Visionary and ethical leadership are at the forefront of organizational success. The visionary leader can see where they want to be and blaze a trail to the finish line. Ethical leaders lead by knowing and doing what is right. The purpose of this essay is to showcase Andrew Carnegie’s visionary leadership while examining his struggle with ethical leadership. Andrew Carnegie was a Scottish immigrant who moved to New York in 1848 (Luke, n.d.). He worked his way up the ladder from a poor immigrant to a pivotal figure in history. This essay begins examining the visionary leadership characteristics of Carnegie. It showcases his vision, the path he took and the results of his dedication. Furthermore, several examples of Carnegies visionary leadership is tied into the SNCOA course fourteen curriculum. The next section focuses on Mr. Carnegies ethical leadership challenges. The section overviews the areas in which ethics were not considered. In addition, examples and comparisons of the absence are taken into account. The final section correlates the visionary leadership and lack of ethical leadership as it relates to my personal experience. Furthermore, this section reveals the impact and changes to my leadership style. We begin the essay with a look into Andrew Carnegie’s visionary leadership. Visionary Leader Andrew Carnegie created the American steel industry and has contributed more than anyone else to thrust America into the modern age through his visionary leadership (Solyak, 2014). Carnegie had his early start working for the rail road industry based out of New York. According to Solyak (2014), “Carnegie stunned his bosses by the many risks, daring ambition and rule breaking, bust always taking responsibility and ... ... middle of paper ... ...his transformational leadership style and how he used extrinsic rewards to motivate his people to follow his vision. In addition, Carnegie is a creator and a refiner. His methods were sound and he succeeded due to his influence and personal drive towards success. When it came to ethics, Carnegie was not at the top of his game. His relentless drive for perfection led him into many ethical traps and continued absence of intellectual traits, universal intellectual standards and hindrance in critical thinking. Finally we looked at how Carnegie’s display of transformational leadership and display of unethical leadership personally impacted my views on my own leadership. Visionary leaders balanced with ethical leadership are unstoppable. They create a successful and productive environment essential to driving the United States Air Force into a productive future.
In Mr. Collin’s speech on Thursday, April 3, 2014, he highlighted a few of the most imperative principles of the thirty-five principles outlined in his “Creative Followership”. Collins suggested that through application of these principles, any individual has the potential to be passionately committed and deeply involved in their organization or project - and even in their personal life. All of this without having fashion his or her self into the next Andrew Carnegie. His or her contribution does not have to be as leader to be immeasurabl...
Andrew Carnegie, the “King of Steel”, the benevolent employer, the giant of industry, was among the greatest influences of the second industrial revolution. It is sometimes questioned whether Carnegie was the ruthless, sneaky steel tyrant some made him out to be, or the generous, benevolent education benefactor he appeared to be. I believe him to be a combination of both, but more so the great giant of industry.
Carnegie became the head of the steel industry by founding the Carnegie steel company in the 1870s. He employed the use of new technology which modernized his business strategies. The use of modern technology such as the Bessemer-process among other inventions led to increased productivity, and, in turn, cheaper goods for the American public. These innovations also led to an efficient mass production of steel for railroads, positively influencing transportation as well as westward expansion. Furthermore, the speed at which the production of steel allowed for the construction of railroads instituted infrastructure necessary for the future. Carnegie’s steel industry was clearly technologically ahead of the competition of his time.
Andrew Carnegie had no competition. By 1900 Carnegie Steel produced more metal than all of Great Britain. He controlled almost all of the steel produced and used in America. Carnegie used vertical integration, which means that he owned all the companies and resources need to make and process steel, thus giving him the edge and he was able to cut down costs.
To some Carnegie is an idol, to some he is a shrewd. Coming from the days to the riches, becoming a self-made and self-taught man who introduced the biggest steel industry of his time. He still gave his fortune to the society giving him the label of "captain of industry” and placing him into American
During the rise of industry and unions in the United States, society, politics, and economics were all developing into what we know as life today. Some influencers of these reforms were businessmen who grew a small business into what was essentially an empire. Their hold on big business caused any other businesses to fail, leading to the formation of economic policy over monopolies. One of these businessmen, Andrew Carnegie, built a steel monopoly that, through vertical integration, liquidated any steel-related competition. Carnegie changed big business in the United States by influencing business policies, paving the path for future large companies, and inspiring the wealthy to help the poor and general society.
Leaders who treat their employees with fairness, honesty, and provide frequent, accurate information are seen as more effective. According to Robbins and Judge (2014), “trust is a primary attribute associated with leadership and followers who trust a leader are confident their rights and interest will not be abused” (p.193). The old General Motor Corporation had eleven different CEO’s from 1923 until 2009 each with their own unique leadership style, which directed employees toward the organization goals. Unfortunately, many of the top level managers under the CEO’s had the tendency of filtering out information that did not match up with their pre-conceived notions about a particular issue and they lacked upward communication. One consumer goal of General Motors was to build trust in the company so people would be repeat customers, but building trust between employees and establishing an ethical culture was not a top priority of the organization. Goal directed leadership alone is important, but differs from a structure of leadership based on ethics. It is important to note, that effective leadership may not be the same as leadership founded on ethical principles. Business competence must exist, along with personal leadership accountability in ethical decisions. Within the General Motors organization, ethics and leadership did not interconnect; there were misalignment between the
He went to London in 1872, saw the new Bessemer method of producing steel, and returned to the United States to build a million-dollar steel plant. Foreign competition was kept out by a high tariff conveniently set by Congress, and by 1880 Carnegie was producing 10,000 tons of steel a month, making $1 1/2 million a year in profit. By 1900 he was making $40 million a year, and that year, at a dinner party, he agreed to sell his steel company to J. P. Morgan. He scribbled the price on a note: $492,000,000.”
Heroes and leaders have long had a popular following in literature and in our own imaginations. From Odysseus in ancient Grecian times to May Parker in Spider-man Two, who states, “We need a hero, courageous sacrificing people, setting examples for all of us. I believe there’s a hero in all of us, that keeps us honest, gives us strength, makes us noble” (Raimi, 2004). Organizations need heroes, too. We call them organizational leaders. The study of organizational leadership, then, is really the study of what makes a person a successful hero. Or, what processes, constructs, traits, and dynamics embody the image of a successful leader.
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
In the early 1870s Andrew Carnegie became the largest steel producer in the nation and one of the richest men in America. According to lecture 3, Andrew Carnegie had few regulations, which made him a wealthy and dominant force in the U.S. Carnegie’s steel mill was located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Carnegie’s steel worker made to work in a dangerous and a poor work environment. The working conditions at the steel mill were so dangerous that it was likely they would lose their life. Carnegie forces his worker to work a twelve-hour workday. The steel workers wanted to work in a better work environment; they organized a steel worker’s union.
Industrialists Andrew Carnegie and Henry Clay Frick could not have come from more different backgrounds. Carnegie was born in the Scottish town of Dunfermline to a very poor family in 1835. When he was 12 years old, his father, a weaver, decided to move the family to the United States in search of better prospects, arriving at what was then the municipality of Allegheny, Pennsylvania, now part of Pittsburgh’s North Side. By that time, Pittsburgh was already known as a major center for the production of steel and other metals. In 1853, at the age of 18, Carnegie was hired as a telegraph operator for the Pennsylvania Railroad, and became a protégé of Thomas A. Scott, who would soon rise
Currently, leadership is generally understood as a person with insight and wisdom of guidance, which expected to be efficient in management responsibilities like planning organizing, and monitoring performance (Kandola, 2004, p. 144). In addition, making ethical decision is important to individuals who value and take seriously institutional...
I will try to paper the importance of personal ethics in leadership and how ethics produce effective leaders in organizations. The importance of understanding ethics, motivation to act as a role model and developing a plan of action for an organization are discussed because of their importance regarding development of good leadership. These key points suggest personal ethics positively affect leadership and when made a priority for leaders will produce ethical and effective leadership. With so many definitions of leadership, the question evolved from “what is the definition of leadership?” to “what is good leadership” (Ciulla, 2004, p. 13). To develop a system of values one must compile a list of the most important instrumental values and
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. .