Leadership visited: Integrity, character, and morality - More than perspiration or inspiration?

The tenth annual Delphine Hanna Lecture examines the process of leadership, both historically and from a contextual base. The paper develops the thesi s that to legitimize leadership, a moral base is an essential element. In e xamining leadership, the literature identifies three competing political cu ltures, a hierarchical, individualistic, or an egalitarian view. Each serve s to heighten assimilation or expand differences among those being served. Burns (1979) identifies power and authority as critical elements in the lea dership process as well. Burns' paper develops the thesis, though, that in the western world, authority legitimizes the acquisition of power. Moral le adership based upon trust is critical as we enter the new millennium. Even though there are cynics among us, individuals do exist who adopt a code of leadership based on ethical principles and a moral purpose. People follow b ecause they choose to. The paper argues that leadership based on an ethical and a moral base is essential as society changes, and we are challenged by issues reflective of the new millennium.