Passionate leadership inspires an ethical corporate culture

Cutting-edge insight into developing ethical corporate cultures will be imparted to students at the Dubai campus of London Business School this week. David De Cremer, a specialist in behavioural business ethics at the School, will be lecturing on his latest research into ethics in the workplace and the importance of passionate and charismatic leaders.

In the aftermath of international corruption scandals, Professor De Cremer’s research has focused on the methods of promoting moral values and ethical approaches in a corporate environment. His research shows that leadership is one of the most important factors in encouraging ethical behaviour in the work place: employees become more aware of moral values when their leaders have contagious passion.

During Professor De Cremer’s research, he found that asking employees to recall encounters with passionate leaders automatically made them more aware and attentive to moral values. Those leaders who are perceived as passionate were also considered to possess a strong moral compass. It meant that employees were more encouraged to look out for, as well as report, ethical misconduct.

Professor De Cremer said: “The best leaders are those who leave their footprints in the areas of passion. Looking at some of the megabrands around, we can easily identifypassionate leaders who inspired their employees in amazing ways, such as Steve Jobs (Apple), Larry Page (Google) and David Neeleman (JetBlue).

“Charismatic qualities are needed to enhance moral and fair values to help endure crises. In other words, those leading with contagious passion are considered to possess a strong moral compass.”

Professor De Cremer has been recipient of many scientific awards, including the British Psychology Society award for ‘Outstanding PH.D. Thesis in Social Psychology’ and, in 2000, received the Innovation Research Grant from the Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research, the youngest ever recipient of the award.

Professor De Cremer will be teaching at the Dubai campus of London Business School from 20 to 23 April.