Abstract
Leaders are held to the highest of standards in both performance and ethics. The same
is true for leaders in medicine. Thus, medical leaders must give attention to ethical
development as well as performance development. Virtue ethics provide a way for the
leader to develop ethically. Virtue ethics is the oldest form of ethics. Although
other ethical approaches focus on external considerations, virtue ethics focuses on
the inward development of character. Following the examples of virtuous people and
developing habits of virtue are critical with this approach. The cardinal virtues
of prudence, courage, temperance, and justice are considered the most important. Specific
virtue lists have also been developed for medical practitioners. All of these virtues
can contribute to the enhancement of leadership skills. The virtue approach is especially
helpful for leaders because it motivates one to excel in whatever endeavor pursued,
whether medicine, leadership, relationships, or life.
Keywords
leadership - ethics - virtues
