Organizational justice and organizational leadership are interconnected and mutually supportive elements of strong and successful organizations. Justice, as perceived by those impacted by decisions, creates positive work environments with each member striding towards a common goal. Based on a clearly defined and developed vision, the common goal supported by actionable objectives becomes attainable for the organization.   Justice and leadership combined provide opportunities for individuals and the organization to reach maximum potential.

Picture this common scenario: vehicles often bunch up traveling the roadway, each of them slightly exceeding the posted speed limit. Suddenly a police officer appears at the rear of the pack and stops the last car in the group of speeding vehicles. The drivers of the vehicles not stopped see the officer in their rearview mirrors, and although they continue driving, they do so at a speed closer to the posted limit. The driver of the stopped vehicle expresses displeasure to the officer, indicating disparate treatment as each vehicle was speeding, but only this vehicle receives a ticket. While it would be appropriate to ticket each vehicle operator, the officer indicates the ability to only stop and ticket one car at a time. The driver insists this is not fair, and demands justice. Perhaps you know this feeling far too well?

Justice indicates fair and ethical treatment for all, but is often difficult to recognize when individuals perceive justice from personal perspectives. This traffic enforcement scenario might be completely typical, or it might demonstrate an opportunity for individual justice and leadership, if the organization has clearly defined the mission ensuring mutually rewarding expectations for each member.   Justice may be defined as ensuring all individuals or entities are treated equitably, ensuring ethical and moral correctness, while leadership is the ability of one individual to influence a group of individuals to achieve a common goal. Combining these characteristics provides opportunities for strong organizations to achieve success.

Justice is sought by all, and it is often used in statements of justice was served, or justice was not served, leading to debates about the correctness of a particular decision, and whether an individual or entity was treated fairly based on personal perceptions. One theory surrounding Plato's discussion of the charioteer describes injustice as the source of distrust, causing the horses to pull in different directions, rendering the chariot inoperable. Correlations indicate the chariot could be in perfect condition with the finest steeds attached, but if there is no charioteer, there is no directed movement. Conversely, if there is a driver, but the horses do not work together, there will still be limited productive movement. Justice determines the need for all the parts to receive equitable treatment, allowing and encouraging each part to perform their assigned task. When this occurs, the charioteer is able to operate the chariot, and suddenly it becomes a machine capable of moving a specified direction at a specified speed, completing the charioteer's goals.

Organizations require justice and leadership, as each member of a just organization works together under equitable treatment. However, leadership provides direction and mission, just as the charioteer directs the horses in a just and orderly fashion. The charioteer understands the vision and knows what to do with the chariot because of clearly established directions and expected outcomes identified by the leader. Leadership and justice work best when they co-exist in an organization, and all members of the organization from highest to lowest understand their personal task and the ultimate objectives of the entire organization.

The ticketed driver demonstrates the difficulty of ensuring the service of justice.   In the driver's mind, service of justice begins with equal treatment of all parties, meaning each driver in the group should get a ticket, or none of them, including this driver, should get a ticket. The officer writing the ticket demonstrates leadership by looking at the over- arching goal of the organization of traffic safety for all, which includes writing tickets as needed, while seeking traffic law compliance by all. Depending upon the individual's position, justice and leadership were on display, or an injustice requiring correction occurred. Much like the chariot, all parts must understand and accept their role to achieve ultimate success.

Leadership becomes a key element in ensuring justice not only occurs, but all involved and uninvolved parties understand how justice is applied. Strong leadership recognizes the need for a clearly delineated vision and understands the requirement for following actionable objectives to attain the vision. Organizations striving to attain their vision will ensure justice occurs not only internally, but with every external employee interaction through a mutual reward system. Justice no longer becomes an organizational objective, but instead becomes a core value of the organization exhibited daily as all members work to achieve common goals by pulling in the same direction. The driver of the vehicle stopped for speeding still receives a ticket, but the officer involved explains fully how this single traffic stop relates to the complete highway safety vision of the organization. Although not all vehicles were stopped, those drivers who do not slow down and obey the traffic laws will eventually receive tickets elsewhere.   All the parts are working towards the same goal, much as the charioteer prepares for and completes the race.

Justice indicates fair, equitable, ethical, and moral treatment for all. The term justice is used regularly and often in the form of justice was served or justice was not served; however, beyond mere words, most individuals demand and expect fair treatment.   Fair treatment is hard to quantify, as it normally comes from a personal perspective rather than a high, arching overview. Leadership, which is the motivational ability to encourage others to accomplish common goals, provides the overview by indentifying organizational opportunities for implementing justice. Organizations that completely immerse justice into their leadership vision create opportunities for individuals to not only feel justice from the organization, but also demonstrate justice to others. Leadership and justice go together, and strong organizations with committed leaders recognize the positive and successful outcome paralleling just individuals seeking common goals.

"Justice is the seat of the leader's ethics." ~ Philip H. Eastman II