Difficult Interpersonal Situations in Leadership as Arenas of Ethical Leadership and Learning

Leadership in the Finnish social and health care field has changed significantly since the beginning of the 21st century. Its principles have become closer to those of business organizations, which demand cost-effectiveness. Superiors are expected to achieve more with dwindling personnel resources....

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Main Authors: Hannele Laaksonen, Marjukka Tenhunen
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Athens Institute for Education and Research 2023-03-01
Series:Athens Journal of Health and Medical Sciences
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.athensjournals.gr/health/2023-10-1-1-Laaksonen.pdf
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author Hannele Laaksonen
Marjukka Tenhunen
author_facet Hannele Laaksonen
Marjukka Tenhunen
author_sort Hannele Laaksonen
collection DOAJ
description Leadership in the Finnish social and health care field has changed significantly since the beginning of the 21st century. Its principles have become closer to those of business organizations, which demand cost-effectiveness. Superiors are expected to achieve more with dwindling personnel resources. This may have led to unethical leadership, which has negative effects on workplace wellbeing and coping at work. The purpose of this study was to chart the experiences of master’s degree students in leadership (N=54) regarding difficult leadership situations and what they learned from them. All the students had a bachelor’s degree and at least three years of work experience. The data were collected as narratives written as part of a course on personnel leadership, which were then analyzed using deductive content analysis. Ethical leadership in difficult personnel situations was seen as good communication skills and treating all subordinates as equals. Through their own example, ethical leaders created a work environment where all felt understood and respected. The respondents also learned how to recognize features of unethical leadership through their experiences. Further research should focus on superiors’ experiences of leadership, which factors lead to unethical actions and how unethical leadership can be avoided.
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spelling doaj.art-381511c5671f4313be00bd5c5ff86de42023-07-05T09:50:55ZengAthens Institute for Education and ResearchAthens Journal of Health and Medical Sciences2653-94112023-03-01101113010.30958/ajhms.10-1-1Difficult Interpersonal Situations in Leadership as Arenas of Ethical Leadership and LearningHannele Laaksonen0Marjukka Tenhunen1Principal Lecturer, Tampere University of Applied Sciences, FinlandService Supervisor, Pihlajalinna, FinlandLeadership in the Finnish social and health care field has changed significantly since the beginning of the 21st century. Its principles have become closer to those of business organizations, which demand cost-effectiveness. Superiors are expected to achieve more with dwindling personnel resources. This may have led to unethical leadership, which has negative effects on workplace wellbeing and coping at work. The purpose of this study was to chart the experiences of master’s degree students in leadership (N=54) regarding difficult leadership situations and what they learned from them. All the students had a bachelor’s degree and at least three years of work experience. The data were collected as narratives written as part of a course on personnel leadership, which were then analyzed using deductive content analysis. Ethical leadership in difficult personnel situations was seen as good communication skills and treating all subordinates as equals. Through their own example, ethical leaders created a work environment where all felt understood and respected. The respondents also learned how to recognize features of unethical leadership through their experiences. Further research should focus on superiors’ experiences of leadership, which factors lead to unethical actions and how unethical leadership can be avoided. https://www.athensjournals.gr/health/2023-10-1-1-Laaksonen.pdfcommunicationethical leadershipinteractionlearning through workunethical leadership
spellingShingle Hannele Laaksonen
Marjukka Tenhunen
Difficult Interpersonal Situations in Leadership as Arenas of Ethical Leadership and Learning
Athens Journal of Health and Medical Sciences
communication
ethical leadership
interaction
learning through work
unethical leadership
title Difficult Interpersonal Situations in Leadership as Arenas of Ethical Leadership and Learning
title_full Difficult Interpersonal Situations in Leadership as Arenas of Ethical Leadership and Learning
title_fullStr Difficult Interpersonal Situations in Leadership as Arenas of Ethical Leadership and Learning
title_full_unstemmed Difficult Interpersonal Situations in Leadership as Arenas of Ethical Leadership and Learning
title_short Difficult Interpersonal Situations in Leadership as Arenas of Ethical Leadership and Learning
title_sort difficult interpersonal situations in leadership as arenas of ethical leadership and learning
topic communication
ethical leadership
interaction
learning through work
unethical leadership
url https://www.athensjournals.gr/health/2023-10-1-1-Laaksonen.pdf
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AT marjukkatenhunen difficultinterpersonalsituationsinleadershipasarenasofethicalleadershipandlearning