Leadership Styles

and Their Ethics

Except where otherwise noted, the following material summarizes portions of

Hitt, William D. (1990), Ethics and Leadership: Putting Theory into Practice, Columbus, OH: The Batelle Press.

There are six types of leaders.

• The Manipulator• The Bureaucrat• The Whiz-Bang Manager• The Charismatic Leader• The Servant Leader • The Transforming Leader

The manipulator: The end justifies the

means.• Gain as much power as possible

– Information– Resources– Support

• Manipulate others • Avoid being manipulated yourself• Maximize your authority• Seek passive subordinates• Radiate self-confidence• Never commit completely and irrevocably

The bureaucrat: Rules are rules.

• Structure your organization around a hierarchy of offices

• Give each employee a clear job description• Govern with fixed, exhaustive rules• Communicate and enforce the rules• Give promotions and raises based on

seniority, achievement, or both• Hire employees on the basis of

qualifications only

The whiz-bang manager:Management is a

profession• Use human, physical, and financial

resources efficiently• Manage like an orchestra leader• Plan, organize, recruit, and develop staff;

communicate, motivate, measure• Measure success in results• Set goals and make a plan for achieving

them• Make management your profession• Study management practices and principles

The charismatic leader*

• Leads by sheer power of personality

• Motivates by enthusiasm, persuasiveness, and … magic?

• More style than content

*From Solomon R. (2003), “The Myth of Charisma,” in J. Ciulla (Ed.), The Ethics of Leadership (pp.202-212), Belmont, CA: Thomson Wadsworth.

The servant leader*

• Reversal of roles of leader and follower

• Leadership based on altruism

*From Greenleaf, R. (2003), “The Servant as Leader,” in J. Ciulla (Ed.), The Ethics of Leadership (pp.212-219), Belmont, CA: Thomson Wadsworth.

The transforming leader: Leadership based on relationships

with followers*• Take pleasure in growth of others• View others in terms of potential• Identify and appeal to values and

motives of followers• Elevate values and motives of

followers• Motivate through empowerment• Coach rather than discipline• Help others become leaders

*See also Burns, J.M. (1978), Leadership, New York: Harper Collins Publisher, pp. 36-43.

Evaluating different styles• Which type of leader

would you like to work for? Why?

• If you were a CEO, which type of leader would you like to have working for you? Why?

• Which leadership styles require the most interpersonal skills, like listening, caring, etc.? What does that tell you about their ethical content?

•The Manipulator

•The Bureaucrat

•The Whiz-Bang Manager

•The Charismatic Leader

•The Servant Leader

•The Transforming Leader

Evaluating different styles• Which three

leadership styles do you think are most ethical? Why do you think so?

• Are different styles right for different situations?

• What is your definition of ethical leadership at this point?

•The Manipulator

•The Bureaucrat

•The Whiz-Bang Manager

•The Charismatic Leader

•The Servant Leader

•The Transforming Leader