Should leaders always be true to their values?

Few things seem more obvious and unquestionable than the notion that leaders should always be true to their values, no matter what.

This widely-endorsed mantra, known as moral authenticity, is based on two rather logical assumptions.

First, leaders (unlike, say, first line supervisors or mid-level managers), are not just in charge to coordinate human activity, but also to act as agents of meaning. Indeed, what most people expect from leaders is some form of inspiration, including ethical guidance...