Executives at large organizations define ethical leadership as “simply a matter of leaders having good character and the right values or being a person of strong character” (Freeman & Stewart, 2006, p. 2). Executives admit that following the law and obeying regulations are not what makes ethics complicated. They even disclose that influencing others to do the right thing is not the problematical part of ethical leadership. Rather, the complexity of ethical leadership exists in the gray areas of who is responsible when problems arise (Plinio, 2009).
Nevertheless, various authors attempt to correctly identify ethical leadership. Greenleaf (1977), who theorized servant leadership, states, “Service to followers is the primary responsibility of leaders and the essence of ethical leadership” (p. 20). Heifetz (2006) proposes that the primary responsibility of ethical leaders is to deal with conflict among followers, and instruct them in the right way. Frank (2002) states that transformational leadership is the outward display of ethical leadership. Though slightly different definitions have been constructed, all of these authors agree that ethical leadership is focused on influencing followers to do the right thing.
In contrast, Cumbo (2009) focuses on the leader when defining ethical leadership. A leader is considered ethical when inward virtues direct the leader’s decision-making process. Followers simply are beneficiaries of a leader living a virtuous life. A leader is motivated not by influencing others but rather living by one’s own virtues. The author states that virtues are amplified when the leader exhibits “imagination, compassion, empathy, and discernment” (p. 726).
Martinez-Saenz (2009) identifies constructs within ethical leadership. Five paradigms identified are altruistic, egoistic, autonomous, legalist, and communitarian. One of these constructs is not favored over another, but rather the authors identify various examples and environments for each. Altruistic motivation within ethical leadership is the leader acting out of selfless motives. Egoistic is when the right thing is considered by leaders because of a selfish motive. Autonomous is allowing followers to determine their own direction of ethics. The authors define legalist ethics as leaders following a set of given rules or regulations. Communitarian, on the other hand, places the emphasis on bettering society and the community in which the organization resides.