New Research Validates Broader Tool to Assess Ethical Leadership 

16.10.2024

Wittenborg Assistant Professor Fahad Shakeel Co-Authors Study on Ethical Leadership

A recent study has empirically validated a new measurement scale of ethical leadership using data from public sector officials in the Netherlands, including those working in education, the police force and municipalities. This new tool integrates various leadership styles, offering a more comprehensive view of ethical leadership.

The research by Fahad Shakeel, Assistant Professor at Wittenborg, along with co-authors Peter Kruyen and Sandra Van Thiel, was published in the International Journal of Public Leadership and further highlights the multiple facets within the broader framework of ethical leadership.

In the paper titled ‘Ethical Leadership in the Netherlands: Testing the Broader Conceptualisation and Measurement Scale,’ Shakeel explains, “This study tests and validates a broader ethical leadership scale (BELS), that considers a leader's self-moral values, human rights, leader learning, ethical competence and environmental concerns, including society and future generations.”

The BELS scale addresses a range of ethical concerns linked to various leadership styles:

Virtuous Leadership focuses on integrity.
Authentic Leadership emphasises alignment with personal values.
Positive Leadership promotes self-regulation and optimism.
Moral Management adheres to legal and organisational rules.
Professionally Grounded Leadership centres on legal and organisational principles.
Servant Leadership is concerned with the well-being of others.
Spiritual Leadership extends its focus to the broader community.
CSR Leadership addresses environmental and social responsibilities.
Transformational Leadership aims for significant change and improvement.

Around 909 respondents rated how well the statements matched their leadership style on a 5-point scale. The questionnaire was piloted and reviewed before finalising the measurement scale.

Using exploratory factor analysis and AMOS (Analysis of Moment Structures), the study validated the BELS, identifying a one-factor solution with 33 items as the most effective. “Our goal was to create a practical tool for assessing ethical leadership, which is more authentic in the present day,” Shakeel said. “While this is an important step, further research is needed to explore BELS in other contexts, such as the private sector and across different cultures and industries.”

Shakeel added, “The validation of BELS confirms that ethical leadership is not isolated from other leadership styles but integrates various ethical components. This provides a more complete understanding of ethical leadership.”

Shakeel concluded, “We hope the BELS contributes to the existing literature on ethical leadership by bridging classical and contemporary views. It offers a clearer perspective on the evolving nature of virtues and depicts what constitutes effective ethical leadership in today’s changing environment.”