Task #1 College Essay Example

the team.

Creating an effective work team involves meeting specific conditions within an organization. This text emphasizes the need for organizational change by highlighting factors such as interdependence of work, clear goals, commitment, protected time and space, self-regulatory norms, and feedback from all team members in fostering this change.The text discusses the distinction between leadership and management, noting that management involves executing executive, administrative, and supervisory directives within an organization while leadership entails influencing a group towards achieving a shared objective. However, it acknowledges that in an organization, the roles of a manager and a leader often overlap or intertwine. It is important to understand the functions of both roles. According to Peter Scouts (2000), managers imitate while leaders originate and have their eyes on the bottom line as well as the horizon. Managers administer while leaders innovate and accept the status quo while challenging it. Managers maintain while leaders develop and accept reality while investigating it. Managers focus on systems and structures while leaders focus on people. Managers rely on control while leaders inspire trust. Lastly, managers ask how and when, while leaders ask why and what.

Kendall C. Wright and Kristin G. Rickets (2009) discuss differences between leadership and management, whereas Robert J Sternberg (2004) delves into the nature of leadership.Stevens D., Jack Phillips, Michael Berliner (1998) explore high-performance team development with Woodrow H Sears(2007) focusing specifically on high-performance teams.W.Glenn Roweand Laura Guerdon(2011) provide cases in leadership emphasizing the significant importance of ethics and morality in the modern business world in their Introduction to "Leadership and Ethics".Leaders are responsible for making decisions that go beyond finances, including environmental and social responsibilities. They must find a

balance between the welfare of others and their own well-being by recognizing their moral duty. Effective leaders transparently communicate their ethics and personal values by providing accurate information about expectations and values. Organizations should establish a well-written standard of conduct and offer ethical training to promote positive workplace morals and ethics. These resources aid individuals in making informed business decisions that benefit the organization.

Ethics are defined by external standards set by an organization or group, consisting of rules or philosophies established by each profession to shape accepted behavior within society. On the other hand, morals are internal principles influenced by an individual's beliefs, culture, and society. Ethical leadership involves asking appropriate questions while avoiding cowardice for safety, focusing on expediency for political gains, or prioritizing vanity for popularity reasons.

However, conscience plays a role in determining what is right. There comes a point when individuals must take a stand based on their conscience, even if it isn't safe, politically correct, or popular (Duffy, 2006). Several factors differentiate the ethics of leaders from those of individuals.Unlimited power has the potential to corrupt individuals by manipulating their mindset and justifying both positive and negative actions. Instead of making excuses when faced with temptations, it is important for individuals to rely on their conscience. Those in positions of power have a moral obligation towards not only those they directly interact with but also potential unknown individuals. To avoid ethical dilemmas, it is necessary to maintain honesty and fairness in all interactions while preserving integrity. Thomas A Becker (1998), an ethics researcher, argues that leaders must practice what they preach despite emotional and social pressures. Effective leaders prioritize the well-being

of everyone affected by their decisions by finding a balance between maximizing wealth and considering those involved. Ethical leaders have an impact not only within their organization but also on their communities and even global society. Ultimately, deserving leaders are recognized based on qualities such as truthfulness, honesty, fairness, compassion, kindness - all rooted in the principle of respect. "Trust and respect are essential principles that we teach our youth to enhance their success in life.Unfortunately, there are multiple reasons why good leaders may deviate from moral and ethical behavior, with greed being the primary culprit.Sadly, some individuals prioritize personal gain without regard for others."Alan Greenshank's portrayal of prevalent greed in the corporate world has led to the downfall of numerous organizations due to unethical behavior by top management. Unethical leaders often deflect blame onto those who never question or intervene, attempting to justify their wrong actions. The developmental timing of a person's moral character is crucial, as it greatly influences their inclination towards morality or making unethical decisions based on early life circumstances. To assess the ethical implications of a specific decision, the Center for Business Ethics at Bentley College has formulated six questions (Dublin 179): Is it right? Is it fair? Who gets hurt? Would you be comfortable if the details became public? What would you tell your close ones? Does it seem suspicious?

An individual with ethical and moral leadership must consider these questions when faced with challenging decisions. If any gray areas arise in response, it becomes important to thoroughly reassess the decision without resorting to rationalization. In today's corporate landscape, ethics and moral conduct hold significant importance as individuals should uphold

their beliefs and values.

Leaders have a responsibility to prioritize doing good over financial or economic gains, utilizing their power for positive societal impact. Establishing a code of conduct that fosters an organizational culture promoting ethical and moral behavior is paramount.Leadership style refers to the consistent behavior pattern through which a leader is characterized. Great leaders possess qualities such as self-confidence, composure during conflicts, and the ability to make quick and accurate decisions. Trustworthiness is also important, as leaders must be honest, truthful, and exhibit integrity as an example. Trust can be difficult to establish but easily eroded if not exercised properly. Authenticity complements trustworthiness as leaders demonstrate genuine passion for their people and purpose while remaining consistent in their values.

Regardless of the trait, effective leaders are motivated by the power associated with their position. Researchers who study leaders and their traits constantly question whether leaders are born or made. Each individual difference extends beyond intelligence, including social, political, moral, ethical, and educational aspects. As a result, determining whether nature or nurture alone plays a role is not a straightforward answer.

According to Evelyn Williams from Stanford University's development program (Dublin 172), it is a combination of both factors. Having all the character traits and intelligence of great leaders does not guarantee effectiveness as a leaderThroughout history, there have been successful leaders with different beliefs and appearances. Many of these leaders possess multiple personality traits mentioned earlier. The majority of these great leaders belong to one of seven leadership styles: Charismatic, participative, situational, transactional, transformational, quiet, and servant.

Charismatic leaders achieve success by showing concern for their followers by listening to them and addressing their issues. They possess

a natural charm that appeals to the general public. Former President Bill Clinton is an exemplary charismatic leader who excels at communication and inspiring people to take action.

Participative leadership is more suitable for corporate environments. In this style, the leader facilitates the decision-making process by providing information and gathering input from a group of people but ultimately has the final say. Donald Trump serves as a great example of a participative leader.

Situational leadership focuses on adapting quickly to specific tasks and surroundings. Dwight D. Eisenhower exemplifies this leadership style as our 34th President of the United States.

Transactional leadership involves a clear chain of command where subordinates are motivated through rewards and punishments, with following the leader's commands being their primary goal. Wisconsin state senator Joseph McCarthy has been characterized as a transactional leader.
The text highlights the importance of leadership styles and effective communication in organizations. Transformational leadership focuses on motivating followers to believe in the same ideas and become role models. Martin Luther King Jr. exemplifies this type of leader through his inspirational speeches. On the other hand, quiet leadership relies on individuals for success, although it is controversial due to its diverse characteristics and interpretations.

Abraham Lincoln is used as an example of a leader who leads through actions rather than explicit commands or speeches. Similarly, George Washington is described as a servant leader who prioritizes the welfare of the people above personal interests.

The text stresses that strong communication skills are crucial for leaders as they foster understanding, trust, and motivation among others. It emphasizes open communication between company leaders and employees as a way to overcome challenges and achieve success.

Furthermore, effective communication is deemed

essential for leaders to fulfill their roles efficiently and should be approached from various perspectives for optimal outcomes. Leaders need to have a comprehensive understanding of the different components involved in the communication process in order to apply them effectively.The key factors for impactful communication include meticulous planning, management, clarity, consistency, and message integration. There are two main categories that contribute to being an inspiring and emotion-provoking communicator: speaking and writing, as well as nonverbal communication. Leaders can use different techniques to improve their oral and written skills in order to become more dynamic and persuasive. Credibility is crucial for leaders to persuade others and effectively guide their team; when a speaker is seen as highly credible, their persuasive communication is more likely to succeed. Impactful words with emotional resonance can strengthen speeches by projecting confidence and leadership qualities. Supporting conclusions with solid data can increase persuasiveness as well. Writing and speaking become more persuasive when important ideas are presented upfront. Clear communication through concise memos, reports, or front-loaded messages empowers leaders. A power-oriented linguistic style chosen appropriately enhances a leader's message by incorporating culturally learned signals that facilitate effective communication. Elements of linguistic style that bring authority to a leader's message include speaking loudly and directly. The Six Basic Principles of Persuasion (also known as influence principles) focus on the appropriateness and effectiveness of persuasive messages in communication: liking, reciprocity, consistency, authority,and nonverbal communication all play a role in impactful communication strategies.Liking is a persuasive tool that highlights the similarities between managers and team members. Trustworthy and dedicated managers are necessary for reciprocation in influencing group members. Consistency is vital for leaders to gain

commitment from others, while authority empowers managers to persuade others towards their plans. Nonverbal communication, including body position and gestures, significantly contributes to projecting confidence as a leader.