The Dark of Ethical Prince; There Is Always A Choice by Lynne Sedgmore, a presentation given at Huddersfield University at a conference on Power and Professionalism in Further Education. This conference accompanied the publishing of the book The Principal: Power and professionalism in FE (https://www.amazon.co.uk/Principal-Power-professionalism-FE/dp/1858568447). You can hear the audio file and read the transcript to accompany this by visiting https://wp.me/p75LG5-5O8

1. Dark or Ethical Prince?
There is always a choice
Dr Lynne Sedgmore CBE

2. "Upon this a question arises: whether
it be better to be loved than feared or
feared than loved? It may be answered
that one should wish to be both, but,
because it is difficult to unite them in
one person, is much safer to be feared
than loved, when, of the two, either
must be dispensed with. Because this
is to be asserted in general of men,
that they are ungrateful, fickle, false,
cowardly, covetous"
The Prince p79
"Therefore a wise prince ought to hold
a third course by choosing the wise
men in his state, and giving to them
only the liberty of speaking the truth
to him, and then only of those things
of which he inquires, and of none
others; but he ought to question them
upon everything, and listen to their
opinions, and afterwards form his own
conclusions."
The Prince p114

3.  What hope is there for an inspirational,
radical & democratic vision for FE ?
 What might collective, democratic &
ethical but subversive professionalism look
like?
 Is beneficent power possible in FE?
 Can leaders live their ethics & values?

4. Dark Prince
 Leads from fear, control, manipulation & protectionism
 Lives & leads from ego/personality needs
 Draws on “power over”
 Has significant narcissism
 Self interest & expediency drives choices & agendas

5. Surviving Dark Princes
 Watch & learn how not to do things/lead (in the way they
do) & translate into positive ways of your own
 Learn how to get things done despite or around them
 Find how to challenge & discuss with them in ways they
can hear & not lose face
 Create oases of creativity with staff you are responsible
for - protect from their influence
 Appoint staff in your team with strong values & courage

6. Surviving Dark Princes
 Create alliances with peers to counteract inappropriate
behaviour as a united group
 Offer constructive dissent by challenging through new
ideas & offering alternatives
 Learn how to negotiate & broker deals/agreements that
are win-win
 Find tools that help you to suss them (Enneagram, NLP)
 Have a person & space you can rant, vent & get support
and plot with/in - mentor/coach/peer counselling

7. Surviving Dark Princes
 Find their weaknesses & fears - exploit them ethically
 Use procedures if necessary- employment law is there to
protect you
 Keep written records when necessary
 Let people know your values & the lines you won’t cross
 Leave if the toxicity is too much for you or impossible to
change

8. Ethical Prince
 Leads from respect, appreciation of diversity & trust
 Reflects, develops, self aware & transcends ego needs
 Has broad repertoire of power modes (for, with, through)
 Holds clear values & knows what ethical lines won’t cross
 Is service orientated, wants fairness
 Meaning & higher purpose drive choices & agenda
 Students at heart of everything with liberating ways of
engaging & motivating students & staff

9. Lynne’s Ethical Principles
 Leadership is an art, its purpose to generate wisdom,
clarity, purpose, meaning & service
 Leaders need to know who they truly are, constantly
develop - lead from authentic self, ethics & service - EI
 Gain a genuine understanding of benevolent power (with,
for & through) rather than default of “power over”
 Effective leaders of learning & vocational pedagogy
 Ensure time & space for professional reflection, respect,
understanding & mutual learning

10. Your Work?
 Build on the 12 Princesses & The Principal to instigate a
challenging & clear professional movement for change
 Democratise strategy, professional development & student
learning
 Co-create peer organisations with balance of power
 Form alliances & powerful allies
 Develop consensual positive organisational dynamics

11. Your Work?
 Create space for innovation & improvement with
professional dialogue for leaders to respond to the reality
facing tutors & support staff
 Develop clear actions & practical guidelines for ethical
Princes at every level
 Model beneficent power & ethical leadership while being
subversive
 Co-create healthy colleges in which everyone flourishes

12. “The best leaders are those their people hardly know exist.
The next best is a leader who is loved and praised.
Next comes the one who is feared.
The worst one is the leader that is despised …
The best leaders value their words, and use them sparingly.
When they have accomplished their task,
the people say, “Amazing!
We did it, all by ourselves!”
Lao Tzu -Tao Te Ching

13. Dr Lynne Sedgmore CBE
lynne.sedgmore@gmail.com
0755395313