Moral Judgment

 

Susan Manning explains that “the level of moral judgment of a leader reflects one’s ability to identify with the experience, feelings, opinions, values, and meanings of those involved in an ethical dilemma…” and an individual’s moral judgment takes time to develop (p.104). Their judgment is also influenced by the environment in which they were raised. If an individual learns to use their moral judgment, then in time their moral judgment will transform into ethical “reasoning” (Manning, p.106).

As an ethical leader, it is important to reflect on ourselves. We need to know what we are doing, and why we are doing it. This awareness will help us to continue to grow and change, because without the awareness we will be stagnate. The article Ethical Leader Behavior and Big Five Factors of Personality found that “conscientiousness, agreeableness and emotional stability in ethical leadership is highly relevant” (p.15). In order to be emotionally stable, individuals need to know about themselves. That insight is a reflection into the individual.

A leader has the ability to help or hinder its employees, but an ethical leader has the ability to empower its employees. The company and the community benefit from ethical reasoning and leadership, because it is not a selfish act.

References

Kalshoven, K., Den Hartog, D, De Hoogh, A. Ethical Leader Behavior and Big Five Factors of Personality.  Journal of Business Ethics 100. 2 (May 2011): 349-366.

Manning, Susan. (2003). Ethical Leadership in Human Services: A Multi-Dimensional Approach. Pearson, Allyn and Beacon, New York.