Chapter 2

Leadership Traits and Leadership Traits and EthicsEthics

Lussier, R. and Achau, C. (2007): Effective Leadership, 3rd Edition, South-Western, Cangage Learning

Summary of Lecture # 3

• Personality traits.

• Big Five personality dimensions.

• Universality traits of effective leaders.

• Trait of dominance.

• Achievement Motivation Theory and Leader

Motive Profile.

• Theory X, Theory Y

Lussier, R. and Achau, C. (2007): Effective Leadership, 3rd Edition, South-Western, Cangage Learning

Learning Outcomes

• Pygmalion Effect

• Developing Positive Attitude

• What is ethic

• Ethical Leadership

• Stakeholder theory of Ethic

Lussier, R. and Achau, C. (2007): Effective Leadership, 3rd Edition, South-Western, Cangage Learning

Pygmalion Effect

“Leaders’ attitudes towards followers, expectations of followers, and treatment of

employees explain and predict followers behavior and performance”

Lussier, R. and Achau, C. (2007): Effective Leadership, 3rd Edition, South-Western, Cangage Learning

Yes You Can

Lussier, R. and Achau, C. (2007): Effective Leadership, 3rd Edition, South-Western, Cangage Learning

“If you think you can,you can,

if you think you can’t,you can’t.”

Develop a Positive Self Concept

• Push out pessimism• Cultivate optimism• Stop complaining• Avoid negative people• Set and achieve goals• Focus on objectives/goals• Focus on success

– Do not dwell on failure

Lussier, R. and Achau, C. (2007): Effective Leadership, 3rd Edition, South-Western, Cangage Learning

Develop a Positive Self Concept

• Accept compliments• Don’t belittle your accomplishments• Don’t compare yourself to others• Focus on being the best you can be• Think for yourself (develop your own way)• Be a positive role model• Help others

Lussier, R. and Achau, C. (2007): Effective Leadership, 3rd Edition, South-Western, Cangage Learning

Leadership Styles Based on Attitudes

Theory Y AttitudesTheory Y Attitudes Theory X AttitudesTheory X Attitudes

PositivePositive

Self-Self-ConceptConcept

•Gives and accepts positive feedback

•Expects others to succeed

•Lets others do the job their way

•Bossy •Pushy

•Impatient •Critical

•Autocratic

NegativeNegative

Self-Self-ConceptConcept

•Afraid to make decisions

•Unassertive

•Self-blaming when things go wrong

•Pessimistic

•Promotes hopelessness

Source: Lussier, R. and Achau, C. (2007): Effective Leadership, 3rd Edition, South-Western, Cangage Learning

What are ethics

• Ethics are the standards of right and wrong that influence behavior

–There are moral absolutes–Business ethics are always suspected–People set the ethical standards, not organizations–Integrity is essential in leadership

Lussier, R. and Achau, C. (2007): Effective Leadership, 3rd Edition, South-Western, Cangage Learning

Ethics and Integrity

•Integrity is an important leadership trait•Ethics and trust are part of integrity•Must start within the organization•Ethics related to need and traits•Unethical behavior more likely

–Emotionally unstable–External locus of control

Lussier, R. and Achau, C. (2007): Effective Leadership, 3rd Edition, South-Western, Cangage Learning

Moral Development and Ethics

•Understanding right from wrong•Three levels of Moral Development

–Preconventional: Based on self-interests–Conventional: Based on expectations of others–Postconventional: Based on moral principles regardless of leader or group ethics

Lussier, R. and Achau, C. (2007): Effective Leadership, 3rd Edition, South-Western, Cangage Learning

The Situation and Ethics

• People are more likely to act unethically

– In highly competitive situations– Unsupervised situations– In desperation or dying need

Lussier, R. and Achau, C. (2007): Effective Leadership, 3rd Edition, South-Western, Cangage Learning

Justifications for Unethical Behavior

• Moral justification: – In terms of a higher purpose

• Displacement of responsibility: – Blaming your behavior on others

• Diffusion of responsibility: – A group is responsible, no one person

Lussier, R. and Achau, C. (2007): Effective Leadership, 3rd Edition, South-Western, Cangage Learning

Justifications for Unethical Behavior

• Advantageous comparison: – Others are worse

• Disregarding or distorting consequences: – Minimizing the harm caused

• Attribution of blame:– Caused by someone else’s behavior

• Euphemistic labeling– Covering it with cosmetic words

Lussier, R. and Achau, C. (2007): Effective Leadership, 3rd Edition, South-Western, Cangage Learning

Golden Rule

“Do unto others as you want them to do unto you.

“Don’t do anything to other people that you would not want them to do to

you.”

Look What religion Says:Life hereafter

Lussier, R. and Achau, C. (2007): Effective Leadership, 3rd Edition, South-Western, Cangage Learning

Four-Way Test of Ethical Behavior

• Is it true?

• If it fair?

• Will it build good will?

• Will it benefit all concerned?

Lussier, R. and Achau, C. (2007): Effective Leadership, 3rd Edition, South-Western, Cangage Learning

Stakeholder Approach

“Am I proud and satisfied to tell the relevant stakeholders regarding my decision actions?”

Creates a win-win situation for relevant parties

affected by the decision.

Lussier, R. and Achau, C. (2007): Effective Leadership, 3rd Edition, South-Western, Cangage Learning

End Note

Why?

Very few people see themselves as

unethical!

Lussier, R. and Achau, C. (2007): Effective Leadership, 3rd Edition, South-Western, Cangage Learning

Discussion Question

Question 1: Which personal traits are moreQuestion 1: Which personal traits are moreclosely related to ethical and unethicalclosely related to ethical and unethicalbehavior?behavior?

Question 2: Do people change their level ofQuestion 2: Do people change their level ofmoral development based on the situation? moral development based on the situation?

Question 3: Why do people justify theirQuestion 3: Why do people justify theirunethical behavior?unethical behavior?

Question 4: Which justification do you think is usedQuestion 4: Which justification do you think is usedmost often?most often?

Summary

• Pygmalion Effect

• Developing Positive Attitude

• What is ethic

• Ethical Leadership

• Stakeholder theory of Ethics