They will lose experienced people, putting additional pressure on the rest of the staff, and they will find their staff accomplishes less and is more dissatisfied with their situation. These are very negative traits inside any organization that can help lead to discontent and eventual failure. A bad attitude can spread like wildfire, and the moral leader knows this and treats everyone fairly, no matter where they are in the organizational structure. It is the moral thing to do, but it also makes for a much healthier and happier organization.
Studies indicate that trust and respect play a major role in the function of organizations. Another writer notes, "The results indicated that the combined levels of trust and respect accounted for about three-fourths, yes 75%, of the variance in the amount of learning in a relationship" (Clawson). Thus, trust and respect play a major role in how leaders teach and impart knowledge in an organization, as well, and this is a vital piece of the leadership puzzle. Leaders have to pass on their knowledge, and as they move through the organization, their leadership skills, as they progress, and trust, respect, and honesty are all part of that communication process. A leader who is not trustworthy will not be respected, and neither will the knowledge they attempt to impart, so there will be impediments to learning and carrying out new tasks and skills.
Finally, as noted, a moral leader treats everyone with respect, as well as fairly and honestly. All of these traits are really intertwined, and are certainly aspects of the most successful and respected leaders in successful organizations. Moral leaders have...
Respect can gain great rewards, in a world where the stresses of home, work, and family can often lead to depression, dissatisfaction, and failure. Knowing that a leader has respect for those around him/her is empowering and quite motivational. In reality, all of these moral foundations make sense, but they also empower the individual and the organization, leading to organizational success, which is, of course, the ultimate goal of any organization.
In conclusion, the moral foundations of a leader and a corporation are intertwined. It would be very difficult for a moral and ethical leader to survive in an unethical, immoral corporation. There would simply be too many distractions and areas where the leader and the organization were morally and ethically opposed, and eventually this would cause failure. A good moral foundation of leadership includes truth, keeping promises, fair treatment of others, and individual respect. These foundations can create a moral leadership inside a moral organization, and that can lead to greater success, respect, and alliances in the business world. Thus, I would encourage these traits in myself and throughout my organization.
References
Clawson, James G., "The Moral Foundation of Extra-Ordinary Leadership." SSRN. 2008. 9 April 2008. http://ssrn.com/abstract=910790
Thompson, L.J. "Moral Leadership in a Postmodern World." Ohio State University. 2008. 9 April 2008. http://leadershipcenter.osu.edu/Publications/L_Discoveries/LD_2006/Moral%20Leadership%20in%20a%20Postmodern%20World.doc
