from the individuals involved. A second characteristic that ethical leadership can provide is developing in employees a systems perspective, which is linked to the post conventional stages of cognitive and moral reasoning discussed above, so that a value of serving other community members and related entities in the
broader ecosystem emerges. Another theme is that of emphasizing business processes rather than hierarchy and structure, which is based on valuing work itself intrinsically and focusing on both ends and means in decision making, not just the ends. Localized decision making, particularly around work processes, provides a value of responsibility for individual actions, and using information within the system is supported by values of truth telling, integrity, and honesty, the characteristics of moral persons, as well as transparency about and access to needed information. Organizations with these types of ethically based approaches also focus on development for both employees and the organization as a whole, which means valuing individuals as ends, not as means to ends (a key ethical principle), and focusing on learning and growth. Such approaches also encourage dialogue and related freedom of expression with a commitment to seek common ground when there are differences of opinion. Ethical leaders
can also foster the capacity of others and themselves to take multiple perspectives simultaneously—in other words, to move toward postconventional levels of reasoning so that they can understand other points of view and make better decisions. The final element that managers can think about in their roles as ethical leaders is creating a sense of commitment and ownership among organizational members by emphasizing promise keeping, instilling a sense of urgency about the tasks of the enterprise, and encouraging engagement rather
than detachment among organizational members.