The Golden Rule and the global agenda

Abstract

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to consider the skills and capabilities required for global leadership, present a model of benevolent leadership and describe its deployment as the basis for leadership development courses. Design/methodology/approach – It explains how the UN Principles for Responsible Management Education provided the basis for a leadership development course entitled “Benevolent leadership and the global agenda”. It also discusses the methods used to increase ethical and social awareness and the demands that such a course makes of participants and the host institution. Findings – There is a crisis of confidence in business leadership. Ethical scandals, corruption and organizational mistreatment have been widely reported. Financial problems have produced a worldwide economic recession and corporate lay-offs. The issues facing contemporary organizational leaders are complex – and in a globally connected economy, there are few simple solutions. Today’s leaders have to deal with growing demands for greater corporate social responsibility, rather than focusing exclusively on shareholder returns. So they need skills that go beyond analytical problem-solving, raising questions about how well management education prepares future business leaders for the ethical and social challenges that await them. Practical implications – It lists the variety of organizations where students undertook projects in countries around the world, noting the extent to which they were able to accomplish lasting change for the common good. Social implications – It gives examples showing how course participants developed their awareness of ethics, sustainability and global social responsibility. Original/value – It provides a template for socially responsible management education that can be used as a basis for developing a wide range of leadership skills, helping to equip future business leaders for the complexities of global management.