Rethinking ethical leadership in Kenya: adopting a new paradigm
Loading...
Date
2017
Authors
Minja, David M.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Abstract
The purpose of this paper is to encourage students and scholars in the field of ethics to re-think
and develop new approaches concerning the actual practice of ethical leadership. While many
authors have written on the subject of leadership values and ethics, this paper examines, in
particular, the works of Aristotle, James Burns, James O’Toole, John Kotter, Edgar Schein, as well
as other notable scholars. Additionally, it attempts to add to the body of knowledge an ethical
leadership approach that could assist those in positions of power and influence to more
effectively link theory to practice. The author argues that a leader who espouses and upholds
values in an organisation is not sufficient to transform a corrupt system. This individual must
indeed directly model the desired behaviour, create a sense of urgency within the entity to
develop and embrace a new principled culture, and form a team of like-minded co-leaders and
followers. The paper postulates that the application of the Theory of Mechanical Advantage would
help usher an organisation into a state in which a firm foundation for ethical leadership could be
established. This paper finally formulates what the author refers to as the Law of Pseudo-
Revolutionary Change which states that change that does not directly impact the core of the
organisational culture never effects real and fundamental change within that entity.
Description
Research Article
Keywords
Citation
Minja, David Mwaniki (2017) "Rethinking Ethical Leadership in Kenya: Adopting A New Paradigm,"The Journal of Values-Based Leadership: Vol. 10 : Iss. 1 , Article 5.