Virtuous leadership for the new normal: Identifying leadership virtues in a Philippine leadership program

• Main Authors: Aguiling, Maria Adiel H., Racelis, Aliza
• Format: text
• Published: Animo Repository 2021
• Subjects: Leadership; Leadership Studies
• Online Access: https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/faculty_research/8687
• Institution: De La Salle University

We are living through a global health crisis with no modern-day precedent. What is needed now, more than ever, is “real leadership” - one that would sharply perceive the needs of the moment, and allow the much-needed recovery and achievement of goals sooner, more and better. Recently, relational and values-based leadership models have emerged, and virtuous leadership is one of these. In Aristotelian ethics, the cultivation of virtuous or good behavior is the key to achieving happiness or human flourishing. Leaders and followers can find meaning in these ancient components of the virtue paradigm, which gives central importance to the character and moral excellence. This study generates theories on virtuous leadership by studying a leadership program of a Philippine foundation that advocates the exercise of virtues in young leader trainees amid the circumstances of daily life. Seven theoretical propositions are presented. First, in organizations that emphasize virtues, followers can identify, articulate, and appreciate specific leader virtues. Second, virtuous leadership elicits the trust and respect of followers. Third, leaders who are supportive, concerned, respectful, and friendly allay the problems of the youth and help them face and cope with the present situation. Fourth, leaders need to balance control in order to promote initiative, courage, and resilience. Fifth, virtue-oriented programs and the virtuousness of role models influence the youth to be adaptive and improve their behavior. Sixth, the virtues of leaders motivate trainees towards higher-level needs such as self-actualization. Seventh, in organizations that instill the habit of social action, the followers value moral virtues and are more conscious of the need to practice solidarity and sympathy. The paper elucidated how the virtuous leadership in a Philippine leadership program reflects the needed leadership for the new normal. It also presented how the program that advocates virtues prepares the followers for leadership in the new normal.