The role of character in ethical leadership research

The study of character is a legitimate and essential topic for the analysis of leadership in organizations. We undertake three key objectives in this article to stimulate meaningful dialogue. First, a brief historical overview of the extant body of literature on character is provided. Second, working definitions of character and character-based leadership are introduced. Third, new directions for organizational scholars interested in examining the role of character-based leadership in both their research and teaching domains are suggested.