Why is Leadership related to ethics? Firstly, because it is about role modelling “good” behaviours and character. Secondly, because leading others — in roles of institutional power — must answer the question of what a “good social order” is… How it should be configured; what the rules are and why; how individuals are co-responsible for the whole…
On that premise, it is highly surprising that most of our leadership development programmes, transformation projects, HR strategies, business goals do not seem to imply even a basic understanding of moral philosophy. Ethics per se is NOT just about more democracy, more diversity, more psychological safety, more meditation programmes, more empowerment, more opinions or authenticity — it is about asking the simple question: “what is good”. And it requires “grown-up” reasoning (i.e., practical wisdom), not simply a cost-benefit analysis. Here is a clue: whenever you are thinking business case, you are NOT reasoning sufficiently.
Hence, leadership cannot be just about more action, better execution, high performance, agility, sustainability, profitability, satisfaction surveys, sales numbers, stakeholder capitalism etc etc etc. All those buzzwords distract from the more fundamental need to augment our capacity for moral reasoning — there simply are no simple answers that we can just bolt on to a fundamentally utilitarian — and therefore instrumental — business paradigm. We need to go back to basics. Even if it hurts.
Leading in the 21st century implies facing up to the acknowledgement that, sadly, the enlightenment project — in terms of providing emancipation of mankind based on a purely “rational” reason for the good life — has failed. Neither are the theories coherent, nor are the conclusions compelling. Living is more than pleasure, status, money, utility, profit. And anyone who wants to be a leader must understand the basics of ethical frameworks, and how they are enacted in day-to-day relationships. And they must be willing and able to stand up for what is good, even if that is costly.
This just isn’t about coaching skills, leadership styles, townhall sessions, active listening and any of the other many “methods” that are continuously touted as solutions and best practices — and not even about what “people want”. It is about bringing to life human potential and common good. True leadership is a serious, a noble, an important task. We need to stop turning deep and important questions into shallow consulting tools or superficial sentimentalism. Otherwise, unsurprisingly, nothing will change…
PS: Let me be straight here: If you do not recognise the core ethical theories behind the quadrants in the 2-by-2, and if you are a leader, it is about time to go back to study. Sorry, but there are no easy fixes and just being in a leadership role does not qualify anyone for leading others.
#leadership #leadershipdevelopment #transformation #wef #grli #purpose #hr #hrm #goodorganisations #strategy #wisdom
From: “Sunday Morning Thoughts on LinkedIn” — I will report some of the interesting LinkedIn dialogues here, paraphrased and applying the Chatham House Rule — trying to protect some of the sentiments, thoughts, and above all our stimulating discussions from oblivion ;-)
