Transformational Leadership and Asian Indian Values: Duty, Selfless Service, and Nonviolence

Abstract

As reports increase of scandals and unethical behavior in Western corporations and organizations, public faith in leadership has declined, indicating the need for a reevaluation of what makes a good leader. We propose a transformational style of ethical leadership, supplemented by traditional Indian values, for leadership that focuses on duty, selfless service, and nonviolence. We address Indian cultural values of dharma, karma–yoga, and ahimsa in reference to transformational leadership, highlighting the contributions of influential Indian leaders like Mohandas K. Gandhi. We describe the consonance of these values and counseling psychology ideals, as well as their applications for leadership practice, training, and research.