action.

PRINCIPLES FOR ETHICAL DECISION-

MAKING Identify the ethical principles and values that are issues in each option.

The Newspaper Test: If I knew this issue would make the front page of the local newspaper, what decision would I make?

Choose your course of action. Implement it with confidence.

SAMPLE DILEMMAS

Single mother job interview Sophie’s Choice Marcus Smart (Texas Tech) Welfare System

INTEGRITY MOTTO I am only one, but I am one;I cannot do everything, but I can do something.

And what I can do and should do,

By the grace of God, I will do.