Ethics & Power

Inhibition, Rules, Hypocrisy, and Sucking Up

Inhibition
In communicating with subordinates, powerful people tend to be uninhibited. Their messages are often too candid and potentially inappropriate.

Keltner, D., Gruenfeld, D. H, & Anderson, C. (2003). Power, approach, and inhibition. Psychological Review, 110, 265-284.

ImplicationsThe powerful
Exercise little self control
Frequent emotional outbursts and anger

Act selfishly
Take more than their share

Violate social norms of conduct

Embarrass themselves and/or break the law

So, how can we use this information about inhibition and the powerful?
Client control.
Help them be the best they can be Quote them in a diplomatic tone

Remind them about the consequences of leaks, false impressions, innuendos. Make sure they have loyal admins and assistants. Speak Truth to Power. Other ideas and experiences?

Rules
Powerful people use a different ethical framework than powerless people.
When deciding right from wrong, powerful people rely on rules/policies/codes. In contrast, powerless people rely on consequences, outcomes, and results.
Lammers, J., & Stapel, D.A. (2009). How power influences moral thinking. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 97, 279-289.

Rules
Powerful people use a different ethical framework than powerless people.
When deciding right from wrong, powerful people rely on rules/policies/codes. In contrast, powerless people rely on consequences, outcomes, and results.
Lammers, J., & Stapel, D.A. (2009). How power influences moral thinking. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 97, 279-289.

In ethics, both modes of reasoning are legitimate

Implications The powerful

See the proliferation and refinement of a code as a good tool in minimizing unethical behavior. Find unconvincing those arguments that justify rule violations with consequences. Ignore the strength of a consequentialist argument.

So, how can we use this information about the powerful?

Help executives value consequentialist justifications for code/rule violations. Encourage executives to listen to subordinates explanations and justifications. Remind executives that consequentialist explanations are compelling. Other ideas and experiences?

Hypocrisy
Powerful people condemn other peoples cheating while at the same time cheating themselves.

Lammers, J., Stapel, D. A., & Galinsky, A. D. 2010. Power increases hypocrisy. Psychological Science, 21 (5): 737-744.

ImplicationsThe powerful
Are strict with rule violators.
Feel entitled to tell others how to behave Are predisposed to judge others

Are lenient about whether they have to follow the rules.

Tend to be oblivious to their own rule violations

So, how can we use this information about the powerful?

A lack of self-awareness is usually the core problem, and this is not easily addressed. Sharing the perceptions of others (this is how what you are doing is seen). Story telling about other executives hypocrisy. Other ideas and experiences?

Sucking Up
The powerful are heavily influenced by sucking up if it is done in a sophisticated way. The study focused on what ingratiation tactics led people to being nominated as an outside director. Simple sucking up did not work, but sophisticated sucking up did.
Stern, I., & Westphal, J. D. 2010. Stealthy Footsteps to the Boardroom: Executives Backgrounds, Sophisticated Interpersonal Influence Behavior, and Board Appointments. Administrative Science Quarterly, 55, 278-319.

Distinctions-Simple sucking up Flattery Sophisticated sucking up Framing flattery as likely to make Perceived as insincere the target uncomfortable Perceived as manipulative Framing flattery as advice seeking Complimenting target to targets friend Being a yes man Arguing prior to agreeing Perceived as insincere Perceived as manipulative Agreeing with target to a 3rd party Referencing common social affiliations before sucking up

So, how can we use this information about the powerful?

The powerful are vulnerable to sophisticated sucking up. Alerting the powerful when others are using sophisticated sucking up may increase healthy skepticism. Using sophisticated sucking up to advance ethical action may be justified. Other ideas and experiences?

So, how does power corrupt? The powerful are prone to:
Low self-control Insensitivity toward good consequentialist reasoning Hypocrisy Manipulation by sophisticated brown-nosers.