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Self-control Puts Character into Action: Examining How Leader Character Strengths and Ethical Leadership Relate to Leader Outcomes

Author

Listed:
  • John J. Sosik

    (The Pennsylvania State University)

  • Jae Uk Chun

    (Korea University)

  • Ziya Ete

    (Durham University)

  • Fil J. Arenas

    (United State Air Force Air University, Maxwell Air Force Base)

  • Joel A. Scherer

    (United State Air Force Air University, Maxwell Air Force Base)

Abstract

Evidence from a growing number of studies suggests leader character as a means to advance leadership knowledge and practice. Based on this evidence, we propose a process model depicting how leader character manifests in ethical leadership that has positive psychological and performance outcomes for leaders, along with the moderating effect of leaders’ self-control on the character strength–ethical leadership–outcomes relationships. We tested this model using multisource data from 218 U.S. Air Force officers (who rated their honesty/humility, empathy, moral courage, self-control, and psychological flourishing) and their subordinates (who rated their officer’s ethical leadership) and superiors (who rated the officers’ in-role performance). Findings provide initial support for leader character as a mechanism triggering positive outcomes such that only when officers reported a high level of self-control did their honesty/humility, empathy, and moral courage manifest in ethical leadership, associated with higher levels of psychological flourishing and in-role performance. We discuss the implications of these results for future theory development, research, and practice.

Suggested Citation

  • John J. Sosik & Jae Uk Chun & Ziya Ete & Fil J. Arenas & Joel A. Scherer, 2019. "Self-control Puts Character into Action: Examining How Leader Character Strengths and Ethical Leadership Relate to Leader Outcomes," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 160(3), pages 765-781, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:jbuset:v:160:y:2019:i:3:d:10.1007_s10551-018-3908-0
    DOI: 10.1007/s10551-018-3908-0
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Al Halbusi, Hussam & Ruiz-Palomino, Pablo & Williams, Kent A., 2023. "Ethical leadership, subordinates’ moral identity and self-control: Two- and three-way interaction effect on subordinates’ ethical behavior," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 165(C).
    2. Dongkyu Kim & Dongwon Choi & Seung Yeon Son, 2024. "Does Ethical Voice Matter? Examining How Peer Team Leader Ethical Voice and Role Modeling Relate to Ethical Leadership," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 192(1), pages 113-128, June.
    3. Ziya Ete & Olga Epitropaki & Qin Zhou & Les Graham, 2022. "Leader and Organizational Behavioral Integrity and Follower Behavioral Outcomes: The Role of Identification Processes," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 176(4), pages 741-760, April.
    4. Carlos Ferreira Peralta & Maria Francisca Saldanha & Paulo Nuno Lopes & Paulo Renato Lourenço & Leonor Pais, 2021. "Does Supervisor’s Moral Courage to Go Beyond Compliance Have a Role in the Relationships Between Teamwork Quality, Team Creativity, and Team Idea Implementation?," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 168(4), pages 677-696, February.
    5. Muhammad Arshad & Ghulam Abid & Francoise Venezia Contreras Torres, 2021. "Impact of prosocial motivation on organizational citizenship behavior: the mediating role of ethical leadership and leader–member exchange," Quality & Quantity: International Journal of Methodology, Springer, vol. 55(1), pages 133-150, February.
    6. Alina Beattrice VLADU & Dan Dacian CUZDRIOREAN, 2022. "Considerations on the Improvement of Ethical Decision Making in the Accounting Profession," CECCAR Business Review, Body of Expert and Licensed Accountants of Romania (CECCAR), vol. 3(1), pages 44-52, January.
    7. Brenda Nguyen & Mary Crossan, 2022. "Character-Infused Ethical Decision Making," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 178(1), pages 171-191, June.
    8. Gouri Mohan & Gerard Seijts & Ryan Miller, 2023. "Does Leader Character Have a Gender?," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 188(1), pages 169-186, November.
    9. Mary Monalisa Nainggolan & Lamhot Naibaho, 2022. "The Integration of Kohlberg Moral Development Theory with Education Character," Technium Social Sciences Journal, Technium Science, vol. 31(1), pages 203-212, May.

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