The Crucibles of Authentic Leadership
Interestingly relevant, the final chapter of The Nature of Leadership discusses leadership in the context of dramatic historical triumphs and tragedies. More specifically, the chapter discusses the emergence of leaders and their personal style application in the aftermath of September 11, 2001. In reflecting on the lessons we have learned about leadership, how do you believe the way American’s think about leadership has changed since that devastating day in history?
The chapter goes on to discuss four competencies identified as being essential to modern leadership—adaptive capacity, the ability to engage others through shared meaning, a distinctive voice, and integrity. Which of these would you argue is most important for leaders today?
Next, the chapter moves to debate the effects of globalization and how this phenomenon has affected leadership. The author is quoted saying, “The Lone Ranger has never been as dead as he is today. In all but the simplest undertaking, great things are done by alliances, not by larger-than-life individuals, however powerful they may seem.” Do you believe this statement to be true? Does modern technology play a role?
With great leadership has also come news of scandal and coercion among many of our both national and international leaders. Have we moved into a culture of economics where the right amount of money or power can persuade us to forget ethical values in our every day decision-making on leadership? Example, the problems with Enron; people within the company knew corrupt business practices were driving success but if they were to challenge upper level management, they risked being fired from the corporation and likely blacklisted from future employment assistance from the organization and those involved. Should these people have stepped forward and stopped the unethical practices happening within their corporation?
I believe Americans are more grateful for leadership since September 11th. We needed someone to tell us that everything will be okay – guide us as to what will be done next – and help us cope with the sudden tragedy
ReplyDeleteI personally think integrity is the most important for leaders today. I believe a leader would have an easier time having others trust him/her if he/she is known as being truthful. Followers will also be more willing to follow a leader who is known to be more like Honest Abe.
Modern technology does play a role in leadership. We have made leaps and bounds with the advances in technology – and I believe leadership has improved due to it. I also believe that when others work together – more can get accomplished than if one person were to try to do everything by him/herself.
I believe it’s the person’s character that makes them become unethical and perform scandals and coercions. I think scandals have been around since the start of time – it’s just more well known due to the media. I would hope that one day it would all stop and we’d be able to trust everyone – but that’s kind of far fetched.
The people of Enron definitely should have stopped the unethical practices – but I’m sure they were afraid of getting into more trouble. It’s kind of like a child who breaks his mom’s favorite vase. Instead of saying anything, he hides the evidence and hopes for the best. Eventually – his mom will find out and he will be in even worse trouble than if he would’ve said something right from the beginning. Comparing a child breaking a vase to the Enron scandal isn’t on the same scale at all – but it seems to fit the same type of reasoning in the offenders.
We have focused to a company who prides itself on leadership. George W. Bush was there for us on 9/11, Obama was elected and helped us stand tall with the killing of Osama. While they inspire those below them, they are also personally capable of leading a nation with the highest regard.
ReplyDeleteShared meaning is the most important (of all four, being that they are all extremely valuable as well). Shared meaning gives a shared PURPOSE, one that we see in our extreme patriotism and in the way we rally together to support a cause. This is true across the board; a leader needs to be able to properly motive their followers in order to be successful in any situation.
I believe this is true and I also agree with modern technology playing a role. In these days, one person can't do it alone - even CEOs and the President have a large selection of people to assist them in their work. Modern technology makes everything easier in order to stay in contact with others.
I think people still need to realize that just because you aren't making enough money means that you need to cut back on ethical practices. It would be more beneficial to focus your ethical talent on being the best at what you do.
Enron executives should have been wiser and known what they were getting into, but corrupted leader is corrupt. They were blinded by their actions and their greed and the coerced the rest of their workforce to continue on with unethical behavior.
I think leadership since 9/11 has changed greatly merely due to the emergence of new technology. Many people, including myself, found out about Osama bin Laden death from a social networking site. Breaking news or presidential addresses have definitely been altered because of the internet as well.
ReplyDeleteI think the ability to engage others through shared meaning is the most important because if the members are not all on the same page, it can be very difficult or even impossible to work towards a common goal.
Personally, I feel the quote to be pretty accurate. Previously, I mentioned the importance of technology and I still believe it plays a very important role in changing the way we do things.
There is so much pressure and greed when in higher positions like a CEO. I can only imagine what these people go through on a daily basis and I would not want to be put in that type of role. However, I imagine there are so many temptations to being unethical for financial gain. In the case of the Enron executives, it's easy for an outsider to say they should have done this or should have done that. But let's be real, if we were in that same situation we might do the same unethical actions. It's hard to point fingers when we have never been in that situation and are unable to predict what we would actually do.
I believe people in America now realize how much damage leadership can do. Under the leader of Osama bin Laden and other terrorist leaders, people are willing to give up their life in order to harm others. It opens peoples eyes to how much people will follow their leader.
ReplyDeleteI believe adaptive capacity is the most important of the four because in order to be a good leader, you must be able to adapt your leader style to different situations and different group members. Without the ability to adapt you would only be effective in certain situations, and it is not guaranteed that this certain kind of situation would arise most of the time or all of the time.
Yes, I believe that statement to be true. Looking at great leaders, none of them are able to do what they do without support from others. Great presidents have cabinets and congresspeople, for example. It would be impossible for a single person without support to be a great leader. Technology has helped this effort because the internet makes spreading messages and ideas much easier to a bigger audience. For example, organization of the Egyptian protests was organized on Facebook.
In situations like Enron where the ethical thing might not benefit you personally, it makes a difficult decision. One must decide between what is ethical and what is good for themselves as an individual. It's easy to say that they people should have stepped forward, but when your job, lifestyle, and wellbeing of your family is at stake, it would be hard to potentially lose your job in order to do the ethical thing.
I think American’s views on leadership have not changed that much. They see the importance of having a strong figure who can lead them through times of tragedy that will be effective and tasteful in what he/she does, and also one who will stick to their word.
ReplyDeleteI believe the ability to engage with others through a shared meaning is very important. I feel this is most important because you need to develop meaning relationships with others for you to be a leader, until you have followers, you can’t truly leader.
I do believe the statement is true. Putting this in perspective of group work versus individual work, it seems as though you can get much more done in a group than with just one person. And because of globalization, there’s more to be done, which an individual couldn’t complete. Modern technology does play a role, since without the technology, globalization would not be at the stage at which it is at now.
I think our culture has changed in such a way, but I feel that the ones who do not succumb to it are the ones who will benefit the most, and who will prosper the most. There is no doubt in my mind that those people should have done something to stop the unethical practices at Enron. I believe that doing so would show the world that they are able to take a stand for what is right, which is much harder than doing nothing at all.