Virtues-Centered Moral Identity: An Empirical Evaluation of Its Role in Virtuous Leadership

Abstract

Competing perspectives concerning ethical leadership reflect a range of theoretical viewpoints. Some focus on rules, principles, duties, and obligations to act; others highlight the consequences of actions. We build on a model grounded in virtue ethics - in which the role of leader character is underscored, as is self-cultivation of the moral virtues, reflected by the importance one ascribes to moral identity that is virtues centered. Using a sample of 131 leader-follower dyads, followers’ judgements of their leader’s virtuous leadership positively predicted the self-rated virtues-centered moral identity of their leaders, as well as their own (self-rated) virtues-centered moral identity. Leaders’ self-rated virtues-centered moral identity also positively predicted followers’ evaluations of their leaders’ moral behavior, as well as leaders’ self-rated happiness. Finally, followers’ self-rated virtues-centered moral identity linked positively with their moral behavior (leader rated), and to their self-rated happiness.