The purpose of this article is to examine the relationships between leadership, perceptions of interpersonal trustworthiness, and the elements of ethical stewnrdsliip - a construct of organizational governance thai has received increasing discussion in both the academic and practitioner literatures. | © Springer 2010 Journal of Business Ethics (2010) 96:497-512 DOI Leadership, Trustworthiness, and Ethical Stewardship ABSTPu^CT. Leaders in today's world face the challenge of earning the trust and commitment of organizational members if they expect to guide their companies to success in a highly compedrive global context. In this article, we present empirical results indicating that when leadership behaviors are perceived as trustworthy through the observer's mediating lens, trust increases and leaders are more likely to be viewed as ethical stewards who honor a higher level of duties. This article contributes to the growing body of hterature about the importance of ethical stewardship in the trust relationship. KEY WORDS leadership, trust, trustworthiness, ethical Stewardship, lens In writing about the ethical duties impUcit in leadership, James Carlopio (2002, p. 72) observed: "(t)oday's leaders must resist the powerful temptation of self-interest and must be motivated by broader values and principles *based on a morally estabhshed duty owed and a fiduciary obUgation"' Carlopio (2002. pp. 71—74) explained that this "ethical stewardship" approach to leadership was essential if leaders expected to earn the trust of others. Carlopio*s comments resonate with the growing body of leadership Hterature written ever since his comments were made, which emphasize both the key role of trustworthiness and the importance of an ethically virtuous stewardship model in the relationship between leaders and followers. Scholars and practitioners have increasingly acknowledged the gap of trust between leaders and followers, which undermines employees* commitment, unpairs wealth creation, and creates increased transaction costs in organizations throughout the world. The global marketplace has become both more competitive and more dependent on employees' Cam Caldwell Linda A. Hayes Do Tien Long creativity, commitment, and initiative to .
