Final Exam

Charlie K Pregler
Fort Hays State University
An effective ethical workplace needs a ethics plan or COE.
It’s a blueprint to keeping ethics a top priority. This alone is
not enough, there are many other opportunities to keep
ethics alive and well. Some of which are “Codes of ethics,
value statements, communication of company ethics, ethical
training, ethical audits, and rewards and discipline for
compliance or noncompliance of company ethics” (Dunn,
2016).
Code of ethics and Decision making ladder. Two of the most
important ethical decision making tools. Consider them the map and
compass of ethical decision making.
“Role modeling is probably better known as leading by
example” (Dunn, 2016, p. 29). I think this could be one of the
best pieces of advice to give to any new leader. To always
lead by example. Seeing your leader doing the right things
and practicing what they are preaching, makes you filled with
the spirt to do the same. By the same token, if they are not
doing what they want you to do. It fills you with distrust and
leads to the correct behavior not being displayed.
“The organization landscape is littered with companies and
executives that apparently forgot to use their COE in decision
making: Enron, Tyco, WorldCom, Arthur Anderson, Bear Stearns,
Swissair, Lance Armstrong, Martha Steward, David Petraeus, Bernie
Madoff, AIG” (Dunn, 2016, p. 58). When a code of ethics is drawn
up. It needs to be not only seen and read. It needs to be practiced as
well. This highlights the fact that even at high levels in organizations,
a breakdown of ethical behavior can occur. It should be eye opening
seeing the list mentioned above.
“Power of emotions in ethics and in the
relationship of leaders and followers”
(Ciulla, 2003, p. 187). Further explained by
“In history, charismatic leaders are among
the most admired, such as Nelson Mandela,
and the most reviled, such as Adolph Hitler”
(Ciulla, 2003). The root of both is how
charismatic leaders can cause the greatest
good or the worst evil. People will follow
these leaders to both extremes, because of
the simple pull of our emotions. It becomes
very evident that in a leadership capacity
you must keep this in mind.
“The word “trust” appears in virtually every current book on
leadership, and it is taken as commonplace that without
trust, leadership is impossible” (Ciulla, 2003, p. 206). While
there have been arguments against trust and how
leadership is based on it. For the most part, it seems to be a
common trend among leadership experts. Most will argue
that trust is the foundation of good leadership. When we
think of ourselves as someone who is led by another. We can
then see how if there was not trust between yourself and the
leader. There would be a constant feeling of despair and
uncertainty about one’s future. This sort of feelings causes
people to act in odd ways, and triggers a defense
mechanism. It then becomes hard to lead when the
individual being led, questions or refuses the leaders
requests.
 “The Bathsheba Syndrome: The Ethical Failure of Successful
Leaders, published in a business journal in 1993, asserts that the
ethical failure of powerful leaders is often not the result of an
individual’s low morals, but the byproduct of success. Anytime
someone is promoted into a leadership position, it can engender a
sense of privilege, a sense of power and ability to ‘cover my tracks,’
said Dean Ludwig, a co-author of the article that coined the term and
now a professor in the Department of Business and Leadership
Studies at Lourdes University in Ohio” (Olson, 2012).
“(Bruce Hillsberg) Hire smart and capable people and
then let them do what they do best” (Kouzes, &
Posner, 2006, p. 80). It’s about not micromanaging
the staff you hired. Micromanagement is something
that managers don’t want to do, and employees don’t
want to have done.
“Loving Critics, people who care deeply enough to give us honest feedback about
how we are doing” (Kouzes, & Posner, 2006, p. 28). This is something that I’ve
heard before under a different name, Constructive Criticism. There have been
countless times that I have done or said something that is completely wrong. Without
someone to correct you on your mistakes you would just keep saying or doing the
wrong thing. Its powerful to be on a level with others where you can offer and
receive criticism without all the negative emotions. The key is to foster that
environment, so people are willing to give the constructive criticism.