Discussion Post
Part I
i. What is an ethical leader? Provide your own brief definition.
ii. Do you think an ethical leader is always a good leader? Justify your answer.
iii. How do your own moral beliefs influence your leadership decisions? Have you ever made an ineffective leadership decision by following your moral beliefs?
Part II
Conduct a multi-source review of the literature on servant leadership. Use high-level synthesis thinking to respond to the following questions:
i. Is it possible to lead and serve at the same time? Do you think followers would respect a leader who is serving them? Please justify your answers.
ii. Review the 10 characteristics of a servant leader (see the link in your Resource section).
a. Do you think it is possible for anyone to have all of these characteristics?
b. Do you think a servant leader has to be a moral leader? Explain your responses.
Class - Answers will vary on this DB! In addition to addressing all requirements of the assignments, model answer includes the following:
Part III
i. Recognize that ethics are based on one's personal morals, and therefore an ethical leader is not always a good leader because his or her morals may not align to the most effective leadership decisions.
ii. Ethics and leadership are more about the leader's set of moral beliefs being a priority.
Part IV
i. The goal of serving and leading is to understand that by serving the followers, you build trust and loyalty, and they will in turn follow you. You can serve and lead because by serving and listening to your followers, you understand their needs and are able to build them and develop them. When you develop them, you make them better leaders, so you are serving their needs to become better.
ii. Although responses will vary, the servant leader will generally move in and out of these characteristics. They will use a combination of these characteristics at different times. These characteristics show the overall heart and focus of the servant leader. The characteristics of a servant leader are moral behaviors.
Resources
o Spears, L. (2010). Character and Servant Leadership: Ten Characteristics of Effective, Caring Leaders. The Journal of Virtues & Leadership, Vol. 1, 25-30.
The response should include a reference list. Using one-inch margins, Times New Roman 12 pnt font, double-space and APA style of writing and citations.