Shadows of Leadership Essay Example

typically a company reacts only after being sued. However, by taking this approach, Halliburton can select the venue and have the opportunity to present its case before the other party. As stated by an employment lawyer (unrelated to the case), initiating legal action can result in victory before the opposing side has a chance to voice their perspective.

Halliburton's use of power to avoid paying health benefits to about 4,000 salaried retirees is evident. With well-organized operation and significant financial resources, Halliburton's power is coercive, seen in their plan to decrease retiree health benefits. This casts a negative light on current employees who anticipate retirement and could decrease their loyalty, ultimately reducing Halliburton's competitiveness in the labor market. As a result, recruiting high-quality employees may prove difficult for Halliburton in the future.

In 2003, www.caymannetnews.com published an editorial titled "Hiding Behind Privilege." The article criticizes the special rights and immunities enjoyed by the legislative assembly for the Cayman Islands, which are based on British concepts. The article specifically highlights 'principal immunity,' which refers to the freedom of parliamentary debates and proceedings from being questioned by the courts.

The Bill of Rights of 1689 states that no court can question the freedom of speech, debates, or proceedings in Parliament. However, this article discusses how the legislative body sometimes abuses this privilege. An example is when an Assembly member unfairly defames individuals without any legal means for them to make a rebuttal. It is unethical for leaders to use parliamentary privilege to target defenseless citizens for political gain. This example illustrates how leaders can abuse their privileges and highlights the need for steadfast humility to avoid such

abuses.

As we ascend the ladder of success, caution must be exercised as power and privilege are intertwined. With power comes the inclination to misuse privileges. The consequences of deceit are portrayed in the article "Former Enron exec Rice pleads guilty to fraud" published on Saturday, July 31, 2004, which details the illicit activities of Kenneth Rice, the previous CEO of Enron Corp.

's high-speed internet division, was charged with selling over 1 million shares of Enron stock for more than $76 million in 2003, despite knowing that the division was failing.

Mr. Rice confessed that he conspired to falsely portray Enron's network control software as "revolutionary" and fully operational, when in reality it never met those benchmarks and never functioned appropriately. Mr. Rice made these claims in two meetings with analysts, and as a result of his statements, Enron stock significantly increased to $90 per share.

Moreover, the Justice Department reported that Mr. Rice's unit didn't make any profit. Mr. Rice's deceitful actions had severe consequences for numerous individuals. This included investors who relied on Enron analyst reports, especially those from Mr. Rice's unit, as they were unaware of the falseness of his statements.

It is clear that numerous investors were at risk of losing a significant amount, if not all, of their finances. The situation was particularly heartrending as it caused turmoil between investors and brokers across the stock market. As a result, potential investors became more cautious in their evaluation and understanding of corporate financial data. The impact of Enron's case continues to be felt throughout the United States, with many investors now being cautious of any corporate financial reporting.

On July 31, 2004,

an article titled "60 people to lose jobs as TXU mine closes" sheds light on the Shadow of Inconsistency. It informs about the shutdown of a coalmine owned by Texas Utilities (TXU) in Mount Pleasant, Texas that leads to unemployment for 60 workers and provision of severance pay for them. However, it points out that unionized employees will receive less favorable severance packages compared to non-union workers. This contradicts previous layoffs by TXU where both groups of employees were given the same benefits upon termination.

TXU's policy on severance pay for union workers has changed, according to manager Gordon Hall, who stated that they are now strictly following union contract rules. While severance benefits for union employees are outlined in their contract, those for non-union workers are determined by company policy. Although TXU leaders seem unconcerned by this policy, it may have negative ramifications, such as heightened tension during future negotiations with labor representatives and potential demand from union negotiators for contractual rules that ensure equal treatment of workers.

TXU's inconsistency implies unequal status among workers, making future attempts to promote teamwork challenging. Additionally, TXU should consider how the public will perceive their actions; their behavior may seem unfair and uncaring. Bill Clinton's actions as a national leader may serve as an example of misplaced and broken loyalties from an Arkansas native.

Under the leadership of Bill Clinton, it was observed by the American people that he undermined our government and acted solely for his personal enjoyment and financial gain. Though there are multiple instances of his disloyalty and lack of loyalty, this particular assignment will concentrate on the Monica Lewinsky scandal.

During the investigation of their

sexual affair, Clinton utilized stonewalling tactics to suppress it. It's worth considering Clinton's loyalty to America and genuine truth during this event. As President Ford stated upon assuming office, "Truth is the glue that holds government together." Clinton's claim of "I had no relations with that woman" highlights his misguided loyalty, which most Americans anticipate from their president.

Clinton's actions had a dark impact on the nation, evident in current times. An example is how my children joke about adulterous affairs by referencing Clinton's own actions without consequences. This highlights his misplaced loyalty to himself rather than truth. Despite his crimes, Clinton faced no punishment, lowering the high standards expected of the American presidency. This lack of responsibility is present in an article from July 30th, 2004 where it is discussed how civilian leaders failed to keep adequate records of reconstruction funds.

The article discusses a significant responsibility problem pertaining to almost $1 billion designated for the reconstruction of Iraq. Essentially, this money was utilized for tasks that lack documentation by American civilian authorities.

The Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA) reportedly paid about $200,000 for 15 police trucks, but there is no certainty that they were delivered or even located by auditors. This was the initial audit of contracting procedures by the CPA, whose role is to supervise the disbursement of billions in reconstruction expenditures, as per the report. Critics argue that the money was distributed carelessly or with insufficient controls. CPA Inspector General Stuart Bowen Jr. presented this report to Congress.

The speaker noted that his teams in Iraq have uncovered various management issues, which is not unexpected due to the associated hazards. Regardless of their motives, reckless leadership

responsible for reconstruction is a significant worry. Additionally, there appears to be no indication of measures taken to rectify or avoid such occurrences in the future. Although the funds were meant exclusively for Iraqi citizens' benefit, this did not materialize. This event serves as an excellent demonstration of extreme irresponsibility with global consequences.

Furthermore, the current timing of this event is significant because America's reputation as a moral global leader is already in decline. The common factor among all forms of power is trust, and it is essential to recognize that shedding light on each aspect of power builds trust among followers. Conversely, exploiting power unethically casts a shadow that erodes trust among followers.

Leaders must acknowledge that ethical challenges persist, as outlined in the examples provided. Therefore, it is essential that they understand the meaning and implications of every aspect of power when making decisions. By doing so, managers can choose to shine a positive light instead of creating negative consequences.