You can answer 1-2 of these questions with regard to business or just to your life. Refer explicitly to your readings/videos where applicable. These questions will be the basis of in-class discussion also.
1) What makes a good leader? Is being ethical a part of good leadership?
2) How can we create better environments for good ethical decision-making? I'll give an example. As a college professor, I would hope that my students, particularly the younger ones, don't put themselves in situations where bad-decision making is more likely to happen -- that usually means drinking. To tie to the UVA situation, excessive alcohol use is often part of the problem with sexual assault and rape. If I were queen :) I would try to change campus culture around drinking.
3) Should a good leader be aware of diversity in culture and societal practice? Should she cultivate diversity in her employees? Why or why not? Tie to Kwame Anthony Appiah's TED talk on religion.
4) Is there virtue in simplicity?
5) Discuss the leadership style of people in authority that you have known personally: which styles helped you develop and perform best?
1. What makes a good leader? Is being ethical a part of good leadership? To me, a good leader is someone who does the right thing, even when no one is watching. They set the personal bar high for themselves and do not manipulate the system or others to get there. They lead by example; they encourage and develop others; they are constantly open and listening to their followers - seeking to grow themselves from others insights. Being ethical is a critical part of good leadership. If you expect the best in others, then you should expect the same in yourself. There are not shortcuts to this path. In readings in Chapter 13, I believe the best leaders are a combination of transformational, transitional and servant leadership. To show others that you care, and understand where they are and where they want to go, and help them achieve those dreams and fulfill their goals is good for humankind, it is inspiring to ones-self as well as others. I think it is especially important not to be so high and mighty and self-indulgent that you forget where you came from and how you got there. In the story of David and Bathsheba - his own personal agenda caused him to lose site of his army; he was using his power and prestige to get what he wanted, and even when he found himself in trouble, he became for deceptive and devious in practice - to send the "husband" to front lines with orders of his best friend Joab, to "kill Uriah. David began having the God complex and thought he was above the fray. It is important that we as leaders, and even followers - keep that in check.
ReplyDeleteDiscuss the leadership style of people in authority that you have known personally: which styles helped you develop and perform best?
I have had many different types of leadership style during my work-life. The worst was the God complex - a leader who treated me and all employees like we were worthless peons put on this earth to serve his purpose - to make him look good. He yelled and screamed at everyone, took credit for others work and lied to superiors about forcing employees to take comp time instead of being paid overtime. No one thrived in this environment and people, including myself, looked for opportunities to post out of the division. He was eventually terminated - I think that's called Karma?
The best leadership style I have had is a combination of transformational and servant. These styles allowed me to grow and realize my potential; to set and achieve personal and professional goals. I have made mistakes, and as tough as it was to tell him, I did so, along with a resolution to the mistake. He never held a mistake against me nor anyone else. He also is very big proponent of work-family balance - which after reading Chapter 13 and watching many of the TED video's - is how I believe leaders keep their perspective.
What makes a good leader? Is being ethical a part of good leadership?
ReplyDeleteBeing a good leader entails many different personality characteristics. You need to be able to take charge and make quick decisions, but you also need to be able to sit back and listen to your people. Your people need to be able to look up to you, so yes, ethics does come into play. If I knew my boss was making decisions that make her look good but negatively affect the company, then I would have no respect for her as a leader. As a leader you also have to be able to "roll with the punches". Things never go as planned so you have to be able to adjust to whatever comes your way, and usually with no time to plan. I feel leaders are born with good "gut instincts", you make a decision based on what that feeling is telling you. Leaders have to be able to be respected by their managers, but also by their people, which means they have to be able to balance their role. Leaders need to always be able to chip in, rather than sit back and work their people ragged. We see in the passage from "What is Good Leadership", how Joanne references how some leaders "didn't think they were subject to the same rules and standards of honesty, propriety, etc., as the rest of society". Is this someone you would respect? I think not! She also speaks about consistency and that is where leaders need to shine a little more than the average person. I agree with that, because if you aren't consistent it will bite you in the butt (I have seen this several times at my current workplace).
I saw this in our text book regarding ethics and thought it fit well here "If ethical behavior intends no harm and respects the rights of all affected, and unethical behavior willfully or negligently tramples on the rights and interests of others, then leaders cannot deny or disregard the rights of others" (p.550).
DeleteWhat makes a good leader? Is being ethical a part of good leadership?
ReplyDeleteA good leader has many shoes to fill, they have to be trustworthy and honest with everyone consumer, stockholders, stakeholder. the entire community. They have to join in the struggle and not just dictate. Yes they have to be ethical in making sound decision, they should be judgmental but through and thoughtful in their conclusion in any situation.
How can we create better environments for good ethical decision-making?
Well I have always been told that I am a reflection of my parents and the company that I work for -- so I do not want to anything that will disrespect either. Be mindful of your surroundings and your actions. For example: you are at your company Christmas party--do you really want to get "wasted" at the party and have to face your boss and co-workers afterwards.
Should a good leader be aware of diversity in culture and societal practice? Should she cultivate diversity in her employees? Why or why not?
I would have to say Yes to both questions -- as a leader you should be able to except and embrace diversity to grow whether professional or personal. Many companies has grown by being diversified, people from different backgrounds is the key to becoming successful; learning from one other different skills and expertise is has shown to be very profitable these days.
A leader has to sometimes step into "bridging the gap" between their employees, some people can not except change or don't know how to deal with someone from a different culture so they tend give off a negative vibe and a leader you have to be ready to engage and educate others if they are faced with these kinds of situations.
I am taking #2, because I like playing devils advocate, and I agree that we need to make changes when it comes to underage drinking. However, I doubt my views will align with yours. In short, if you are old enough that your country can decide you get to fight and possibly die in a war without your say, you are old enough to have a beer. We have made drinking so taboo for people under 21 they are now shoving tubes in places tubes do not go in order to "consume" alcohol and not be caught. (You can't fix stupid). You can however take away the mystery and taboo of it. Underage drinking is so "cool" and so "exciting" because it's against the rules. Kids are out of their parents house for the first time and damn if they aren't going to do and try everything that they are and aren't supposed to, like sex, drugs, and drinking. It's all good to teach your kids abstinence, but for the love teach them common sense as well. "I really don't want you to have sex until marriage Barry, but if you do, wrap that rascal, because if you don't you could drastically change the course of possibly three lives." Making these things taboo only makes them that more interesting and exciting. If the federal government would repeal this law that says you have to be 21 to drink (which has far outweighed its usefulness for its original intentions) we would see a reduction in drinking related problems on our college campuses. There is was an initiative proposed called the Amethyst Initiative that asked government officials to reevaluate the 21 law. You can check it out here but you will need to go to the right and click Download Full Text, http://eric.ed.gov/?id=EJ871038
ReplyDeleteAs long as we keep the blinders on our kids they are going to race off and get hurt the moment we take them off. If people could drink at 18 college campuses could teach common sense drinking instead of, drinking until your half dead because you don't know your tolerance and when to stop. Colleges could also do more to change the culture around rape, maybe teaching mandatory classes about rape, sober consent, and other domestic violence issues. Educate these people where their parents fell short. Instead of victim blaming because "she was drunk," how about teaching guys that if she's impaired or unconscious it's rape. Colleges have the power to change culture around a lot of things, but until the government changes its antiquated laws around drinking there isn't much a college can do to stop it. Kids are going to drink they are going to experiment with all kinds of things, it's better that they are informed and know limits versus being told, "Don't do that."
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ReplyDeleteKimberly while I do agree with you, I pose this question: If we decrease the drinking age to lets say 18, aren't we going to see this problem still exist but just at a much younger age? There are seniors in high school that are still 18 and I see this promoting more underage drinking. It would be more likely that, that 18 year old will purchase alcohol for those younger classmates. Not saying this does not happen today but I do see it becoming more of an issue. I think more strict legislation would have to be in effect than just decreasing the drinking age.
ReplyDeleteThe studies are showing that because kids are at home they have more supervision and parents have more control. It is when they head to college and can get away with more that they get out of control. You already have very young kids drinking because their parents are too stupid to say no or aren't watchful enough to make sure their kids are on the right track. These kids are lost regardless. I think that if you gave the parents a chance to teach their kids how to drink without being a complete ass, then they would have a better chance of knowing limits and making good choices when they head to college. We make it so taboo that it's cool to them to "get away with it" this leads to excess and poor choices. Parents have "the talk" (or at least they should) with their kids about sex as it is dangerous and life altering. Why should parents not be able to have this talk about alcohol and show their kids safe ways to drink. You take away the taboo you take away the fun. Again I go back to if you are old enough to die for your country you are old enough for a beer.
Delete1) What makes a good leader? Is being ethical a part of good leadership?
ReplyDelete-- A good leader is someone who is ready to take the bull by the horns, create a mental picture for others, and follow through ethically with everything they want to accomplish. We just had a leadership class where the question was, "Can someone become a leader or are they born that way?" That is a great question, I believe that a leader is developed through the right environment and upbringing from someone of authority. I was fortunate enough to be a college baseball player and surrounded myself around others who had the same passion and drive that I did. After college I found myself hanging out with a group of young professionals who all created the life they wanted to live by leading others. So in the last 10 years of sales I've been able to create mental pictures and get others excited in my vision then do my very best to create that a reality for them.
5) Discuss the leadership style of people in authority that you have known personally: which styles helped you develop and perform best?
-- I think that everyone in the class knows who I'm about to talk about in this answer. I have worked for some amazing people and god love them I'm not the easiest employee to have because everything I do is a competition so when I get a job I'm after the managers job then the job above him and so on... I'm not an employee and probably will never be one again for the fact that I get bored just going through the motions and if the manager can't keep up with my energy and vision that I think the company should use then I would just rather leave. I just recently worked for a gentleman that I thought had that vision, it was a start-up company that I was fortunate to help grow from the ground up. His unethical approach and greediness pushed so many people out the door which left him with nothing so after 4 years with this guy building more than 75% of his business and padding his pockets he had the audacity to basically treat me like everyone else and I left. Now I've already lawyered up because I'm going into the market to compete against him. Is that the right thing to do, no! Am I doing it out of despite, yes! I know that two wrongs don't make a right but this guy became very wealthy off of my ideas that built his company, promised me equity then screwed me so he better get a good attorney because I'm going to get in his market space.
So basically as a manager you should not create unrealistic expectations for your employees and promise them things that you can't commit to. As an employee be careful who you work for, at the end of the day if you feel that they are trying to sale you then they are trying sale you and will not care to let you go that's why at-will employment is so big these days.
“Leaders are imperfect human beings who are put in jobs where the moral margin of error is much smaller because the effect of their actions on others is greater. That is why good leaders need knowledge, self-knowledge, ethics, confidence, humility, and a lot of help from people who will tell them the truth” (Ciulla, p. 544). I believe this quote from Joanne Ciulla passage “What is Good Leadership?” sums up what makes a good leader. In our last class on Leadership I believe overall these are the characteristics we stated a strong leader should have. Being ethical is definitely a part of being a good leadership. On page 549 of our text book it states “Ethics is about the assessment and evaluations of values.” The passage continues shortly after “Values are the ideas and beliefs that influence and direct our choices and actions. Whether they are right or wrong, good or bad, values, both consciously and unconsciously, mobilize and guide how we make decisions and the kinds of decisions we make.” I am not sure that I could have said this any better myself.
ReplyDelete5) Discuss the leadership style of people in authority that you have known personally: which styles helped you develop and perform best?
DeleteI think it is those styles that you do not agree with develop you both personally and professionally. I am currently in a situation where I see someone who is constantly lying, “stealing” ideas, blaming others, and pointing fingers at everyone else but herself. This has really shined a light on how I do not want to be. I am also starting to see it affect my relationships with other members on the team. I am not sure what is being said behind closed doors but from experience I can tell you that I can predict what is being said and no that none of it is good or valued. A manager like this is definitely not a good leader and thus making me think twice about the actions I take. I will never go with out a paper trail. This is really unfortunate. I have her back but she does not always have mine. Through this experience, I have seen her receive promotions/raises and recognition that are not due to her. Working one-on-one with her has really proven the value of a team. So what I have learned is that everyone should be valued, everyone’s opinions matter and play an important role in the dynamics of a team. I have also determined that credit is due to those who actually do the work and will investigate this when time is applicable!
How can we create environments for good ethical decision making? The key to this will be getting to people when they are young and developing a strong moral core. Often it is the failure of parents to instill strong ethics in their children that lead to poor ethical decisions later in life. The film industry being the new medium for storytelling and thus another large factor in the creation of a person’s morals will also have to utilize to effect the coming generations. I do not believe that the here and now can be changed for good ethical decision making it can only be governed about the poor choices.
ReplyDeleteWhat makes a good leader? Is being ethical a part of good leadership? A good leader is a person who can draw in, motivate, and inspire followers. It is not a requirement to be ethical to be a good leader you simply have to know the people you are leading. History has had many great leaders who were unethical but still loved by their followers because they were providing the basic needs for life as well as a dream of a future.
Sean, interesting point about ethics and a good leader. I believe with you that there have been good leaders who were unethical and that their followers still loved them. However, I do think that ethics still plays a large part in a good leader. Just because their followers loved them does not mean what they were doing was correct or the right decision. I still believe that a good leader must be ethical to get the golden star. A good leader who is unethical will more than likely be remembered for their unethical practices before their "good" leading.
DeleteWhat makes a good a leader? Is being ethical a part of good leadership?
ReplyDeleteA good leader is transparent and is not only a good leader but also a good follower. They must listen to the ones that are around them to calibrate and to better the company. Charisma is important because followers need to trust the leader fully. That leads into is ethics important to leadership? Yes, very much so. A leader must facilitate what good ethics are for others. because the ripple effect is unknown with the decisions that are made. we must be pinnacles in work environment to show the right way to deal with a bad situation.
What makes a good a leader? Is being ethical a part of good leadership?
ReplyDelete- I feel that the best leaders are those who adapt their styles to resonate most effectively with the needs and personalities of their companies and teams. These leaders are embracing and encourage change in business models, changing economies and the changing labor pool. Just because you are a boss, doesn't mean you are a leader. A leader need to know how to inspire, not just manage.
Is there virtue in simplicity?
-There is no doubt about it. It has a charm of its own which can win hearts and can put cunning to shame!
2) How can we create better environments for good ethical decision-making? I'll give an example. As a college professor, I would hope that my students, particularly the younger ones, don't put themselves in situations where bad-decision making is more likely to happen -- that usually means drinking. To tie to the UVA situation, excessive alcohol use is often part of the problem with sexual assault and rape. If I were queen :) I would try to change campus culture around drinking.
ReplyDeleteYou reference college, and in my opinion this is where potential leaders of tomorrow are supposedly being trained and educated. We often discuss athletes behavioral qualities and label athletes as role models. I personally question whether or not being an athlete should carry the label of role model. This is neither here nor there in the context of my discussion. Pro and amateur athletes alike are told that they need to carry themselves at a higher level because children look up to them. This is confusing because athletes are not usually held to a higher standard. I will use football as an example. Football is often the subject of discussion regarding positive and negative ethical/leadership values. It has also undoubtedly become the largest sport in the US. We know the NFL is big, but college football has also become a multi-billion dollar business. Prestigious bowl games, and top 25 rankings can make or break a college football program. University presidents, athletic directors, and coaches are under immense pressure to turn out top programs. Many coaches are paid as well or better than their NFL counterparts. A top college coach can become a super star that is treated like royalty. History would have us believe that coaches are supposed to mold young people into being virtuous adults. Coaches as leaders are supposed to create leaders out of the athletes they coach. Seems pretty simple on the surface.
Colleges often fire under performing head coaches before the current season has come to an end. This gives the college the upper hand in recruiting a new higher level coach. The coaches being recruited will often leave their current school before the bowl game has been played. Many notable coaches have actually quit or left their teams without warning before the season actually ended. How does this behavior create ethical leadership opportunities? It tells the coaches, athletes, kids, and the world watching that it is all about chasing the money. It is not about finishing what you started or living up to a promise you made to impressionable young athletes. It is about what is best for me. Show me the money baby! These coaches recruit kids out of high school, and often become father figures. To me, this throws ethics and leadership right out the window. It definitely does not create an environment for ethical decision making. I actually believe that it sets a larger precedence for people to solely look out for themselves. You may say it is just football, but I argue that football has such a reach into society that it is setting an awful precedence on impressionable young people. I think that the "I got mine" attitude has permeated throughout our society. This is the exact opposite of ethical leadership.