Discuss the below in detail:
Role of a Leader in Shaping Organizational Behavior and Ethics
A Leader has a great role in shaping the organizational values and ethics. The leader makes policy decisions that guide other employees on the behaviors. Their action is also a major source of organizational behavior and ethics. The individual actions of the leader also influence how the other will perceive the ethics and shape the organizational behavior (Downe, Cowell, & Morgan, 2016). One of the effective ways of motivating people to act in a certain way is reinforcing the correct behaviors with beneficial and appealing rewards (Pinder, 2014). The implementation of the expectancy theory of motivation greatly encourages the acceptable ethical and behaviors in the given organization. Using this theory, a leader can provide the three motivational aspects of the theory to reinforce the acceptable behaviors
Through consistent policies, communication and the instance of acceptable organizational behaviors, the employees develop an expectation of being rewarded for behaving in a certain way (Pinder, 2014). This expectation fulfills the expectancy element. A leader will enforce this expectation by the evidence of rewards for the efforts within the organization. Once an employee achieves the set targets and behaviors, the instrumental aspect of the theory is fulfilled when such employees receive the reward as had been expected (Fudge & Schlacter, 1999).
The instrumental aspect confirms to the employees the significance of meeting the expected behavior.
In order for the rewards offered for ethical and correct behaviors in the organization to achieve the desired outcomes, it should have meaning and value to the employees. It is, therefore, crucial for the leader to identify and utilize the motivational elements that appeal to the needs of the employees. When the employees find benefits in the reward, they are most likely to seek more rewards by behaving in the acceptable ways (Pinder, 2014). Eventually, the beneficial rewards will reinforce and subsequently change the ethical and behavioral aspect of the employee, which will lead to a change in the organizational culture.
References
Downe, J., Cowell, R., & Morgan, K. (2016). What Determines Ethical Behavior in Public Organizations: Is It Rules or Leadership? Public Administration Review, 76(6), 898-909.
Fudge, R. S., & Schlacter, J. L. (1999). Motivating Employees to Act Ethically: An Expectancy Theory Approach. Journal of Business Ethics, 18(3), 295-304.
Pinder, C. C. (2014). Work Motivation in Organizational Behavior (2nd ed.). New York: Psychology Press