Through out this chapter the big discussion is based on the difference between a good leader and an evil leader and how their ethical decisions are different. When discussing the topic of ethics and leadership, the studies done tend to be focused on bigger leaders like for example Hitler or President Lincoln and how their leadership styles were affected by ethics. They use extreme examples in the studies on ethics to suggest how leaders make their decisions based on their characteristics like these famous leader's. It seems to me that the studies almost suggest leaders are either "Saint" style, or "evil style when it comes to making ethical decisions.
The book had kind of mentioned this but I would suggest that people start doing more studies and research on the everyday leaders in business, government, schools and communities. The should look more into how these everyday leaders have to make ethical decisions and how they can use their leader roles to make better moral decisions. These smaller role leaders tend to have to make more frequent decisions and so they need to know how to make the right decisions and it's hard to base their decision making process with that of a large leaders process.
Another interesting topic in this chapter is that some people suggest that it is a lot harder to be a good leader and a good follower than it is to be a bad leader. The question to ask then is if you think that people in leadership roles are inherently bad or in other words are they really in it for themselves and so that they can control what happens or are most leader's good in that they are in their leadership roles because they want to make a difference and they want to help their followers and team be successful? I would like to think that most people in leadership roles are their because they want to help the team and make a positive change for everyone but in today's society people are very individualistic and tend to be looking out only for themselves. I think that we need to look into how to better teach people in leadership roles to make better moral decision that will benefit everyone the leader and the follower.
Ethics has been and always will be a touchy subject when in comes to leadership. I am asking what you think we can do to help everyday leader's have a better understanding on how to make more frequent positive moral decisions?
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I agree in that leaders need to lead as positive role models for those who follow. But we all know this is easier said then done. I feel there is no way to ensure people will always make the best moral decision. If there was, it should have been implemented a long time ago. I feel people in a leadership position need to have a clear understanding of the atmosphere they are leading in. One atmosphere may feel something is right that another group may feel is wrong. The best thing a leader can do is get to know the atmosphere. The next thing a leader should focus on is the different people involved. There are people who are more sensitive to certain topics than are others.
ReplyDeleteOne thing our society could do for people is not portray things that are bad as if they are good. Society works to make things look good so people become intersted. An example of this could be with smoking, the media tries to make it look good so people think it is good. This is what happens with decisions people make. Like if someone cheats on a spouse, the media is all over the story to make it well known. People growing up today may not know any better than what the media is trying to show. This is also true in television shows. People see others being harassed and cheated on where it seems like it may be okay. People need to disregard items that show such things as being good. We need to make sure we inform people of what is good from bad.
The best way for all people to make positive moral decisions is by knowing what we believe in. We never want to do something we do not feel is the right thing to do. We need to start there and work to inform people around as to right from wrong, moral to immoral.