Integrity, Respect for Others, and Ethics – Three Essential Leadership Qualities

Abstract

Ethics, respect for others and integrity (embracing respect for the law), should definitely be pre requisites for leadership. Unfortunately many so called leaders do not understand or practise these values. Some leaders who are held with high regard and esteem at the workplace are prepared to sacrifice a life time's achievement and reputation within seconds. What is even worse, these (appalling) role models comfortably reveal their weaknesses and lack of character publicly. If we cannot trust our leaders to exercise a reasonable degree of integrity – both with respect to observing and practising the law, who can we be responsible to or look up to? There is also the very critical and rather unfortunate issue where the environment encourages or even accepts such low ethical standards. Many leaders with low ethical values are therefore encouraged into believing they can escape certain practices (are beyond the law) – even where their targets are entitled to prevailing jurisdictional rights!!! Some leaders who serve as poor role models for their future generations are frequently associated with the shameful practice of bullying their younger successors. Whilst certain countries appreciate the roles which their future generations will assume in the future and prepare these for the future, other jurisdictions are content to watch selfishly and parasitically exploit their future leaders. In many organisations, workplaces, the input of future leaders (of tomorrow) is unbelievably low that one wonders how these future leaders will be able to assume their future responsibilities competentently and confidently. To educate is of vital importance. To re educate constitutes even a greater task – where certain perceptions are already permanently and firmly embedded in a mode of thinking. Where the development of a nation or organisation depends on the need and ability to change certain perceptions, then such re education becomes vitally important. Through a consideration of issues which include the need to respect the rights of others, the need for leadership qualities such as ethics and integrity, this paper not only presents research which is capable of practical application within organisations, but also reflects evidence and considerations of how the research can benefit ethics within businesses and other organisations. **(Special Paper for the European Business Ethics Network (EBEN) Research Conference at Trinity College Dublin, June 2011)