Purpose and Ethics
OLS 57900: Emerging World-Class Leadership Strategies
Spring 2024
Key Takeaway 1: The Complex Decision Worksheet recommends 6 steps to solving complex issues: (1) Name it to better define scope of the problem; (2) Define the Ideal (yet reasonable) Resolution to give yourself a target for best outcome; (3) T/F table to discern fact from friction to alleviate any distress; (4) Identify worst case scenarios and alternatives so you have a plan should a worst case scenario materialize; (5) Control and Can't Control matrix to focus efforts; and (6) Next Action to define the next action or set of actions to take to get to resolution (Anderson, 2023).
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Key Takeaway 2: Diverse organizations show an increase of financial performance by 25% to 36%. Groups / organizations who lack diversity are lackluster because they are not as creative, do no foster different viewpoints, lack healthy tension, and do not stress test their ideas as much because like people tend to be more agreeable (Anderson, 2023).
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Key Takeaway 3: Followership is about how individuals accept influence of others to reach a common goal. Today, leadership is seen as a shared process between leaders and followers who act indepdently. Thus, it is just as important to understand followership is as it is to understand leadership so leaders can more effectively work with followers, especially since there is an ethical dimension to followership. Exhibit 1 shows the four different typologies of followership with Kelley being the most recognized (Northouse, 2019).
Exhibit 1: Kohlberg's Stages of Moral Development
Exhibit 2: Ethical Theories
Analysis: Ethics is a requirement for leaders as a leader's decision directly impacts the lives of their followers as well as the values exhibited by their organization. Thus, they must be responsible in their decisions, which are directed by their ethics and influenced by their morals. When ethics align throughout an organization it has direct impact on culture. When those ethics take into account the interest of others, then the organization and its culture take on purpose. With purpose driven organizations and companies (i.e., conscious companies) performing better on the long run, it is worthwhile to choose and grow leaders who demonstrate concern for the interest of others (their followers, their stakeholders, and their customers).
References
Anderson, R. M. (2023). Leadership Mindset 2.0. Columbia: Executive Joy! https://rmichaelanderson.com/leadership-mindset-2-0/
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Northouse, P. G. (2012). Leadership: Theory and Practice 6th Edition. Los Angeles: Sage Publications.