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Relational Leadership for Sustainability: Building an Ethical Framework from the Moral Theory of ‘Ethics of Care’

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  • Jessica Nicholson

    (University of Guelph)

  • Elizabeth Kurucz

    (University of Guelph)

Abstract

The practice of relational leadership is essential for dealing with the increasingly urgent and complex social, economic and environmental issues that characterize sustainability. Despite growing attention to both relational leadership and leadership for sustainability, an ethical understanding of both is limited. This is problematic as both sustainability and relational leadership are rife with moral implications. This paper conceptually explores how the moral theory of ‘ethics of care’ can help to illuminate the ethical dimensions of relational leadership for sustainability. In doing so, the implications of ethics of care more broadly for the practice of relational leadership development are elaborated. From a caring perspective, a ‘relational stance’ or logic of effectiveness can be fostered through engaging in a reflective process of moral education through conversation. In starting this dialogue, we can begin to build capacity for relational leadership for sustainability and, thus, support the development of individual well-being and organizational and societal flourishing.

Suggested Citation

  • Jessica Nicholson & Elizabeth Kurucz, 2019. "Relational Leadership for Sustainability: Building an Ethical Framework from the Moral Theory of ‘Ethics of Care’," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 156(1), pages 25-43, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:jbuset:v:156:y:2019:i:1:d:10.1007_s10551-017-3593-4
    DOI: 10.1007/s10551-017-3593-4
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

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    2. Jane Boeske, 2023. "Leadership towards Sustainability: A Review of Sustainable, Sustainability, and Environmental Leadership," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(16), pages 1-18, August.
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    5. Layla J. Branicki, 2020. "COVID‐19, ethics of care and feminist crisis management," Gender, Work and Organization, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 27(5), pages 872-883, September.
    6. Eline Jammaers, 2023. "Theorizing Discursive Resistance to Organizational Ethics of Care Through a Multi-stakeholder Perspective on Disability Inclusion Practices," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 183(2), pages 333-345, March.
    7. Jeremy B. Bernerth, 2022. "Does the Narcissist (and Those Around Him/Her) Pay a Price for Being Narcissistic? An Empirical Study of Leaders’ Narcissism and Well-Being," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 177(3), pages 533-546, May.
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    9. Elena Beketova & Irina Leontyeva & Svetlana Zubanova & Aleksandr Gryaznukhin & Vasily Movchun, 2020. "RETRACTED ARTICLE: Creating an optimal environment for distance learning in higher education: discovering leadership issues," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 6(1), pages 1-6, June.
    10. Roya Derakhshan, 2022. "Building Projects on the Local Communities’ Planet: Studying Organizations’ Care-Giving Approaches," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 175(4), pages 721-740, February.
    11. Wee Chan Au & Siân Stephens & Pervaiz K. Ahmed, 2024. "Relational HR Practices in Malaysian SMEs: An Ethics of Care Perspective," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 191(2), pages 323-336, May.
    12. Xianchun Zhang & Zhu Yao, 2019. "Impact of relational leadership on employees’ unethical pro-organizational behavior: A survey based on tourism companies in four countries," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 14(12), pages 1-19, December.
    13. Alison Pullen & Sheena J. Vachhani, 2021. "Feminist Ethics and Women Leaders: From Difference to Intercorporeality," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 173(2), pages 233-243, October.
    14. Andreana Drencheva & Wee Chan Au, 2023. "Bringing the Family Logic in: From Duality to Plurality in Social Enterprises," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 182(1), pages 77-93, January.
    15. Merike Kolga, 2023. "Engaging “Care” Behaviors in Support of Employee and Organizational Wellbeing through Complexity Leadership Theory," Merits, MDPI, vol. 3(2), pages 1-10, June.
    16. Ann Cunliffe, 2022. "We/Me-ness: Meanings of Community," Post-Print hal-03590531, HAL.
    17. Chirag Dagar & Ashish Pandey & Ajinkya Navare, 2022. "How Yoga-Based Practices Build Altruistic Behavior? Examining the Role of Subjective Vitality, Self-transcendence, and Psychological Capital," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 175(1), pages 191-206, January.
    18. Sharfa Hassan & Puneet Kaur & Michael Muchiri & Chidiebere Ogbonnaya & Amandeep Dhir, 2023. "Unethical Leadership: Review, Synthesis and Directions for Future Research," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 183(2), pages 511-550, March.
    19. Grace H. Fan & Zoe A. Cunliffe, 2024. "Transforming Relationships and Empowering Communities: The Role of Care Ethics in Solving Grand Challenges," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 191(2), pages 285-303, May.
    20. Anne Antoni & Haley Beer, 2024. "Ethical Sensibilities for Practicing Care in Management and Organization Research," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 190(2), pages 279-294, March.
    21. Janet Johansson & Alice Wickström, 2023. "Constructing a ‘Different’ Strength: A Feminist Exploration of Vulnerability, Ethical Agency and Care," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 184(2), pages 317-331, May.

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