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Contribution Details

Type Journal Article
Scope Discipline-based scholarship
Title What does it mean to be responsible? Addressing the missing responsibility dimension in ethical leadership research
Organization Unit
Authors
  • Christian Vögtlin
Item Subtype Original Work
Refereed Yes
Status Published in final form
Language
  • English
Journal Title Leadership
Publisher Sage Publications Ltd.
Geographical Reach international
ISSN 1742-7150
Volume 12
Number 5
Page Range 581 - 608
Date 2016
Abstract Text This paper extends research on ethical leadership by proposing a responsibility orientation for leaders. Responsible leadership is based on the concept of leaders who are not isolated from the environment, who critically evaluate prevailing norms, are forward looking, share responsibility, and aim to solve problems collectively. Adding such a responsibility orientation helps to address critical issues that persist in research on ethical leadership. The paper discusses important aspects of responsible leadership, which include being able to make informed ethical judgments about prevailing norms and rules, communicating effectively with stakeholders, engaging in long-term thinking and in perspective taking, displaying moral courage, and aspiring to positive change. Furthermore, responsible leadership means actively engaging stakeholders, encouraging participative decision making, and aiming for shared problem solving. A case study that draws on in-depth interviews with the representatives of businesses and nongovernmental organizations illustrates the practical relevance of thinking about responsibility and reveals the challenges of responsible leadership.
Digital Object Identifier 10.1177/1742715015578936
Other Identification Number merlin-id:12074
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