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Slide Notes
As a way of offering context to our course, I wanted to bring in the wider leadership literature.
Leadership as a construct needs critiquing and is often decontextualised and set within an 'effectiveness in the corporation' frame. So, often researchers look to how to support the corporation within capitalism to be more effective.
You can look at this brief history to get a sense of what we are not studying this semester:
https://leadersquest.org/content/documents/A_short_history_of_leadership_th...
In what follows I am summarising a talk by Joanne Ciulla as she is a good bridge between traditional leadership thinking and mindful leading in a Mindfulness Masters via ethics. In these notes, I will add my perspective of on the relevant connections between our course and her talk.
Leadership as a construct needs critiquing and is often decontextualised and set within an 'effectiveness in the corporation' frame. So, often researchers look to how to support the corporation within capitalism to be more effective.
You can look at this brief history to get a sense of what we are not studying this semester:
https://leadersquest.org/content/documents/A_short_history_of_leadership_th...
In what follows I am summarising a talk by Joanne Ciulla as she is a good bridge between traditional leadership thinking and mindful leading in a Mindfulness Masters via ethics. In these notes, I will add my perspective of on the relevant connections between our course and her talk.
Ethical Leadership
Published on Aug 10, 2018
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Ethical Leadership
Joanne Ciulla
As a way of offering context to our course, I wanted to bring in the wider leadership literature.
Leadership as a construct needs critiquing and is often decontextualised and set within an 'effectiveness in the corporation' frame. So, often researchers look to how to support the corporation within capitalism to be more effective.
You can look at this brief history to get a sense of what we are not studying this semester:
https://leadersquest.org/content/documents/A_short_history_of_leadership_th...
In what follows I am summarising a talk by Joanne Ciulla as she is a good bridge between traditional leadership thinking and mindful leading in a Mindfulness Masters via ethics. In these notes, I will add my perspective of on the relevant connections between our course and her talk.
Leadership as a construct needs critiquing and is often decontextualised and set within an 'effectiveness in the corporation' frame. So, often researchers look to how to support the corporation within capitalism to be more effective.
You can look at this brief history to get a sense of what we are not studying this semester:
https://leadersquest.org/content/documents/A_short_history_of_leadership_th...
In what follows I am summarising a talk by Joanne Ciulla as she is a good bridge between traditional leadership thinking and mindful leading in a Mindfulness Masters via ethics. In these notes, I will add my perspective of on the relevant connections between our course and her talk.
The great man
Is that your (often unconscious) image of a leader?
The image we often hold unconsciously about 'leader' as a construct is the heroic notion of the lonely figure, often male, who triumphs against all odds and saves his followers in extraordinary feats of human endurance.
This is not only inaccurate but also unhelpful in offering guidance in how to influence the world at large. This hero trope makes a good story, but history has a habit of erasing supporting casts from events.
This is not only inaccurate but also unhelpful in offering guidance in how to influence the world at large. This hero trope makes a good story, but history has a habit of erasing supporting casts from events.
Photo by JD Hancock
What are our assumptions about leadership?
A leader is not a leader without followers
Inevitably, research will foreground a construct at the expense of another. Joanne highlights the idea that a leader needs followers to be one. It is interesting to note what this assumes about what leadership means. Still, exploring the notion of leadership from a perspective of 'one man leading the troops in a lone horse'.
Photo by floodllama
Though many are leaders in their own mind!
Some say that leadership is the most studied construct in academia. There is an assumption that we can all be leaders or should at least want to be. Joanne highlights here the idea that the inner and outer models of the world are often incoherent. The potential for harm increases with a lack of coherence between the inner and outer
Photo by Brian Rinker Creative
A power-laden relationship between leaders and followers
We can define leadership away individual agency, and certainly away from the lone man riding into town with his trusty steed.
A systemic explanation that situates leadership 'between' may be more useful for the purpose of study.
Power as a construct is often problematic, yet it is at the core of leadership as a construct. We can see power in many ways, and the literature on this is extensive too. It can be understood simply as 'influencing action' - the interesting question here is still: to what purpose?
A systemic explanation that situates leadership 'between' may be more useful for the purpose of study.
Power as a construct is often problematic, yet it is at the core of leadership as a construct. We can see power in many ways, and the literature on this is extensive too. It can be understood simply as 'influencing action' - the interesting question here is still: to what purpose?
Photo by Neil Crosby
Not a person. Not a position. A moral relationship between us
Ciulla highlights, she is a philosopher after all, the nature of this relationship as a moral one. What does she mean by this? It speaks to the purpose of influencing others - usually towards a particular set of values we hold dear.
Photo by Umm, Who?
Based on trust, obligation, commitment and shared vision of the 'good'
The shared vision of the 'good' is problematic in many ways. Those not sharing it, can find themselves on the 'wrong' side, a sense of the good can be subjective or only shared by a small group of people. We can act from our inner sense of 'good' and do 'bad' things. Ciulla uses Hitler as an example.
Photo by Umm, Who?
The 'good' can be 'bad'
In this sense, the good can be bad. There are tough challenges to making a choice to behave both ethically *and* effectively.
Photo by Zhen Hu
Why is it difficult to be an ethical leader?
The moral pitfalls
It is more useful to ask this question and to explore the moral pitfalls than to create an ideological fantasy about the ideal leader.
Photo by Iker Urteaga
Leadership Where?
It depends on the context
An important element to consider is the context in which we exercise our leadership skills.
Photo by Omar Albeik
Corruption is the use of entrusted power for personal gain
An interesting aspect here is to look at corruption and how it is measured in the world.
Photo by Ochre Jelly
Transparency International Corruption Index 2018
You may want to look at the details of this corruption index:
https://www.transparency.org/news/feature/corruption_perceptions_index_2017
One point of note is that corruption levels are correlated with wealth.
https://www.transparency.org/news/feature/corruption_perceptions_index_2017
One point of note is that corruption levels are correlated with wealth.
Top countries are small
Easier to manage ethics in smaller countries
Another point of note is that countries with less corruption as measured by the index, are small countries.
Photo by Daniel Kulinski
Venezuela
Used to be top half and now bottom half due to politics
You may want to read more about this world situation here:
https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2017/12/17/world/americas/venezuela-chi...
The government has recently issued a new currency in order to attempt to control hyperinflation.
https://edition.cnn.com/2018/08/20/americas/venezuela-currency/index.html
Meantime, the infrastructure is being destroyed amidst the chaos:
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/06/14/world/americas/venezuela-oil-economy.htm...
The impact leadership in politics can have is significant for 'good' and 'bad'.
https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2017/12/17/world/americas/venezuela-chi...
The government has recently issued a new currency in order to attempt to control hyperinflation.
https://edition.cnn.com/2018/08/20/americas/venezuela-currency/index.html
Meantime, the infrastructure is being destroyed amidst the chaos:
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/06/14/world/americas/venezuela-oil-economy.htm...
The impact leadership in politics can have is significant for 'good' and 'bad'.
Photo by subcomandanta
How is power achieved?
- Legitimately
- Reward/Punishment
- Expert
- Family Name
- Networks
- Referent
- Moral
Ciulla explores the many ways in which we achieve power. What is most relevant for us it that this slide situates our course. We are doing a deep dive into the ways in which we can achieve moral power in a context of choice.
This is important here so that you understand that Leadership Theory is much larger than our focus this semester. Each of these headings have and are being extensively studied by social scientists. Of note, this is being done mostly within the framework of corporate global capitalist systems - why might this be significant here?
This is important here so that you understand that Leadership Theory is much larger than our focus this semester. Each of these headings have and are being extensively studied by social scientists. Of note, this is being done mostly within the framework of corporate global capitalist systems - why might this be significant here?
Photo by Praveesh Palakeel
Moral Power
- Great influence
- Become known for doing the right thing
- Do the right thing in the right way
- Mandela, Ghani, MLK always mentioned
- Not just charisma but also defending human rights
If we want to live with integrity bringing a moral compass, that of Buddhist ethics, into our daily actions we have large boots to fill.
What is important is that we make active and transparent choices to the best of our ability. We also need to understand that 'true north' as shown by Buddhist ethics is only one way to align to a body of ethical principles. In other words, we are not asserting moral absolutes but choosing to be transparent about a choice to live according to and ethical code.
What is important is that we make active and transparent choices to the best of our ability. We also need to understand that 'true north' as shown by Buddhist ethics is only one way to align to a body of ethical principles. In other words, we are not asserting moral absolutes but choosing to be transparent about a choice to live according to and ethical code.
Photo by Reiterlied
Be effective *and* ethical? It is hard!
A key question we ask in all action in the world should be, according to Ciulla, what is skilful action when we want to be both ethical and effective leaders?
Photo by Kelly Sikkema
The problem of dirty hands
Sometimes we have to be bad to be good - stay disgusted!
An interesting philosophical issue and its suggested solution. We often have mixed intentions and the world is complex. What do we do when we may be pushed to do 'bad' things in order to fulfil a higher order purpose? Philosophy suggests we must always stay disgusted at our actions, never try rationalise away.
Photo by Om Prakash Sethia
3 layers of questions
- Am I doing the right thing? Utiltarianism
- Am I doing it in the right way? Virtue theory
- Am I doing it for the right reasons? Obligation and duties
How can we set out to make ethical decisions. Ciulla suggests we explore 3 realms. Interesting to connect these with what 'right action' is in Buddhist philosophy.
Photo by Kaptain Kobold
Leadership has nothing to do with you
It has to do with the people you serve
Egoless leadership
Photo by Jelleke Vanooteghem
You have to say no to many
If acting with integrity from a set of values that applies to all
We may stop wanting to be leaders when we realise that in order to be both ethical and effective we must treat everyone as 'under' the same code of ethics we choose to apply.
Photo by Jelleke Vanooteghem
"The best leaders are clear. They continually light the way, and in the process, let each person know that what they do makes a difference. The best test as a leader is: Do those served grow as persons; do they become healthier, wiser, freer, more autonomous, more likely themselves to become leaders?"
-- Robert K. Greenleaf
Servant Leadership highlights from a non-buddhist perspective the essence of the kind of leadership this course presents as normative. This is not a mainstream model of leadership or, as we have seen, the structuring metaphors for this construct in mainstream leadership research.
Photo by Zhen Hu
Self Control
inner work a prerequisite to lead others
We pick up this semester on this key element. The main text for our course is a guide for 'inner work as a prerequisite to leadership'.
Photo by Brett Jordan
EGO
The big red head
We are meeting face to face with our conditioned personality, or ego.
Photo by Thomas Hawk
EGO
The person who stands on tiptoes is not steady
Where do we find stability? By doing the inner work needed shine a light on the many blind spots we have as fallible human beings.
Photo by Thomas Hawk
Buddhism
Its Ethical Theory is about compassion for our fallibility
And here is where our semester starts. We work with the ethical theory of buddhism and use it as guide to teach us to lead mindfully for social change, or lead a spiritually engaged life in a complex world.
Photo by Michael Paul Escanuelas
When we bring up our children to have knowledge without compassion, their attitude towards others is likely to be a mixture of envy of those in positions above them, aggressive competitiveness toward their peers, and scorn for those less fortunate. This leads to a propensity towards greed, presumption, excess, and, very quickly, to a loss of happiness. Knowledge is important. But much more so is the use to which it is put. This depends on the heart and mind of the one who uses it. Dalai Lama
What use do we put our knowledge to?
A key quote from our core book that is relevant here is:
"May the steps of our path deeply resonate with our goal, our means with our ends!"
Donald Rothberg
We can choose to take a stance in the world that is ethical, that follows a particular set of rules, and then aspire to have all our actions be aligned with this choice. This is the inner work of leadership. It is interesting that Ciulla considers Buddhism a way to be both 'ethical and effective'.
A key quote from our core book that is relevant here is:
"May the steps of our path deeply resonate with our goal, our means with our ends!"
Donald Rothberg
We can choose to take a stance in the world that is ethical, that follows a particular set of rules, and then aspire to have all our actions be aligned with this choice. This is the inner work of leadership. It is interesting that Ciulla considers Buddhism a way to be both 'ethical and effective'.
The book of you - Sartre
- When you are free you must choose
- When you are free to choose, you are responsible
- Your EVERY choice goes in the book of you, do not forget
- Be authentic - every page in the book counts
- You are all the things that you do
- Remember what you regret to learn about ethics
And this idea of the book of you, I found inspiring. We may do an activity this semester on it.
It resonates with the work of others that regret can be a great teacher if the ego does get in the way to normalise actions that violate our moral code.
What are the pages in the 'Book of You' you would want to tear out of the book?
It resonates with the work of others that regret can be a great teacher if the ego does get in the way to normalise actions that violate our moral code.
What are the pages in the 'Book of You' you would want to tear out of the book?
Photo by Aaron Burden
Thank you. Now watch the video
https://youtu.be/KPSgspXX75s
It is a long lecture, the sound is not great, and it is also a great way gain a wider context for our course.
You can read a chapter that is relevant to this presentation here:
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/265568882_Ethics_and_Leadership_Ef...
And remember this short history of leadership theories I quoted at the start. It will give you a sense for where our course fits within Leadership Development:
https://leadersquest.org/content/documents/A_short_history_of_leadership_th...
It is a long lecture, the sound is not great, and it is also a great way gain a wider context for our course.
You can read a chapter that is relevant to this presentation here:
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/265568882_Ethics_and_Leadership_Ef...
And remember this short history of leadership theories I quoted at the start. It will give you a sense for where our course fits within Leadership Development:
https://leadersquest.org/content/documents/A_short_history_of_leadership_th...
