The complexities of today’s global affairs require a deeper examination into ethical leadership. As globalization connects societies, both individuals and organizations are faced with advance multi-facet dilemmas. The consequences of unethical leadership behavior are far reaching and potentially more damaging than ever before. On the contrary, ethical leaders now have the capacity to make an even greater influence because of technological innovation and globalized communication tools. The ability of leaders to access information, gain knowledge, and process data is at an all-time high.
Ethical leaders must face the challenging decisions that a global environment has handed and deal with the varying degree of consequences those decisions will produce, both positive and negative. Heifetz proposes in the book, Leadership Without Easy Answers, “The primary role of leaders is to help followers confront conflict and find productive ways to deal with it” (Yukl, 2006, p. 419). In the process of such a role, ethical leaders may find themselves faced with sorrow while confronting conflict and injustices. As Solomon states, “In much wisdom there is much grief, and increasing in knowledge results in increasing in pain” (Ecclesiastics 1:18, NASB). Yet David reminds one in the Psalms, “Weeping may last through the night, but joy comes with the morning” (Psalm 30:5). Ethical leaders have the ability to bring joyous outcomes to an organization by appropriately handling weighty dilemmas.
Lewis, in the book, The Abolition of Man, argues that man must be taught proper values. Lewis states that the corrupt man is born blinded to just values and ethics. He writes, “One must be trained to feel pleasure, liking, disgust and hatred at those things which really are pleasant, likable, disgusting and hateful” (Lewis, 1944, p. 16). Ethical behavior, argued by Lewis, is not intrinsically known to man but rather must be learned. Lewis continues by stating if a leader only learns with his head but not his heart the value of ethics, he is like a man without a chest. He writes, “The heart never takes the place of the head: but it can, and should, obey it” (Lewis, 1944, p. 19). Thus an ethical leader must first by way of knowledge learn values and then by way of heart apply them to day to day life.
Wilberforce says, “The character is first and foremost a product of understanding and embracing the finished work of Christ on our behalf and of unreservedly devoting ourselves to God” (Beltz, 2006, p. 65). Scriptural illiteracy has created a generation of leaders who are ignorant to what is right and wrong. A generation has brought up leaders who are at best lukewarm towards the things of God and as a result are half-hearted in their devotion. In John 5:39 Christ commands one to search the Scriptures. The essence of what to value and esteem is found within the words of God. The words of Scripture provide what English poet, John Milton, describes as divine philosophy. He writes, “How charming is divine philosophy! Not harsh and crabbed, as dull Fools suppose, But musical as is Apollo’s lute, And a perpetual feast of nectar’d sweets, Where no crude surfeit reigns” (Beltz, 2006, p. 8). Scriptural literacy begets leaders who value the things of God and help assist in the transforming process of reconciling man back to God.
“Any leader who thinks his or her job is about maximizing shareholder value is living in the past” (Girard, 2011, p. 1). There are many types of ethical models a leader may follow, however the ethical Christian leader’s end will be to the glory of God, their means will be through Scriptural values and, as a result, their outcome will be promoting follower’s freedom and utility. An ethical Christian leader must see their duty as conquering the offenses of society and ultimately leading people down a path of reconciliation. The world today is in desperate need of Christian ethical leaders, so may leaders rise to Peter’s call, “Shepherd the flock of God among you, exercising oversight not under compulsion, but voluntarily, according to the will of God; and not for sordid gain, but with eagerness; nor yet as lording it over those allotted to your charge, but proving to be examples to the flock. And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory” (1 Peter 5:2-4). In doing so, the world will “see divine immanence in such a life…unfolding of God's agency in liberating pardon, sovereign judgment, creaturely blessing, and faithful love over against the damage brought by sin, suffering, death, and hopelessness” (Werpehowski, 2007, p. 55).
No comments:
Post a Comment