Introduction
Leadership has changed to a great extent owing to variety of styles that evolved over time and there is no doubt they will change more dramatically in the years ahead. To cope with the changing dynamics in leadership, there is need to display high level of commitment to excellence in terms of competence and ethical orientation to remain successful and professionalism to get things well done. Over time it has been discovered that an effective ethics and compliance programme helps build a culture of integrity in which everyone ‘walks the talk’. That is the goal of this training.
Training Objectives
i. To teach some skills and techniques to help you succeed as leaders.
ii. To teach you leadership roles.
iii. To highlight challenges as it relates to leadership.
iv. To teach problem solving skills that can implement fast and effective solutions.
Definitions
Leadership is a process of directing and influencing another individual or group of individuals to accomplish a goal. It is the ability of inspiring, guiding and directing people so that they fervently desire to do what the leader wishes. Leadership is the art of getting things done through people. Therefore leadership involves the leader, the follower and the vision.
Ethics is a system of moral principles that govern a person’s behaviour, shapes their personality and tells them what choice to make.
Ethical Leadership is defined as leadership that is directed by respect for ethical beliefs and values and for the rights and dignity of others.
Importance of Ethics in Leadership
Ethics help you navigate the grey areas between what is absolute right and morally wrong and provide the structure which helps decision making that a person can be proud of. The purpose of ethics is to define acceptable human behaviours, through knowing the types of actions, its consequence(s), the limits and their
acceptability.
One of the most important traits seen in an ethical leader is the respect that is given to followers while considering opposing viewpoints. Without ethics, society would be reduced to the type of animal behaviour that is seen in nature nowadays.
10 Ethical Leadership Characteristics
- Justice - no reason to fear biased treatment.
- Respect - listening to and valuing their contributions.
- Honesty - convey facts transparently; followers trust honest leaders.
- Humane - place importance on kindness and acts in manners beneficial to the team.
- Team Building - fosters team spirit and achieve goals that benefit the group.
- Value driven decision-making - ensures decisions support overall group values.
- Encourages Initiative - give reward followers coming up with innovative ideas.
- Leadership by Example - talk the talk and this type of leader walks the walk.
- Values awareness - regularly communicating and values to ensure understanding across board.
- Intolerance of ethical violations - expects that right things be done at all times.
Importance of Ethics to Society
• The basic beliefs and standards that make everything run smoothly without flaws.
• The guide for a society before laws evolve and are enforced.
• Communicate standards by which students can align with the mission of the College.
• Help maintain a safe and healthy living and learning environment.
• Impose appropriate sanctions on behaviour that is not consistent with the College Code of Conduct.
• Shape the individual’s behaviour within a society
• Grant the members some expectation of consistency and predictability in behaviour and action.
• Guide choice decisions
• Support law abiding citizens who refrain from breaking laws.
• Prevent people from using law to harm others or use to their advantage.
• Allow equality and inclusiveness; welcoming everyone into mainstream society.
• Counter the incentive for corruption at all levels.
• Respect for every person is upheld and sustained because it is opposed to violence of any sort.
Benefits of Ethics
a. Provide a framework of ethics fundamental to our lives on a daily basis.
b. Help us make decisions that prevent unjust outcomes.
c. Guide us to make the world a better place through the choices we make.
d. Increase the overall morale and enhances the performance of any society.
e. Provide moral compass during tough times.
Are Leaders born or is Leadership skill acquired?
A great number of people believe it can be learned while others are of the opinion that following a set of rules would make a good leader. It is true that some people are born with greater natural abilities than others. The ability to lead is really a collection of skills which can be learned and improved upon but that process does not happen overnight. One of the distinguishing features between a leader and a follower is the capacity to develop and improve skills.
Common Leadership Styles
a. Autocracy - has significant control over followers, rarely shares power or considers suggestions.
b. Democracy - often asks for input from team members before making a final decision.
c. Laissez-faire leadership - is characterised by a hands-off approach of allowing others to go on with tasks as they deem it fit. ( literarily means let them do in French)
d. Transformational leadership - inspires others by creating an environment of intellectual stimulation.