Fostering ethical competence in managerial leadership : a eudaimonistic perspective

摘要

Since the late 1980s the need for improved ethical sensibility, on the part ofudthose in managerial leadership roles, has been widely recognised throughoutudAustralian society. Unfortunately, while the hortatory nature of the discourseudhas been both loud and consistent, what has been lacking is any firm set ofudguidelines on how to bring about the necessary improvement. The argumentudpresented in this essay represents one attempt to address that shortcoming.udIn particular, I will show that a discipline I call critical eudaimonistic -udreflection can play a pivotal role in cultivating the sort of deliberateudcharacter needed to underwrite ethically competent leadership practice.udI begin by establishing firm ground on which to postulate a robustudconceptualisation of managerial leadership. In doing this, I identify theudnotions of trust and community as pivotal themes. Specifically, I show thatudan ability to build and maintain a high-trust community lies at the core ofudwhat effective managerial leadership is all about. Moreover, as trust andudcommunity are concepts rich in ethical implication, I show how a meaningfuludconceptualisation of ethical competence can be built around them.udBy way of addressing the challenge posed by the mythical figure of theudhard-nosed decision-maker (the budget-conscious senior corporateudexecutive holding the authority to commission leadership developmentudprogrammes), I argue for learning to work within the prevailing corporateudidiom. This includes ensuring adherence to the correct vernacular, and alsoudthe selection and adoption of suitable conceptual models. I show how oneudparticular model of strategic change planning can be successfully employedudto re-cast the development challenge in a manner that not only guaranteesudidiomatic compliance, but that also ensures that consideration is given toudthe relevant variables.udOne such variable consists in the need for a robust syllabus structure. Iudargue that when human character is the developmental focal point, theudsyllabus can be appropriately built on a virtue ethics platform. Moreudspecifically, I argue for adoption of one particular neo-Aristotelianudexpression of the ancient doctrine of eudaimonism. I go further to showudhow the syllabus content can be shaped so as to expedite the acquisition ofudcompetence in critical eudaimonistic reflection.udI finish with the claim that neither recognition of the need for a developmentudprogramme aimed at character cultivation, nor availability of a robustudsyllabus, will of themselves guarantee enthusiastic participation in such audproject. To achieve that, in the Australian corporate context, I argue thatudone must be capable of overcoming the perception that the subject matter isudtoo vague and esoteric. I address this by describing a strategy, currentlyudbeing employed, with some success, a number of test sites. I close off byudsuggesting some ways in which it can be improved in light of lessonsudlearned to date.