Leadership Ethics

Ethical Accountability in Leading Change

Jessica Bertagnolli

Nursing Leadership 652

Idaho State University

            Honesty and fairness are among the top qualities that I value in a leader. Bruhn describes an ethical work climate as one that contains openness, respect and dialogue (2004). These are all necessary elements in creating trust. A leader must maintain an environment that is not threatening and expectations are known. Honesty, fairness and respect are key concepts in trusting relationships, and qualities that a great leader should have.

            According to Potter-O'Grady and Malloch (2003), the good leader is vulnerable. As they point out, I think that the word 'vulnerability' has a negative and scary meaning to most of us; although, some of the aspects of vulnerability are valuable for the leader to embrace during the change process. Absence of ego, trust in others, awareness of limitations, acknowledgement of strengths and weaknesses are needed for the leader to be open to new ideas and others view points (Potter-O'Grady and Malloch, 2003). In order for leadership to effectively lead change they must be open to diversity and be willing and ready to be wrong, or at least not right. I think that the quality of vulnerability has its essential aspects for the leader in the change process.

            One of the most important ethical accountabilities of the leader is to walk the talk. If a leader wants the staff to be open, honest and flexible the leader must model this. I had the opportunity to go to a seminar put on by Tim Potter-O'Grady and he talked about how busy nurses are. The message was that at some point one can get so busy that nothing is accomplished. I think that Walton, of WalMart, has an invaluable expectation of his employees to look the customer in the eye, greet them and ask if they needed help (Bruhn, 2004). The nurse leader must assure that they are not too busy to connect with their staff, if they expect their staff to not get too busy to connect with the patient. We in health care have an ethical responsibility to make our patients feel safe and comfortable during one of the most vulnerable times in their life.

References

Bruhn, J. (2005). The ethic of the organizational good: Is doing the right thing enough? Healthcare Manager, 23(1), 4-10.

Porter-O'Grady, T., & Malloch, K. (2003). Quantum leadership: A textbook of new leadership. Boston: Jones and Bartlett.