LEADERSHIP COMMUNICATION AND ETHICS

Prepared by:
Name: Nurul Atika Binti Zaini
Matrix Number: 255326

Submitted as part of the coursework requirement

SCCA2103 LEADERSHIP COMMUNICATION

To
DR. JOYCE CHEAH LYNN-SZE
on (14 March 2019)
(Semester Feb, sesi 2018/19)

SCHOOL OF MULTIMEDIA TECHNOLOGY AND COMMUNICATION

COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES, UNIVERSITI UTARA MALAYSIA
1.0 Introduction

In this continuous changing atmosphere, where the globalization and liberalization are at
universally, then the leadership must find effective motivation methods in order to keep the
talented employees in the organization. The ethics behavior is directly linked to leadership in
organization life. I would like to choose the title of Leadership Communication and Ethics.
However, leadership is broadly seen having the important roles in the development of the ethical
behavior area in the organization so that is able to avoid the employees from unethical such as
bribes, employee theft, and abusive behavior.

Besides that, communication can be defined as a process of the dual way by which senders
and receiver that contain information where to help the persons understands, fulfills the task or
encountered the eventual issues (Florea N.V., et al. 2016). Communication is very essential in our
daily life but especially in an organization itself where the employees and employer need to
transfer the data or information so that the organization able to operate very well and smoothly.
Then, the great process of communication will increase the development, motivation and work
satisfaction.

Therefore, leadership may be defined as being a process of guidance and influencing others
especially employees in an organization and creating of interpersonal relationship for the
accomplishment the goals of the organization be able to bring satisfaction to an employee (Florea
N.V., et al. 2016). In the other hand, it helps to induce the employees to work with a high level of
confidence. The leader is the main player in the organization to ensure the employee doing well in
their job scope and they obey an order that given to employee so that can operate in harmony
environment and help to boost the motivation among all employees if the environment in a good
condition.
 Moreover, ethics is more concerned about which is good for individual or society and it
also described as moral philosophy. The type of ethics that need to practice in the business is
honesty, integrity, loyalty and so on. Ethics is more useful in our daily life, especially when to
make a decision which ethics does provide good tools for thinking about moral issues. However,
ethics does not give the right answer to the problems because the decision of ethics needs to depend
on the situation. For example, the unethical always happened in an institute or organizations which
is corporate fraud that means corporation deceives someone or public to gain some sort of
advantage to which it is not entitled.

In conclusion, communication is the key to be a great leader in the organization, institution,

and ethics is the behavior that able to lead the leader to make a right decision in the organization
at the same time can satisfied everyone. Even though the leader had possessed all the quality of
leadership but not communicate very well towards others it will never be a great leader.
2.0 Leadership Communication and Ethics

Leadership is the person that has highly skilled and authority to control an organization or
institute especially in made a decision because he or she needs to take the responsibility from
decision what they made. Then, a leader also needs to encourage themselves and others to do the
right things and in the same time leader is responsible to create something new that can improve
an organization, create a motivating vision and set a right direction. However, as a leader, they
need to use their skills in terms of their knowledge in management to guide others to the right
place so that can steadily improve current performance.

2.1 The Importance Of Leadership Communication In Obtaining The Employee Performance

First of all the first main idea that have in the article, Leadership Communication is An
Efficient Way to Motivate Human Capital which is the importance of leadership communication
in obtaining the employee performance. As usual, we knew leader and communication cannot be
separated because both of that has a relationship in a way to deliver the message clearly and
smoothly to another party as well. The leadership communication explains the creating direction
and desirable, attainable goal for the future, empowerment, and creativity in order to gain useful
change. Then it helps to obtain the high-quality of product in which to satisfy the customer
managers need to communicate effectively with employees in order to motivate (Florea N.V., et
al. 2016). In general, the leader is usually will give motivation to employees by following the
formal policies of the company, but some of the leaders get from employees without ordering or
forcing them to complete the task that given. This has happened because it reflects how the leader
itself communicate with the group of employees and how their relationship is good or not with
each other.

Next, to make an effect to motivate human capital, leadership need to accomplish functions
in the organization such as functions for group needs. These function works well when the leader
creating the team spirit, make certain communication and sustaining the discipline among
employees and itself as well. Then, functions for leader most essential, which is creating the goals
to be achieved, create a relationship with other employees from a different field so that able to
share the information together. As we can see communication is functioning most important to
satisfying group needs. To motivate others especially in institution or organizations among the
employees, the leader must have many skills that can be an example for others to follow such as
listening about others problem, critical thinking in terms of make a decision about any issues that
happen, giving an attention and always observing what happened surrounding at the same time
able to take care about employees welfare and last but not least leader able to ability to motivate
others so that the firm will keep improving time to time. So, the motivation degree is depending
on the leader qualities, but also the implication of employees (Florea N.V., et al. 2016).

Moreover, in this article is also provide the research about the issues and their objective
which is to analyze if the employees will be more satisfied and more committed to those incentive-
based organizations and those skilled leaders (Florea N.V., et al. 2016). From the result of data
research that had been recorded in the article, here we can conclude the performance in the
organization and institution by leadership can be so well if have good communication and at the
same ability to maintain the positive image of the company as well. However, have a formula that
suits to practice which is RACE stands for Research, Action, Communication, and Evaluation. This
formula discusses to improve internal communication between leaders and employees with outside
effects. Research measures the analysis of internal communication and improves the future and
the example of actions which is to develop the effective rules that able to be practiced in the future.
Next, Action is creating a clear objective that able to communicate with employees in time, the
action is such as implementing a clear analysis by using SWOT, PDCA, and Benchmarking.
Communication is measure apply the application that makes communication easier such as
acquiring performing IT programs in order to determine a just-in-time (Florea N.V., et al. 2016).
Lastly, Evaluation is able to create the standard for their achieving, such as clear the objective of
communication so that employees are able to understand and measure their efficiency in time
(Florea N.V., et al. 2016).

In a nutshell, communication makes a possible for the organization success in management

because by communication leader is able to conduct the employee itself and make an orientation
towards performance. Communication must have a foundation to create the information,
education, teamwork, motivation to encourage individual development.
2.2 To Improve The Understanding On The Significance Of Leadership In Internal Communication
Then, the title of the next article is The Role of Ethical Leadership in Internal Communication.
In this article they explained about a linkage between ethical leader conduct, integrity, and leader
credibility, the main point is to improve the understanding on the significance of leadership in
internal communication by placing a particular emphasis on ethical leadership. Ethical elements
in leadership are the most important in achieving the goals and maintaining the good image of the
company in the future. A company that practice ethics in their company will have a good reputation
on the society eyes and other company will believe them when want to make a business. The
relationship between ethical leadership and internal communication will improve by time to time
if the leader practice ethics and also can give some motivation to employees to work more hard
work.

According to Men L.R., (2015) there have three types of dimension that reflect the concept of
ethical leadership such as fair treatment, power-sharing, and role clarification. Fair treatment
defines as treat others or employees fairly in the workplace because it is necessary to ensure the
maximum company growth. For instances, promote an employee especially based on their
qualification and performance in their job not because of their personal relationship or appearance.
It will cause unfair to the other employees who are hard work and perform in their job scope.
Moreover, power sharing is the strategy of resolving disputes and sharing the responsibility
between different groups. For example, the ethical leader of allowing followers to have a role in
decision making and listening to their opinions and concerns (Men L.R., 2015). Lastly, role
clarification is an ethical leader help team member perform more effectively and is essential for a
high-performing work team. For example, requires ethical leaders to be transparent and engage in
open communication to clarify responsibilities, expectations, and performance roles (Men L.R.,
2015).

Next, symmetrical internal communication is explained about features two-way information

flow and equal dialogues among the organization, its leaders, and low-level employees (Men L.R.,
2015). The effectiveness of symmetrical communication can give benefit to everyone in an
organization. Ethical leadership positively influences the symmetrical internal communication of
an organization. Then, leader credibility which an employee will be persuaded to accept ideas and
information depends on the credibility of the leaders (Men L.R., 2015). Sometimes credibility
also defines as trustworthiness and expertise. Trustworthiness is assessment of whether the
communicator will be inclined to tell the truth and expertise is assessment of whether the
communicator is in a position to know the truth and what is right or wrong (Men L.R., 2015).

In addition, an article also provides research about the issue of management and leadership
behavior in background tone in the organizational internal communication. From the research that
had finished the highly positive which is ethical leadership influences on the organizational
symmetrical internal communication. Ethical leadership is open to accept another perspective even
different with he or she perspective, are willing to share power with employees and allows other
employees to make a decision. As ethical leaders are seen as role models and group members will
experience ethical leader behaviors as identity information, these leaders will be more trusted. The
ethical leadership is able to act as a role model to promote ethical practice and spread the positive
vibes at the working environment by rewarding ethical conduct. Moreover, ethical leaders use
open and transparent communication to clarify their role or goal expectations, listen to employees
concerns and opinions, and foster mutual understanding (Men L.R., 2015). In conclusion, the
ethical and symmetric internal communication needs to be influenced by each other to make it
more effective.

2.3 To Explain The Relationship Between Ethical Leadership And Employees Linked To
Employee Moral Voice
The third main point, the title of the article is Linking Ethical Leadership and Moral Voice. In
this article, the main point is to explain the relationship between ethical leadership and employees
linked to employee moral voice through trust in the leader and moral effectiveness. Ethical
leadership is important in playing the role in the organization to promoting the desirable employee
attitude and behavior, job satisfaction and job performance as well. According to Yuan, et al.
(2018) found that leader-member exchange theory (LMX) partially mediated the effects of ethical
leadership on employee voice behavior and suggested that future studies should seek to identify
other variables (such as self-efficacy and trust) that could mediate and moderate the relationship
between ethical leadership and employee voice behavior.
 However, in this article explain about three-way interaction effects on moral voice. Ethical
leadership is always made a decision on the basic ethical standard, it will show concerns for others
with an open mind, take responsibility what decision has been made and is guided by a principle
of justice and rights. Refer to this article actually, the moral voice used defines as any attempt to
speak out against objectionable state of affairs in general and unethical issues in particular (Afsar
B., et al. 2018). For example, if the employee mentions the problem in the organization and
suggests a new idea, it will make the leaders feel the voicing behavior as criticism and labeling the
employees as the troublemaker. According to Afsar B., et al. (2018) there is an even greater fear
and personal risk involved in moral voice because the proactive reaction to critical work-related
issues, unethical decisions or injustices within the workgroup or organization might entail backlash
or retaliation from the targets of moral voice.

Then, the moral voice needs to give extra attention due to it is potential keeping the
organization healthy and stable. The position is used by a moral manager to proactively promote
ethical behavior over the use of communication and role modeling. Furthermore, inside the
organization is more involved in open communication rather than outside of an organization and
it to help the organization make the development. According to Xu, et al. (2017) propose that when
followers believe their leaders are trustworthy, they find it relatively easy to engage in risky
behaviors such as raising voice against irregularities.

The article also had research that related to the issue. From the research, the relationship
between the leadership and moral voice had the strongest positive relationship when both trusts in
leader and leader-follower value correspondence were high. Ethical leadership was most effective
at increasing moral voice for employees when they had high levels of trust in leaders. Therefore,
leaders should actively share their personal ethical values and ideals with their followers (Afsar
B., et al. 2018).In conclusion, the leadership responsibilities what they practice in the organization
because if the leader not practice ethics employee will follow the same and will ruin the image and
relationship between employee and manager as well. The employee also needs to take an action
such as a report to the management if the leader does not practice ethics such take bribes.
3.0 Conclusion and Opinion

In conclusion, from the all three points that point out we can see the ethical leadership and
communication is related between each other because it helps a lot in transfer the information and
at the same practice the ethical attitude to make the organization more sustainable. General
leadership is good leadership in the ethical sense and it creates community, encourages autonomy
and intends the common good in its purposes also practices. It is also referred to good leadership
in that it promotes development and organizational replenishment, to ensuring the success and the
effectiveness of organizations.

From the first point here I can conclude which is leadership communication most important
in developing an efficient way to motivate human capital. From my perspective, as usual, we are
human being need a positive vibes and thinking as well as communication. By compliment with
positive words, we are as human will feel more confident and able to perform the task successfully
and reach the goal of the company. The example from the business view which is a compliment
from leader to employee can boost their motivation in work at the same time it will help to increase
the performance and by using the polite words able to create a close relationship. From there we
can see the key to success in organization or relation communication is the key. However,
leadership communication is able to shape the disciplined attitude of employees, creative and
innovative and open-minded.

Then, as a leader needs to take the time to meet, listen and observe employee and see how
they interact with other rest of the team. Besides that, the leader needs to ensure conservation with
an employee focused on the value of their employee contribution. To make the leader better they
need to be direct and specific about what they want to speak. For example, which is delivering the
task or ask for assistance from an employee. It the order receive clearly then the task will be done
on time and do not happen the situation where employee feel stressed or forcing by the leader to
finish their task and the employee performance will increase by time to time. The leader also needs
to hear more than speak and respectful is help encourage open communication within a group of
employees. So that employee able to respond and give perception and idea as well about their task
is given by the leader.
 Furthermore, from the second article, I can conclude which is the main point have to improve
such as the leader needs to give attention or observe the employee do in the organization. For
instance, always follow up all the task given and try to communicate either the employee able to
finish the task or not. Then, an authentic and credible communications program can help persuade
and inform employees on your intentions and successes, and this, in turn, can accelerate your
impact on the organization. From that practice, ethical leadership is respect to another in terms of
delivery and accept the information as well where the leader has the credibility to handle it. For
me symmetric communication mention in that article, it helps to improve the internal
communication in an organization which is we can see the positive relationship and result from
the research.

However, I think the organization also need to practice not to bias in an organization because
it will affect the reputation of the organization as well. The ethical leader will treat fairly between
each other. The leader needs to avoid bias in an organization so that employees will feel more
comfortable and able to get along with internal communication. For example, nowadays in an
organization is more diverse, whether with race or sexual orientation and preferences, some
unexposed biases are being called out then the leader need to be fair which is not given the high
salary based on race, do not promote employee based on appearance because it will ruin the
organization and other people will talk badly about the management.

Last but not least, the third point is about the relationship between ethical leadership and
employees linked to employee moral voice is most effective in terms of make an improvement in
the organization. From my perspective, psychological safety also can implement the method to
make effective because is shared belief among work unit members that it is safe for them to engage
in interpersonal risk-taking (Hu Y. et al., 2018) However, psychological safety also can be affected
both personal factors. Psychological safety goes beyond perceiving and experiencing high levels
of interpersonal trust. For example, the leader will worry about their voice will lead to
misunderstanding to employees and cause a failure in a relationship and the factors of surrounding
will affect and influences of voice behavior as well.
4.0 Reference

Bilal Afsar, Asad Shahjehan, (2018) "Linking ethical leadership and moral voice: The effects of
moral efficacy, trust in leader, and leader-follower value congruence", Leadership & Organization
Development Journal, Vol. 39 Issue: 6, pp.775-793, https://doi.org/10.1108/LODJ-01-2018-0015

Hu, Y., Zhu, L., Zhou, M., Li, J., Maguire, P., Sun, H., & Wang, D. (2018). Exploring the Influence
of Ethical Leadership on Voice Behavior: How Leader-Member Exchange, Psychological Safety
and Psychological Empowerment Influence Employees' Willingness to Speak Out. Frontiers in
psychology, 9, 1718. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2018.01718

Linjuan Rita Men. (2015).The Role of Ethical Leadership in Internal Communication: Influences
on Communication Symmetry, Leader Credibility, and Employee Engagement. The Public
relations journal. 9.

Nicoleta Valentina FLOREA & Raluca GÎLMEANU (MANEA), 2016. "Leadership

Communication-An Efficient Way to Motivate Human Capital," Management and Marketing
Journal, University of Craiova, Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, vol. 0(1),
pages 101-117, May.

Yuan, L., Zhang, L. and Tu, Y. (2018), “When a leader is seen as too humble: a curvilinear
mediation model linking leader humility to employee creative process engagement”, Leadership
& Organization Development Journal, Vol. 39 No. 4, pp. 468-481.

Xu, S., Van Hoof, H., Serrano, A.L., Fernandez, L. and Ullauri, N. (2017), “The role of coworker
support in the relationship between moral efficacy and voice behavior: the case of hospitality
students in Ecuador”, Journal of Human Resources in Hospitality & Tourism, Vol. 16 No. 3, pp.
252-269.