Ethical Leadership Style: Examining The Conflict Between Personal and Non-Profit Organizational Interest

International Journal of Research and Scientific Innovation (IJRSI) | Volume VII, Issue V, May 2020 | ISSN 2321–2705

Ethical Leadership Style: Examining The Conflict Between Personal and Non-Profit Organizational Interest

 Chikelu Okey Felix. PhD, Bala Aliyu Kardi, Garba Usman
Waziri Umaru Federal Polytechnic, Birnin Kebbi, Kebbi State. Nigeria

Abstract: Achieving organizational goals and fostering good leadership requires more than being in charge, as leadership is grounded in ethical practices and norms. This paper explores the construct of ethical leadership known to consider the implication and consequences of long-term decision. Behavioural boundaries are set within an organization via demonstration of strong will character and integrity. Leadership in a profit or non-profit organization is not a mean feat. The objective of this venture is to examine and give an insight into an ethical leadership model and highlight how such a model could inspire, impact positively and sustain quality leadership is a non-profit organization as the Catholic Women Organization (CWO). Ethical leaders are moral managers and role models through their behaviour by internalizing their values. The ethical theories of utilitarianism deontology and virtue ethics comprised the theoretical framework for this purpose. Relevant related literatures were reviewed and most indicated preference for an ethical leadership style, which has greater potential to harness resources for a positive growth and development of an organization. Ethical leadership blends both personal and organizational values harmoniously through ethical reasoning when leaders are faced with ethical dilemmas.

Keywords: Ethical leadership, Personal values, Organizational Interest.

I. INTRODUCTION

Ethical lapses and transgressions in both public and private organizations, especially in some religious organization have been well documented over the past decade, most of these ethical violations and transgressions are the result of an intentional ethical misconduct (Bass, 1998: Felix, Ahmad & Arshad, 2016). While some are due largely to poor ethical reasoning or judgement, of which the consequences knows no boundaries. There are some decades of research on leadership and ethical leadership (Brown, Trevino & Harrison, 2005: Brown & Trevino, 2006). Thus, little has been done with regards to construct development and its antecedents and outcomes in an organization or even a non-profit organization. Moral decline and lapses, coupled with corporate and organizational scandals propelled concern for ethical consciousness to stem the tide (Felix et al.., 2017).

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