Leadership and the Moral Compass: An Organizational Perspective

This essay explores the critical role of a moral compass in leadership and its impact on organizational behavior and design. It emphasizes the importance of ethical principles, integrity, and values in guiding leaders' actions and decision-making processes. The essay highlights how a moral compass fosters trust, accountability, and a culture of ethical behavior within organizations. It discusses the benefits of having a strong moral compass, including improved decision-making, enhanced relationships, and the ability to inspire and motivate employees. Furthermore, it examines the various traits and characteristics associated with leaders who possess a strong moral compass, such as conscientiousness, inclusiveness, and consistency. The essay concludes by underscoring the advantages of ethical leadership for both individuals and organizations in achieving sustainable success, emphasizing the importance of aligning moral behavior, principles, and personal values. The essay also provides examples like Gary Kessler to support the arguments.

Organization behaviour and design 0
Management
Organization behavior and design
Student’s name
7/17/2019

Organization behaviour and design 1
Morality is one of the greatest things for the managers in order to incorporate into their
leadership styles. Moreover, it is important for leaders and the entire organization to have a clear
knowledge about the morals and the moral compass in order to avoid the misunderstandings and
the misconceptions. As moral governs our behavior and in moral compass our principles governs
our behavior, our integrity is more important (Howard, 2012).
Leading with the moral compass means leadership turns ethical principles into visible
actions, commitments and behavior. Lastly, it helps in creating that leadership culture like setting
tone across the organization, accountability system, evaluating ethical risks and creating
psychological safety so that the entire workforce will speak truth about the unethical behavior or
a conduct within an organization (Howard, 2012).
In a general term, moral compass reflects the inner sense, which mainly differentiates
what is right, and what is wrong, majorly covers the functioning of the leader as a guide and acts
like a needle of the compass for the morally appropriate behavior. Moreover, it also includes the
full range of virtues and actions which may affect others and which are available as choices like
a directions on compass to an individual or a group or a person in general (Malik, 2014).
Hence, the sense of right and wrong plays a very significant role in an ethical and
decision-making process if an individual is working with the leadership mindset and the
practices. Hence, for the same the major task of the company leadership is to promote that type
of behavior which is beneficial for the entire organization and as well as for employees. Hence,
by working hard effectively as a team, innovating and improving both the product and the
process rapidly is taken as weapons by the senior executive as a moral compass(Howard, 2012).
Therefore, the moral compass is considered as the conceptual tool, which attracts a good
sense within the employees. It also enables them to rise about the basic level of standards and the
overall performance. In addition, creating a moral compass is to create a sense of contribution
towards society or of doing well for humankind within the employees, which leads to the overall
success of the firm.

Organization behaviour and design 2
It is analyzed that moral compass is the inner guide for what is right and what is wrong in
every situation. Moreover, it also require people to consult the organization moral code and
through this employees gain guidance from their senior leaders who in turned had set the highest
example of the perfect moral decision-making. Hence, by the support from the top leaders,
employees gains the right decisions instead of the doubts and defaults actions which finally leads
to the increased profits and overall success of the firm by optimizing the set goals.
If we considers the todays scenario, every businessperson or the leader who has a greater
responsibility of handle the entire business will supports the strong moral compass. This is
because of the moral compass aspect, which makes leader understandable and will give valuable
insight that how to take decisions or whether the selected decisions is right or wrong and at last
helps in making better decision for the future.
So it is really simple to judge that if a leader has not developed its moral compass then
nothing else really matters in case of the work within an organization. Everything about the
business is based on the values, morals and ethics which further helps in providing direction. It
not only improves the within conditions and workings of the business but also through this
leaders will able to perform better in future not only in terms of productivity from within but also
in the eyes of the outsiders (Mo, & Shi, 2017).
Other than this, taking responsibility is also one of the greatest and the best measures of
the leader’s power and the maturity, which not only produces the tremendous sense of respect
and appreciation for them but also working with the greater responsibility further inspire the
other employees to work and carry the work with same dignity and respect. Hence, this aspect
shows that if a leaders adopts the moral compass it takes the leadership at the next level which
goes beyond the usual formulas for leadership success and helps the leader to become which
helps in inspiring the very best efforts for everyone who works with them (Koleva, et al 2014).
If we take an example of Gary Kessler, a vice president of a Honda Motor company, he
always credits his principle and values for his entire career success. This is all because of the
good fortune of working with the people, sincerity and a conviction to do the right things, which
builds a long way of his success.

Organization behaviour and design 3
A well-known statement is given by the well-known scientist that states that only
“morality in one actions can give beauty and dignity to one’s life.” Morality and ethics are the
two different things in which ethics is defined as the code of conduct whereas morality on the
other hand is an internal perspective of right and wrong, which generally differs from one
another. Hence, it is always said that the key leaders of the organization should develop their
moral compass so that it should stand at the higher level than the ethical expectation of the
organization (Pettit, 2014).
If we see the upcoming future of the business, it is very risky. With the more rapid
changes, seeing what the future holds seems increasingly difficult. Hence, tomorrows born
leaders must the problem solvers, they will be confortable in the technical realm. But along with
this they should also be comfortable with the language and behavior which will help them in
leading to the earning of a goof living. Hence, Yes! It is the most advantageous for todays as
well as for future leaders to have a strong moral compass which not only works for inner nature
but also it is be beneficial for the entire organization where the leaders are working by making
use of moral compass (By, Burnes, & Oswick, 2012).
In terms of todays’ scenario, leaders’ leadership rests on trust and trust relies on honor.
Currently and in near future, young generation as leaders are needed to be nurtured and should
generate the strength of character. By learning this, they will develop that moral courage to select
the harder right instead of the easier wrong doings, which will majorly, hits the success of
individuals as well as organization.
The person with the moral compass or being an ethical leader is being the conscientious,
which highlights that the person with this trait showcase their strong moral identity. Hence, this
helps them to empower others and helps in ensuring that the organization and the subordinates
are moving towards success. This is all because of the leader who is more focused on over
diligence and the dedication so that the work should be carried in the right direction. Hence,
conscientiousness and the moral identity are one of those characteristic which inborn in a
principled front-runner. Therefore, such readiness towards standards and towards moral behavior
or manner, which stems from within and it can be solid impart in a person or leader towards the
personal work or for the organizational success (Becker, 2018).

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Another feature or the trait, which highlights about the leaders who carries their moral
compass are inclusive in nature, which means they are open to the other opinions and the
encourage people to voice different ideas within the organization. Therefore, comprehensiveness
needs thoughtfulness as well as recognition of the various individuals and of different opinion.
Carrying a strong moral compass by a leader also generates accountability and
responsibility, which are treated with respect and in serious manner. Therefore, this aspect and
trait its helps the leader to build trust with and among the subordinates. Other than this, carrying
a considerate behavior is also important and advantageous for the leader and on that basis; the
actions as the best solution for the situation are being selected. By the use of such ethical and
moral framework of leadership leads to the overall success of the leaders as well as the entire
organization where the leader works (Malik, 2014).
Another aspect in terms of considerate highlights about the treatment with the
subordinates is with honesty and fairness or not. Hence, if the value of the each subordinate is
never dissimilar in the eyes of the front-runner then it is the most important and advantageous
trait which the leader is carrying within oneself for others. Hence, this highlights that the it is the
plus point for the today’s leader to have the strong moral compass which not only benefits them
for the understanding the difference between right and wrong but also helps in overall
development in the nature which is the most basic needs in today’s scenario.
Therefore, if we talk about another feature, all the above-mentioned traits are enhanced
by the use of the consistency. If a leader can motivate the entire work team by remaining true to
his own virtuous morals and principles then, every person who is working under the leader will
adopts the same and will be true and loyal towards his or her work. Hence, consistency is also
one of the greater tools to enhance the working conditions within the organization. Working
with the positive approach, thinking and positive relationships always leads to positive results.
Hence, consistency is also one of the main ingredients for leader, which will be proved as
advantageous for handling the current and the future scenarios (Pettit, 2014).
Other than these, certain core values also defines leaders, business and society. So in
order to survive in economy and to grow daily, leaders need to follow certain core values of the
business so that it will be easier for them to handle the complex, conflicting economic and

Organization behaviour and design 5
political forces. In addition, quality of integrity lies at top, which is one of the most influential
aspects in respect to the individuals’ success as well as for the success of the business.
Leadership is totally visible through the actions, commitment and the set morals that emanates
by the leader on the behalf of the company and becomes the culture or the personality of the
business by which it is known for.
Moral compass is just an instrument, which is based on the simple concept, which
majorly highlights about the processes, which are consistent and are the true indicators, which
are based on the personal actions of the leaders and the beliefs. Moreover, it also leads to
personal empowerment which helps in enabling the leaders in business to have the moral courage
to stand for what is right. The very basic four principles works under it are integrity,
responsibility, compassion and lastly forgiveness(Pettit, 2014).
Hence, to achieve the sustainable and the optimal success for leaders, individuals and
organization there should be the alignment of moral behavior, principles and the personal values.
In addition, for all this, moral compass is an apt way to give signal to leaders to handle
leadership with its ultimate responsibility by which all the business operations should meet the
morals expectations of the society and the entire set goals of the organization (Diddams, &
Chang, 2012).
Therefore, in todays’ scenario it is noticed that behavior of the leader within the business
along with integrity, core values, forgiveness and compassion leads to the improvement in
organizational effectiveness. Hence, every person of 21st century seeks trust and authenticity and
set perception accordingly.
Lastly, the entire essay throws lights on importance and proves to be advantageous for
business leader to have strong moral compass. Hence, such leadership carries a great deal of
courage, perseverance, and personal commitment, leading with the strong ethical values always
proves to be successful not only on the basis of individual and organizational level but also at the
societal level. Therefore, company’s moral compass establishes a tone, which keeps on, resounds
throughout organization as finally leads to the successful business.

Organization behaviour and design 6
References
Becker, G. K. (2018). Moral leadership in business. Contemporary Issues in Leadership, 237-
257.
By, R. T., Burnes, B., & Oswick, C. (2012). Change management: Leadership, values and
ethics. Journal of Change Management, 12(1), 1-5.
Diddams, M., & Chang, G. C. (2012). Only human: Exploring the nature of weakness in
authentic leadership. The Leadership Quarterly, 23(3), 593-603.
Howard, A. (2012). It’s time for moral leadership. The Confidere Group.
Koleva, S., Selterman, D., Iyer, R., Ditto, P., & Graham, J. (2014). The moral compass of
insecurity: Anxious and avoidant attachment predict moral judgment. Social
Psychological and Personality Science, 5(2), 185-194.
Malik, K. (2014). The quest for a moral compass: A global history of ethics. Atlantic Books Ltd.
Mo, S., & Shi, J. (2017). Linking ethical leadership to employees’ organizational citizenship
behavior: Testing the multilevel mediation role of organizational concern. Journal of
Business Ethics, 141(1), 151-162.
Pettit, P. (2014). Just freedom: A moral compass for a complex world. WW Norton & Company.