Page 239 - Effective group discussion theory and practice by Adams, Katherine H. Brilhart, John K. Galanes, Gloria J

222 Chapter 8

1. Do not intentionally send deceptive or harmful messages.
Tell the truth and hold truth as an appropriate standard for the group’s decision
making. Make sure that all relevant information, whether it supports your
position or not, is presented to the group and evaluated in an unbiased, fair way.
2. Place concern for others above concern for personal gain.
Don’t take advantage of the position you hold for personal gain or advantage
and don’t harm the self-esteem of members.
3. Establish clear policies that all group members are expected to follow.
Follow the same rules and norms you expect the members to follow.
4. Respect the opinions and attitudes of members.
This encourages equal opportunity for all to participate and supports
distributed leadership.
5. Stand behind members when they carry out policies and actions approved by the group.
Support members who carry out the plans of the group. Don’t save your own
skin by throwing members under the bus.
6. Treat members consistently, regardless of sex, ethnicity, or social background.
Minimize external status differences to encourage participation by all. Value
members for their contributions to the group.
As with other desirable behaviors, the leader should model ethical behavior that
will serve as a standard for members to follow. By doing so, the leader will help create
a climate of trust and a spirit of cohesiveness.

Recap: A Quick Review

ood leaders develop their members’ own leadership capabilities and skills and act
Gethically.

1. They help individuals grow by modeling the behavior they want others to adopt,
encouraging members’ contributions to the group’s process, and giving members
the opportunity to perform important functions for the group.
2. Leaders help establish and maintain trust by promoting norms that build trust,
confronting members who violate group norms and create problems, embracing the
group’s diversity, and being highly principled.
3. In promoting teamwork and cooperation, leaders plan fun activities and celebra-
tions for the group; serve as advocates and cheerleaders for the group to outsiders;
share rewards, including praise, with the group as a whole; seek group buy-in about
how to promote teamwork; confront members who are hurting the team; keep
arguments evidence-based, not personal; and look for ways to harmonize and
compromise divergent views.
4. For virtual groups, leaders are responsible for creating a cohesive virtual group
culture by actively paying attention to both the task and social needs of the group
and its members.
5. Ethical leaders tell the truth, put concern for others ahead of individual gain, estab-
lish clear policies that everyone is expected to follow, respect others’ opinions and
attitudes, stand behind members, and do not discriminate or show favoritism.

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