Friday, July 6, 2012

Business Leaders- Practitioner Article: Executive Ethics


In the article “Impact of Ethical Leadership on Employee Job Performance” , Shukurat Moronke Bello discusses how the ethics of corporate leadership affects the performance of the corporation’s employees.  The article begins by giving examples of how unethical executives have cost their respective corporations millions of dollars due to legal issues. The article moves on to define “The Concept of Ethical Leadership.” Here the author explains how people become leaders, the difference between transformational and transactional leadership,  and  how the ethics of the corporate leaders have a trickle-down effect.

In the next section of the article, the author discusses “Characteristics of an Ethical Leader.” Characteristics like authenticity, integrity, focus, and consideration of others are used as examples of what an ethical leader should possess. The main topic of this section seems to be that ethical leaders should have the best interest of the company and its employees in mind when making important decisions.

How employee’s job performance is affected by ethical leadership is the next topic in the article. Here the author explains how executive leaders need to lead by example. By conducting themselves in an ethical manner, executives show their employees what is to be expected of them. The executive’s ethical actions will not only be beneficial to the company but it will trickle-down to the lower levels and promote ethical actions by the employees.  The author uses “Trust” and “Employee Commitment” as examples of how the examples laid forth by ethical leaders can affect the employee.

The final topic of this article discusses how ethical leaders can be developed within an organization. The author explains how this is an on-going process. The need for ethical training of leadership at any level is discussed. The point is made that ethical leadership is not limited to leadership at the top of corporations.

I think that the most important topic presented is how the ethical actions of executives can influence employees. I believe that most of the inappropriate actions and decisions of employees are directly influenced by what they have seen their superiors do or not do. I think that it is the responsibility of executive leaders to put forth an ethical example for employees to fallow.

Work Cited:

Bello, Shukurat Moronke. "Impact Of Ethical Leadership On Employee Job Performance." International Journal Of Business & Social Science 3.11 (2012): 228-236. Business Source Complete. Web. 6 July 2012.

3 comments:

  1. I completely agree with the concept of good ethics trickling down from ethical leaders, as I have seen this on both ends of the spectrum.

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  2. It is so true that ethics trickles down. For many of us who hold jobs when we see our bosses follow their own words it inspires us to follow as well. Executives today do not seem to understand the influence they hold with their employees.

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  3. I strongly agree with you, leaders should be an example to the employees and there decisions should be in the best interest of the company and to the employees. It’s unfortunate that not all leaders see it this way and only seek for their interest. Training should be a yearly requirement for leaders.

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