In his novel “Animal Farm” George Orwell touches on the issue of justice in relation to leadership. The pigs that represent the government’s elite proclaim that “All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others!”. Justice has two facets:
1. A sense of duty towards the greater good.
2. Impartial treatment of fellow human beings.
Those driven by justice believe all men are equal, irrespective of age, race, gender, or socioeconomic status, and they act per those core beliefs. Justice is for everyone, but it is more significant for leaders because they assume responsibility and authority over their followers and the organization. And as such, they must advocate the wellbeing of the entire group and that of the larger community.
The implementation of equitable rules and regulations is imperative to endorsing justice. Research shows that workforce performance suffers when employees feel mistreated. A fundamental component of just leadership is ensuring that followers enjoy the same rights as their leaders. Leaders must be unbiased in their judgment of others and model high standards of ethical conduct. Leaders are tasked with upholding justice by redressing acts of injustice perpetrated by others in their group or organization.
During a group coaching session, a person expressed his belief that life is unfair. This resulted in intense feelings of physical distress. Upon exploration, it was evident that a sense of hopelessness is at the core of his suffering at a basic level. And the coaching went in the direction of exploring how the negative attitudes, which may have been helpful at a particular time, are now creating an unhealthy reality. The conversation culminated in appreciating the gift of life and all the feelings that come with it.
What resonated most with you?
Come with me let’s lead together #leadfromyoursoul
References
Johnson, C. E. (2015). Meeting the Ethical Challenges of Leadership (5th ed.). London: SAGE Publications.
Orwell, G. (1903-1950) Animal Farm: A Fairy Story. New York: The New American Library
Viswesvaran, C & Ones, D.S. (2002). Examining the Construct of Organizational Justice: A Meta-Analytic Evaluation of Relations with Work Attitudes and Behaviors. Journal of Business Ethics, 38, 193-203.
