The Definition Of Ethics And Ethical Leadership

According to Northhouse (2010), ethics originate from the Greek word ethos which interprets customs, conduct or character. Hence, ethics tend to be apprehensive with the kinds of values and morals that individual or society finds fascinating or appropriate. Furthermore, ethics also tend to be apprehensive with the virtuousness of individuals and their motives (p.378). Similarly, Yukl (2010), states that the definition of ethics includes “values, traits and behaviours” (p.330). Mckerrow also suggested that, ethics emerge from the recognition that fundamental needs are the same for everyone so that what is good and right must also be the same for everyone at all times.

April, Peters, Locke and Mlambo (2010), also describes ethics in terms of

(2005), describes ethical leadership as “the demonstration of normatively appropriate conduct through personal actions and interpersonal relationships, and the promotion of such conduct to followers through two-way communication, reinforcement, and decision-making” (p. 120). Further, they engage in transactional efforts to communicate ethical standards, detect and deter deviant behaviours and make decisions that have important ethical implications. In addition, Trevino, Hartman and Brown (2000) assert that, there are three fundamental pillars which describes ethical leadership. The first one being termed as the personal integrity of the leader, also called as the moral person component of ethical leadership. The second one puts emphasis on the extent of the leader’s ability to cultivate integrity among his or her followers. The third one consists of the quality of the leader-follower relationship, which bridges the moral person and moral manager components and facilitate their effects on followers. Ethical leadership also addresses how leaders use their social power by being both moral individuals and moral managers (De Hoogh and Den Hartog,

291). Additionally, the centre for ethical leadership quoted in Kondlo (2013), refers ethical leadership to “knowing your core values and having the courage to leave them in all parts of your life in the service of the common good” (p.121). Guy (1990), views ethical leadership as a process of inquiry concerning questions of right and wrong as well as a mode of conduct for setting an example to others about the rightness or wrongness of particular actions. Ethical leadership can also refer to a way of thinking which aims for two goals such as clarifying and making explicit the ethical dimension of decisions and formulating and justifying ethical principles (Enderle,