The Ethical Consequences of Excessive Pursuit of Fame, Fortune, and Power on Workplace Relationships

Abstract

Ambition, fame, fortune, and the acquisition of power are sometimes conflated, particularly in terms of ambition and its relationship to success as an organizational leader. But selfish and excessive ambition has negative ethical implications regarding workplace associations and ethical climate. This paper discusses the negative ethical implications of excessive ambition from a utilitarian and Kohlbergian perspective of ethical principles and organizational leadership. Utilitarianism as an ethical principle suggests that the outcomes of organizational ambition should provide a net gain in happiness and that selfish and excessive ambition has negative implications. Kohlberg's model of ethical principles and leadership indicates that selfish and excessive ambition is a negative aspect of organizational leadership, resulting from an ethical leader's heightened capacity for ethical reasoning.