THE ETHICAL LEADERSHIP SCALES
The Ethical Leadership Scales are three scales designed to promote quiet and comprehensive reflection about qualities that together constitute ethical behaviour and ethical leadership. By using a measuring scale they also enable a respondent to determine his or her level of ethical competence.
Background
In an interdependent, electronically-connected world we are challenged to find universal foundational beliefs that allow us to transact business and maintain sound human relationships. Though we seek for an overarching secular and ecumenical set of principles to guide human behaviour, we have not made the teaching of such a central part of our educational systems.
These Scales address this issue by selecting values that are representative of ethical behaviour across cultures. Each characteristic is considered as a competence. The Scales can be used as an instrument to measure the human mindstate from which choices are made. This gives a measure of ethical competence in much the same way as a sample in an oil field can provide information about the quantity and quality of the oil in the field below the ground.
The Instrument
This instrument is presented as three separate Scales to measure the ethical leadership mindstate of individuals and organizations. Further background on the Scales can be found in the essay entitled "The Ethical Competence Framework." In each scale separate measures of specific competencies are presented and these individual items are added to provide a single collective numerical value for that scale.
The model of the Intelligence Quotient (IQ) is used to derive a score where 100 would be the highest or most ideal. The Scales are:
- The Ethical Competence Scale leading to the Ethical Quotient (EthQ)
- The Ethical Leadership Scale leading to the Ethical Leadership Quotient (EthLQ)
- The Ethical Organization Scale leading to the Ethical Organization Quotient (EthOQ)
Examples
Several items from each of the above Scales are given below as examples of how the Scales work. The Scales in complete form are used by the authors for teaching and research purposes. Respondents are asked to assign values according to whether they consider the quality is:
| Always in Place | (10-9) |
| Usually in Place | (8-7) |
| Sometimes in Place | (6-5) |
| Rarely in Place | (4-3) |
| Never in Place | (2-1) |
The bullets in each item provide additional clarification.
Ethical Competence Scale
Personal Record Form
Personal Ethical Competence
How we maintain our personal commitment
to an ethical life
| Foundational Characteristics | How we are grounded in thought and action | Always in Place | Usually in Place | Sometimes in Place | Rarely in Place | Never in Place | Chosen Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Characteristic | Explanation | 10-9 | 8-7 | 6-5 | 4-3 | 2-1 | |
| 1.Trustworthiness | Being reliable and dependable Being willing to admit mistakes Being true to your word Being worthy of confidence Keeping promises |
Social Ethical Competence
How we handle
relationships
| Empathy | How we strive to understand and appreciate the worth of others | Always in Place | Usually in Place | Sometimes in Place | Rarely in Place | Never in Place | Chosen Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Characteristic | Explanation | 10-9 | 8-7 | 6-5 | 4-3 | 2-1 | |
| 13.Understanding Others | Being sensitive to others' feelings and perspectives Taking an active interest in others' concerns Being attentive to emotional cues Listening deeply Being willing to change our mind or direction to accommodate others as long as the ethical foundation remains secure Being able to walk in someone else's shoes |
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| Social Skills | How we act to induce desirable, ethically grounded responses in others | Always in Place | Usually in Place | Sometimes in Place | Rarely in Place | Never in Place | Chosen Value |
| Characteristic | Explanation | 10-9 | 8-7 | 6-5 | 4-3 | 2-1 | |
| 18.Communication | Sending clear, transparent messages, avoiding mixed messages Seeking to be clearly understood Participating effectively in give-and-take Dealing with difficult issues straightforwardly Welcoming full sharing of information Staying receptive to bad news as well as good Making it a point to keep others informed |
Global Ethical Competence
How we see the
earth and all life on it as a web of delicate connections requiring stewardship
for sustainability
| Connections | How we act as part of a complex interconnected whole | Always in Place | Usually in Place | Sometimes in Place | Rarely in Place | Never in Place | Chosen Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Characteristic | Explanation | 10-9 | 8-7 | 6-5 | 4-3 | 2-1 | |
| 25.Interdependence | Understanding our connections to each other and the Earth Searching continuously for connections Seeking always to see the big picture, taking the impact of your actions throughout the system into consideration Seeking to practice systems thinking |
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| Future Orientation | How we act as responsible participants in creating a mutually beneficial future | Always in Place | Usually in Place | Sometimes in Place | Rarely in Place | Never in Place | Chosen Value |
| Characteristic | Explanation | 10-9 | 8-7 | 6-5 | 4-3 | 2-1 | |
| 28.Future Orientation | Seeing that actions today create the future tomorrow Being guided by a vision of what is worth doing Working with others to create a shared vision Caring about the legacies you leave for future generations Looking forward in a positive way to the future |
Ethical Leadership Scale
Personal Record Form
| Relationship to Self |
Personal Qualities of the Ethical Leader | Always in Place | Usually in Place | Sometimes in Place | Rarely in Place | Never in Place | Chosen Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Characteristic | Explanation | 10-9 | 8-7 | 6-5 | 4-3 | 2-1 | |
| 1.Acts with integrity | Keeps promises and commitments and expects others to keep theirs Maintains loyalty to those not present Apologizes sincerely Acts with honesty Takes responsibility and cleans up after mistakes |
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| Relationship to Others |
Qualities that allow the ethical leader to connect with and empower others | Always in Place | Usually in Place | Sometimes in Place | Rarely in Place | Never in Place | Chosen Value |
| Characteristic | Explanation | 10-9 | 8-7 | 6-5 | 4-3 | 2-1 | |
| 26.Compassionate | Caring and empathetic Is sympathetic to the needs of others Does not turn away from helping others Acts from a good heart as well as a firm resolve Treats people with genuine affection |
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| Relationship to the Whole | Qualities that reveal the ethical leader's sense of connection with a grand design and a higher purpose | Always in Place | Usually in Place | Sometimes in Place | Rarely in Place | Never in Place | Chosen Value |
| Characteristic | Explanation | 10-9 | 8-7 | 6-5 | 4-3 | 2-1 | |
| 38.Tolerates contradiction and anxiety | Is able to live with contradiction Is prepared to wait for closure Is able to tolerate large amounts of anxiety Understands that contradiction and anxiety can be the accompaniments of creative growth |
Ethical Organization Scale
Personal Record Form
| Always in Place | Usually in Place | Sometimes in Place | Rarely in Place | Never in Place | Chosen Value | ||
| Factor | Explanation | 10-9 | 8-7 | 6-5 | 4-3 | 2-1 | |
| 1.Economic considerations | Is financially successful Its products and services make a positive contribution to the economy Pays the appropriate taxes Provides appropriate remuneration to members of its workforce Allows its workforce to benefit from strong profits with shares, bonuses and/or salary adjustments Provides products and / or services of value and of high quality |
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| 2.Relationships with the workforce | Creates a safe, healthy, attractive work environment for its workforce Treats members of the workforce with dignity and respect Provides fair and equal opportunity for advancement without regard for ethnicity, gender, age or other distinctions Provides physical and mental health support for members of the workforce Provides meaningful work Encourages self-development for members of its workforce |
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| 3.Relationships with contractors and suppliers | Pays contractors and suppliers fairly and on time Provides a fair transparent bidding system for new contracts Responds courteously and promptly to questions from contractors and suppliers Provides all necessary information and feedback to contractors and suppliers |