Does it really matter if a leader is ethical?

It is completely necessary for a leader to by ethical. However; this idea is commonly overlooked when seeking a leader. We look for a leader who is influential, a leader who we can see allowing change to occur, and leader who get things done because he/she is strong minded and willed. Ethics is the single most important aspect of leadership that is ironically looked over.
No one wants to follow an unethical leader. Would you want to be part of an organization in which the group was represented by a leader who was recognized not for achievement, but for cheating and lying? Would you like to succeed by lying? Further more, would you blindly follow a leader who achieved success through these means? Hopefully, the answer to each of these questions in "NO." To lead a group of people, a leader must be able to set the example which he wants the group members to follow in. By lying, the group becomes counterproductive. When I think of the role of ethics in leadership, I think of several presidents who lost or almost lost their job on the account of ethical misjudgement. For example, when Bill Clinton had an affair, he showed that he was neither moral or ethical. Most Americans did not expect this because we overlooked this in the election. It came as a surprise and his dismissal was voted upon. Similarly, the Watergate problems caused a similar problem with a president, where he showed his true morals and ethics, and was kicked out of office. We, as Americans, decided that we did not want to be represented by a liar and cheater.

Leadership: Not Self-Glorification, but rather, Group-Society-Glorification

What exactly is leadership? If everyone’s view of leadership is based upon their experiences and upbringing, how can there be one definitive answer? It would be impossible to find a common tie between every opinion and belief, because everyone thinks and leads differently. Some people lead passively, some people lead through their elected position, while others are everyday leaders, who may or may not know of their involvement in leadership. Of course, the most important aspect of leadership is that in some shape or form, you lead. Maybe you lead camp kids on a hike through the woods. Perhaps you teach your class how to dance to “cotton eye joe.” Possibly, you become a leader as you lead your medical team through an advanced surgery. The possibilities for leadership are endless. It can even be said that a follower is a leader in some sense. If that is true, than how can a leader be defined apart from the primary followers? Leadership is a component of each and every one of us, but it is how that leadership is used that makes the difference.

Leadership is defined as “a relational process of people working together to accomplish change or to make a difference that will benefit the common good.” Sometimes a leader emerges, and other times, the group, as a whole, leads its self—in that case, every person multi-tasking as both a follower and a leader. The important aspect, however, is that the group accomplishes change and works together to do so. Leadership is not about one person ordering others to do this or that; it is not about one person representing the entire group without so much as one reference to the hard work others put in; it is certainly not about self-glorification, but rather, group-and-society-glorification, because, honestly, a group is based upon help from those outside of the group, so the group is technically society as a whole. Think about a community service group you are involved in. Now, think about the bigger picture. Who is it that donates to your cause? Who is it that checks out the groceries you are buying for the big homeless shelter dinner? Random people. Society. That is your group. Everyone is a leader, because they have, in some way, contributed to your cause. Leadership is human interaction at the grocery store, within the “group,” and with the world and environment.

There are many aspects of my life where I may be called a leader. I do not hold any official roles such as president, etc, but I do guide people to learn and behave properly. For example, I am involved in tutoring elementary aged students. Although I do not head the organization, I am still somewhat of a leader. I teach my students how to read and write better. I lead them to become better students. For one of the students I tutor, I am a role model. She recently immigrated to America from Russia, and she looks up to me as what she would like to become. Though this does not impact the world on a large scale, it does impact the lives of these children, and their futures as well. Another aspect of my life in which I have assumed the role of a leader is playing soccer. It is my goal to play soccer in college, and in order to do so I must be prepared for every practice and game, and view them as training for my ultimate goal. Showing up and working hard every practice makes me a leader. Instead of setting rules and teaching, I lead by example so that my team becomes better and learns the value of hard work. The only shortcoming of my leadership on my team is my high expectations. I have always valued hard work and commitment, so it is difficult for me the gauge how hard my teammates are working, because I expect so much out of them. To be an effective leader, I should try to develop the skills to both expect greatness, but not be let down by anything less than that. It seems that expectations are often the shortcomings of leaders. Many great leaders are put down by unfortunate results when they should really have the drive to get up and try again.

Some people think they must be on a pedestal, or must be an elected official to lead others. That is not true. Think of the millions of jobs being done in your community. Teachers lead students to become better students, to express themselves, and to learn new information. Students lead teachers to become better teachers, to relax and be at ease, and how to let some things go, and to not let other things go. Leadership goes hand-in-hand. The police men are leaders because they keep people honest. They lead their teams in investigations, and hunt down people trying to undermine people’s hard work as leaders. Firefighters lead their men and civilians to safety, with the help of both themselves and others. Every individual is a leader, a hero, in some shape or form. Everyone has been a role-model to someone else at some discrete point in their life. It is true that some leaders are better than others, but it is not true that only some people are leaders. Just like a pair of shoes, leaders come in all different shapes, sizes, and types.

Reflection of Initiative #2: THE INVISIBLE MAZE

I thought that this initiative was better than the last initiative, because I was more involved than I was in the human knot initiative. I tried to give some advice, though it was limited since we could not speak for the first part. The main feeling I had during this experience, however, was almost a claustrophobic feeling. Not space wise, but I felt that everyone was talking at once, and pointing a million different ways. I felt like my advice was useless because every one was presented differing ideas. In this event, I was somewhere between a spectator and a participant. I found it difficult to rise as a leader, just because of the millions of voices all speaking at once, but I did try to help the others, and I think, at some points they heard me and listened to what I had to say. Other times, however, I was a spectator, because I felt like my voice didn't count and I kind of gave up. I don't like to scream or raise my voice typically.
I felt that it was easier to be an aide on the outside of the maze. I could remember the steps that way, and guide people, and I felt like I was helping out more by doing that. When I got to walking through the maze, I started to forget the steps, however, and I relied on the other people to guide me through. I did rely on the group a lot to get through the maze. I was the helper for others, but I definitely had difficulties remembering the path once it was my turn to go. It was the help of everyone and the courage people had in messing up and trying to find the way that made our group able to accomplish this task.
This activity related back to every day life because in life, you don't always know which way to go or turn. Sometimes to get to where you want to go, you have to make mistakes, or you have to rely on the help of others. Like in the game, you should not go backwards, but just make the mistakes and move on in a different direction. I also learned from this initiative that problems are often easier to tackle if you take a step back and look at it differently, or get out of the middle of it. This problem was more difficult to tackle when actually taking the path, but was much easier to tackle when helping others and stepping back to look and observe the path to take.
There were positives and negatives to both talking and not talking. For instance, when talking, it was easier to get ideas and directions to the person walking the path, but the noise was overwhelming, and claustrophobic, as everyone was talking at the same time. Without talking, it was easier to concentrate on the task, but it was difficult to take directions from people who were pointing in a million different directions.

Day 5 - Spectator and/or Active Participant

In my youth group there were many instances where I was either a spectator or an active participant. In my first year of the youth group, I did not know many people and was very shy. I did participate in a lot of the events and activities though, because my best friend also attended the youth group. The following year, however, at the annual Double Dare night/program, where two teams compete in physical challenges and messy games, I did not participate; rather, I watched. I think it was a mixture of not being completely comfortable and not knowing many people well. Looking back, I should have stepped out of my comfort zone and just participated. Sometimes doing something embarrassing or funny is the perfect way to get noticed or to make friends. No one wants to be friends with some one who is perfect. Participating in the challenges would have been a good way to display that I am not perfect, and that they can relate to me on different levels. I should have put my fears behind me, grabbed some one that I kind of knew, and participated in the challenges.
On another occasion, I did participate in an activity in my youth group. This year I began attending regional events through my youth group, where a bunch of youth groups from different areas throughout the east lakes region came together for a weekend of fun and Jewish activities. Though I did not know people that well, I decided that I should at least give these events a try, since I had only heard good things about them. Participating in these events was one of the most fun things I had done yet. I spent most of my time with a girl in my youth group who I was kind of friends with. Since she let me tag along, I was able to meet hundreds of people whom I never knew existed. Some of these people became really good friends with me. What allowed me to sustain my involvement in these get-togethers, which I still attend today, was the good friends I had met. I don't get to see them except for at these events, so I continue to attend them, do crazy things with them, and just have fun.

Day 1--Opening Thoughts

1. I look up to many people in my life who I view as successful and as role models. First, I look up to my dad as a leader. He grew up in Buffalo and was adopted as a baby. He is now a dentist and is very successful. He owns 2 practices, one of which he purchased recently. He takes initiative to push himself further and also manages to provide for his family. He also encourages myself and my sisters to do well in school by leading by example. Another person that I look up to is my mom. Similarly to my dad, she shows how hard work pays off daily. She encourages me to try my best in school, and accepts me for who I am. I am comfortable talking with her about almost anything. I want to be the kind of mother she is, except a little less strict. I think that she is a leader because in her field (nursing) she helps other people obtain medical service that they would not be able to attain if it were not for her. She visits elderly people who are unable to leave their homes to seek medical care. The third person that I look up to as a leader is Emma Watson. I look up to her, though she is close to my age, because she is famous, but is also intelligent. Usually, the news portrays celebrities as ditzy or stupid, but Emma Watson maintained straight A's throughout the filming of Harry Potter, and also achieved A's in her A (Advanced Placement) classes. She is attending Brown University this year. I look up to her because she is setting a new standard for celebrities.
2. The qualities which I admire most in those whom I have chosen as my role models or leaders are the following: intelligence, modesty, selflessness, and perseverance. I feel that it is important to be as smart as you can be, or to try your hardest at all times. You should always keep your future in mind. I hate people who are boastful of their intelligence, their looks, etc. One should be polite to others and not flaunt that which is extraordinary to all others who may or may not possess this quality. Though Emma Watson is talented as an actress, she has chosen to attend college rather than become a full time actress, in attempts to be "normal." Lastly, one must be selfless, and always think of others' needs before their own, and must be able to persevere in bad situations and adversity.
3. Leadership is not necessarily the act of physically leading a group of people. Leaders are everywhere. A leader is someone who inspires, leads by example, helps, and perseveres. Someone who never speaks can be a leader by example. If they are extremely kind to others, or are intelligent, the may inspire others to follow in their footsteps. A leader offers advice to others. They do not run the show, so to speak; rather, they offer advice and then, allow and accept criticism and other opinions from the other people. Everyone is a leader in some respect.
4. From this course I hope to become a better leader. Though I am taking this course because it looks good on a college application, I do hope to gain some confidence as a leader, and I hope to be able to better advice people and help them.
5.
a) I feel that I played a small role in the initiative today, merely because the connections via bandanas resulted in a small circle comprised of three people, almost completely separated from the other larger group. I did propose several options, and I took initiative in separating our small circle from the larger entanglement. At one point, I instructed several people on how to untangle themselves from our circle.
b) I learned from this challenge that I am easily shut down. I lack perseverance in presenting my ideas. When I propose an option, if someone says "I don't think that will work" or "...probably not" I typically stop giving advice, rather than explaining why it would work. Many times, the people who initially shut me down end up unknowingly taking my advice. I will work on this issue by practicing using my voice during future initiatives.
c) As a group, I felt that we worked pretty well together; however, I did notice that once we were "untangled," we felt that our job was done. At the point where two or three separate circles were untangled, but one extremely tangled group remained, the hallway was silent except for the tangled group. People did not want to become re-tangled by offering insight. I suppose that in order to iron out these ideas, one may need to speak up who IS involved in the issue, and ask the opinions of the "outsiders," much like you(Mrs. Basko) did when you asked if we, on the outside, saw anything that, perhaps, those who were tangled could not necessarily see.