The leading edge of ethics leadership and management: Recent books

Perhaps more than at any time in recent memory, there has been a crisis of ethics in public life. In a setting where public sentiment could seemingly not be more divided—the citizenry more distrustful of official public actors and their capacities to protect the public interest —catastrophic stories of failure have become common. The stories have elements of bad management, bureaucracy, lack of transparency, and harm caused through negligence approaching and indeed surpassing the criminal. From the flagrant handling of the Flint, Michigan water crisis to the harm done to young women participating in USA Gymnastics, both involving public organizations, it seems at times that not only have people in public positions failed to rise to the level of service, they have caused irreparable harm to those they were charged with protecting and encouraging, through omission or commission. To hear some in the public sector tell the tale, leadership is helping society to achieve all-time highs in productivity and strength. Considering situations where ego-driven rhetoric has failed to prevent public missteps, though, one may reasonably question both the overconfidence and aptitude of public leaders to make sense of ethical dilemmas on behalf of the public, when the interests of many are still not being protected. This is not a partisan issue—it is a critical juncture, possibly a defining moment for public work, and an opportunity to consider values, means, and obligations in the public sphere. Public officials often fall short, and the duty of public office is sacred; there is an immediate need to chart a course forward, to understand ethical demands of public work, and to educate future administrators in ways that increase capacity to encounter and successfully address challenges as they arise. There is a need to do better, regain trust, learn, and lead. This essay reviews two books on topics related to ethical leadership and management. The first, edited by Jurkiewicz and Giacalone, takes readers through a review of recent scholarship on ethical leadership. The second, by Ireni-Saban & Berdugo, considers management of ethics in the public service from a sensory angle.Journal ArticleFinal article publishedBook Revie