Leadership Fatigue

The world needs ethical and moral leaders, and past research has supported the efficacy of ethical and moral leadership. However, leaders in a variety of organizational contexts consistently fail morally and ethically, and the literature has not adequately addressed multiple variables that may be the underlying cause of ethical and moral failure. In particular, past research has indicated that high-profile leaders are more susceptible to ethical and moral leadership failures than other leaders (Johnson, 2013; Rhode, 2006; Tichy & McGill, 2003). However, the literature has not explored how being high profile may contribute to PTS or leadership fatigue. In spite of volumes of research on ethical and moral leadership, decision-making processes, and training advancements designed to stop leadership failure, organizations still struggle to prevent unethical decision making and behavior (De Cremer et al., 2010; Midgen, 2015). Furthermore, a significant gap exists in the research regarding the concept of leadership fatigue and its effect on ethical and moral decision making.

Furthermore, very few studies have addressed the psychological state of King David, especially as it relates to combat trauma. However, Ruthven and Ruthven’s (2001) research into major depressive disorder (MDD) offers insight into the mental health of King David. The symptoms of MDD include (a) depressed mood, (b) lack of interest in normal activities, (c) dramatic weight loss/gain, (d) insomnia, (e) physical agitation, (f) general fatigue, (g) excessive feelings of guilt, (h) loss of concentration and indecisiveness, and (i) suicidal thoughts (Ruthven & Ruthven, 2001). According to Ruthven and Ruthven, “David’s MDD may also be inferred from the Bathsheba affair . . . [since] the deliberate, aggressive nature of such a sexual affair is invigorating; it lashes out against the boring pain of depression and provides sensate, experiential proof of being alive.” (p. 430) Moreover, David’s failure to join the armies of Israel in battle demonstrated a lack of interest in normal activities, and his pacing on the roof during the evening demonstrated sleeplessness and “psychomotor agitation” (Ruthven & Ruthven, 2001, p. 429)—all of which are symptoms of MDD. Therefore, I will expand on Ruthven and Ruthven’s work by combining the symptoms of PTS, burnout, and compassion fatigue into the concept of leadership fatigue. Furthermore, I will explore the various underlying causes behind David’s diminished mental state in 2 Samuel 11:1-27.

Trauma, burnout, and stress are proven to impact one’s ability to function in high-stress environments. PTS and PTSD are complex concepts with a variety of risk factors, both of which negatively impact an individual’s quality of life. The objective of the study presented in this book is to explore how leadership fatigue, which includes elements of PTSD, trauma, stress, and burnout, interacts with ethical and moral leadership in the life and decisions of a leader. Based on the evidence, there is much to learn about how PTSD affects values-based leadership. Furthermore, since PTSD occurs in both noncombat and combat environments, and since King David served as both a warrior and an executive leader, and since little is known about how pretrauma and posttrauma affect leadership ethics, it is appropriate to explore these concepts through robust exegetical methodologies. Therefore, I will examine leadership fatigue and its impact on ethical and moral failure through a sociorhetorical analysis of 2 Samuel 11:1-27.

According to Rae (2009), Christian leaders tend to be “deontologically oriented” (p. 17) since the moral commands of God as found within the Hebrew and Christian Scriptures serve as the framework for the divine command theory that supports ethical behavior in Christian leadership. If the Hebrew and Christian Scriptures are the guidebook for Christian ethical and moral behavior, why would a Christian leader act in a way that is contrary to his or her fundamental beliefs? The answer may be found by connecting what is known about ethical and moral leadership with what is known about trauma, burnout, and compassion fatigue. Since ethical and moral leadership are often related to the divine commands found within religious texts such as the Bible (Rae, 2009); and since unethical and immoral behavior often stem from prioritizing self-interests (Northouse, 2015); and since workplace stress, burnout, and PTS all connect with marked behavioral changes (Diestel et al., 2013), one could argue that the Bible may serve as a valuable resource for the exploration of leadership fatigue and ethical and moral leadership.