Leadership

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LODJ

33,1

Are ethical theories relevant for

ethical leadership?

Michel Dion

´

Universite de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Canada

4

Received November 2009

Revised September 2010

Accepted February 2011

Abstract

Purpose – The aim of this study is to know if ethical theories could be connected to some leadership

approaches.

Design/methodology/approach – In the paper eight leadership approaches are selected: directive

leadership, self-leadership, authentic leadership, transactional leadership, shared leadership, charismatic

leadership, servant leadership, transformational leadership. Five western ethical theories (philosophical

egoism, utilitarianism, Kantianism, ethics of virtue, ethics of responsibility) are analyzed to see to what

extent their basic concepts could be connected to one or the other leadership approach.

Findings – A given ethical theory (such as philosophical egoism) could be suitable to the components

of various leadership approaches. Ethical leadership does not imply that a given leadership approach

is reflecting only one ethical theory. Rather, ethical leadership implies that for different reasons,

various leadership approaches could agree with the same ethical theory. This is what we could call the

“moral flexibility of leadership approaches”.

Research limitations/implications – This study focuses on western ethical theories. A similar

study should be undertaken for Eastern ethical theories coming from Buddhism, Hinduism,

Confucianism, or Daoism.

Practical implications – Some dualisms (such as Kantianism-transformational leadership,

philosophical egoism-transactional leadership) do not reflect the philosophical connections between

ethical theories and leadership approaches. Thus, the notion of ethical leadership would have to be

redefined. In doing so, the paper reveals how a given ethical theory could be used by...