Courage and Moral Leadership
According to Daft (2011), courage is the ability to do the right thing in spite of fear and/or retaliation. While moral leadership is the ability to demonstrate morality and equity, provide ethical guidance and transparency, and accept responsibility for leadership actions. This paper focuses on the courageous and moral leadership of Governor Beverly Perdue of North Carolina.
Courage: To Stand Alone
Governor Perdue serves the citizens of North Carolina. She has shown courage in the face of threats, retaliation, and an unpopular media spotlight. This woman holds her ground for what is right without fear. Currently, North Carolina had to make some hard budgetary choices due to the economic downturn. One of the decisions was to cut state agencies' budgets by seven to fifteen percent. Additionally, state employees had to take three-day furloughs and did not receive a cost of living increase. While many general assembly members opposed her actions, these needed measures ensured a balanced state budget. Furthermore, her decision to put this money back into the budget for funding social service programs incensed many assembly members who intended to use these funds for their pet projects. Her decision to veto their budget made Governor Perdue unpopular and a target for many seeking re-election. Additionally, Governor Perdue further infuriated assembly members by refusing to cut additional funds from education and eliminate educational programs that serve at-risk children.
Although her decisions were in the best interest of North Carolina residents, she had to stand alone and use her veto power. "In her veto message, the bill will do untold damage to the public schools, higher education, dam...
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Perhaps one of the most interesting times in a president’s administration is during the end of his term in office. Having reached the ultimate goal in a politician’s career, a president no longer has to worry about public opinion or any of the other political give and takes that usually influence a politician’s actions. He is truly free to act as he pleases almost free of consequences. Bill Clinton’s final days in office certainly demonstrated this fact. Using the ultimate unchecked executive power of clemency Clinton issued over 140 pardons and thirty six sentence commutations. He protected over a million acres of land through the creation of six new national monuments. He also nominated nine new federal judges. Clinton also issued a number of executive orders during this time. Unlike most previous presidents who laid low during their last days in office, Clinton was in a flurry of activity trying to exert some last bit of influence from his office. The reasons for his actions are wide spread, ranging from political to personal. The results of his actions were extensive, affecting many situations in the American political and judicial realms. The final days of Clinton administration may be the most controversial of a presidency that was full of tumult and plagued by scandals.
The importance of ethical leadership is emphasised in theories of ethical leadership such as transformation theories which seek to raise the consciousness of followers by appealing to ideals and moral values rather than to materialistic desires or negative emotions such as fear and jealousy; Servant leadership theory which explains why the primary concern of the leaders should be to nurture, develop, and protect followers; Spiritual leadership theory which explains how leaders can enhance the spiritual meaning in the work experienced by followers; Authentic leadership theory which describes an ideal leader whose behavior is guided by strong positive values, (Yukl, 2010). In addition, all these theories emphasise the importance of leadership
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Toward the end of his book, Hunter shares a phrase with a similar intent of the four domains of Blanchard and Hodges. He writes: “Thoughts become actions, actions become habits, habits become our character, and our character becomes our destiny.” (Hunter, 1998, p. 167). With this quote in mind, Hunter affirms Blanchard and Hodges’s perspective of servant leadership. Both authors concur that by centering one’s life on the love of Jesus Christ, servant leadership will come naturally. When a leader puts their own selfish needs aside and places their trust in God, they will be empowered to spread Christ’s light to all those they meet. Leading in this way mirrors the way Jesus led because it calls for service as a way of
The two most intriguing leadership styles presented in the readings were transformational leadership and servant leadership. Both leadership styles are relationship-oriented, that is, in order for these leadership styles to be effective, positive relationships must exist between leaders and followers. Also, both leadership styles reject the role of leader as being reserved for those individuals in designated positions of power, but rather a quality that may be exhibited by any individual (Kelly, 2012, pp. 10-11). However, the differing goals of each leadership style is the seemingly critical factor that separates transformational leadership from servant leadership.
Many leadership styles exist. The determining factor if a leadership style is effective or not is often how it is carried out and if it is appeasing to those, the leader is attempting to lead. One of the leadership styles that has become popular is Servant leadership. Although Greenleaf developed servant leadership more than thirty-five years ago and he identified ten characteristics that pertain to servant leadership. (book p. 56) Servant leadership has been successful in various industries and its popularity continues to increase.
...spects that put too much of a burden upon the teachers. All children deserve an excellent education, but it takes more than the teachers and the school system to ensure the success of a child. The child must have the drive and parents as well must be involved. Although the plan has many great ideas, the school system should not be punished if a small group fails what about the large amount that is doing wonderfully? This law was an outstanding start. Now that lawmakers are aware of the problems, they need to act. The worst that could happen is that No Child Left Behind is unchanged, leaving behind yet another child. (Symonds) ?Reform is no longer about access or money. It is no longer about compliance or excuses. It is about improving student achievement by improving the quality of the education we offer American students.? Secretary of Education Rod Paige.
To date, the majority of research on servant leadership consists of developing modern theoretical frameworks. These frameworks, as shown by Northouse’s (2016) model of servant leadership (see appendix Figure 1) outlines necessary existing environmental and personal conditions, behaviors of servant leaders, and servant leadership outcomes. According to Northouse (2016), while no general consensus regarding servant leadership exists, the current framework is comprised of the overlap of key characteristics and attributes from the findings of Laub (1999), Wong and Davey (2007), Dennis and Bocarnea (2005), Barbuto and Wheeler (2006), Sendjava, Sarrs, and Santora (2008), and van Dierendonck and Nuijten (2011). Research has also focused on establishing measurement tools, such as the Servant Leadership Questionnaire (SLQ), with the intention that future scholars can utilize it to explore servant leadership in practice (Northouse, 2016; Parris & Peachey,
Stone, A. G., Russell, R. F., & Patterson, K. (n.d.). Transformational versus servant leadership: A difference in leader focus. Retrieved from http://www.regent.edu/acad/sls/publications/conference_proceedings/servant_leadership_roundtable/2003pdf/stone_transformation_versus.pdf
Being a leader is treating people the way you want to be treated. Leadership is being the individual you are while working on influencing others. Being a good leader consists of several characteristics. (Hunter, 1998, p. XVII). Some characteristics include empathy, committing to the growth of others, and most of all, being a good listener. Leadership roles aren’t always consisting of individuals at the top of organizations, people aren’t always good leaders, and it’s an influence process. . Hunter (1998) goes into great detail throughout his writing, that the foundation of servant leadership style is not directly based upon power, however more relates to authority. This paper explores the various characteristics of servant
As implied by its name, servant leadership can be defined as “providing leadership that focuses on the good of those who are being led and those whom the organization serves’’ (Hamilton & Nord, 2005, p. 875). Greenleaf (2002) suggests that as opposed to being the central focus of the group, servant leadership places the leader in alignment with the group, allowing for support and resources to be allocated to its members. Moreover, servant leaders act as organizational directors, fostering a sense of community between organizational members (Greenleaf, 1977). In contrast to the traditional top-down paradigm of leadership, the servant leader is placed at the bottom of the hierarchy (Rieke, Hammermeister, & Chase, 2008), thereby allowing for the needs of followers to be met. The major focus of this approach to leadership is to encourage the growth, autonomy, and learning of followers, which in turn will influence and enhance future organizational leadership and growth (Bass, 2000). Through behaviors such as empathizing and nurturing followers, the servant leader places the concerns of his or her followers at the forefront, allowing them to reach their own personal capabilities (Northouse, 2012). Moreover, an overarching theme of servant leadership is the ethical behavior the leaders exhibits toward followers (Walumbwa, Hartnell, & Oke, 2010). That is, the servant leader possesses a sincere concern for the well-being of followers (Caldwell et al., 2011). Thus, this brand of leadership focuses on the altruistic behaviors of the leader and the effects that these behaviors have on the followers.
Courage: the quality of mind or spirit that enables a person to face difficulty, danger, pain, etc., without fear; bravery. Courage plays a very large role in the plot of Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird. There are many different acts of courage throughout the novel, but the most courageous act comes from a character that is arguably more courageous than superman, Atticus Finch. Atticus literally defines courage. He stands up for justice, even when he knows that there is no possibility of winning. Scout Finch, the offspring of Atticus, also shows signs of courage throughout the novel. She especially shows true courage in dire situations. A character that shows signs of courage that we don’t really notice until the end of the novel is Mrs. Dubose, who is very mean to the kids because of a battle she is fighting on the inside.
Ethical leadership organizational ethics and socially responsibility are inseparable (Johnson). Leadership is not a inherited gift or family heritage; it is not a degree from an ivy league graduate school. Becoming a leader is an intentional process of growth that must be lived out experientially (Mullane). Ethical leaders demonstrate three distinctive characteristics, knowledge, action and character. Leaders have to have the ability to say “yes” or even “no” to a never ending series of challenges. A leader needs to be able to define their values, character and leadership style. When accepting the role of leadership you become encumbered by ethical issues and concerns. .