Ethical Leadership Self-Assessment-How Machiavellian Are You?
When you hear the name Machiavelli, what do you think of? Ruthlessness? Deception? Certainly, the scholarly author believed in success by any means. However, he also argued that the skill of an individual leader is the key factor in determining the success of a state or enterprise.
Do you believe in success by any mean necessary? Are there skills you need to hone before taking the next step? Please share any personal accounts with your classmates.
Ikea is widely known for its commitment to business ethics and environmental sustainability. After reviewing the company's "About Ikea" section on its website:
Discuss your thoughts on three specific policies and programs that help Ikea achieve its vision of creating a better everyday life for people around the world. The policies and programs you describe should be ones that resonate with you, and explain "why".
To what extent should leaders think of ethics as part of their responsibility at work? Should their ethics and values be relegated to family and religious domains? What influence does a leader's orientation about ethics have on his/her own behavior and the behavior of his/her employees?
Please substantiate your perspective with information gleaned from the literature that you have read so far in the course.
First part of discussion: The study of ethical leadership is interesting because of where we all are in our professional studies. If someone of authority, within your organization, were to ask you, "how can we create an ethical culture in this organization?" - How would you respond? Offer three points of advice you would share.
Second part of discussion: Discuss what you think is the most important aspect of an ethical leader. Also, share with us a moment where you have felt your judgment may have been influenced by your office culture (good or bad, no criticism here).
From your observations, to what degree do the people of your organization understand and buy in to the need for change? If low, how will you help them understand the case for this change and engage them in ways that are energizing and inspiring, rather than threatening?
What is in it for the people of your organization to want to make change succeed? How do you motivate them?
Consider changes in any aspect of the organization: strategy, business processes and systems, structure, leadership and workforce mindset, culture, resources, technology, behavior, etc.