...perspective of leadership and ethics relating to how a prince should obtain land, control it and maintain it by any means necessary. In this book, Machiavelli provides a clear definition of the different types of states or principalities, recommendation on how to govern these principalities and how to expand a prince’s domain. Furthermore, he explains ways to evaluate the strong points and vulnerabilities of other principalities and concludes with the qualities or characteristics a prince should possess to maintain his status. Perhaps one of the most interesting aspects of this book is the suggestion Machiavelli gives about the characteristics a prince should develop in order to be successful, particularly the idea of responsibility, kindness or compassion, and the concept of trust or faith. This paper will focus on these key characteristics or qualities Machiavelli suggests a prince should possess and compare them with leadership based on character. Character based leadership suggests there is a direct correlation between character, ethics and how leadership is developed. It is based upon seven “classical virtues”, courage, faith, justice, prudence, temperance, love and hope. Each of these virtues describes a certain aspect of character and, when they become intertwined, “they profoundly describe a way of life” (Kolp & Rea, 2006). Character will define an individual’s ability to lead, to make ethical decisions and how an individual interacts with others, “Character is more...
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...this statement? Justify your answer using leadership theories and relevant examples. ‘The most dangerous leadership myth is that leaders are born – that there is a genetic factor to leadership. This myth asserts that people simply either have certain charismatic qualities or not. That’s nonsense; in fact, the opposite is true. Leaders are made rather than born.’ – Warren G. Bennis (Farlow, n.d.). Leadership is about changing minds and moving organisations forward (Leadership Theories and Styles, 2009). The art of leadership, however focused on a specific goal or vision, is also about the individuals that are being led; learning, advancing and prospering (Farlow, n.d.). Education, mentoring and experience are how leaders are made, they are not born with any genetic capacity to lead. When it comes to leadership, competencies determine what a person can do. Commitment determines what they want to do, and character determines what they will do (Crossan et al., 2012). The theoretical framework surrounding leadership is based upon power of an individual over a collective, moving toward a defined goal or common purpose. It entails planning, organising and controlling to build enthusiasm and maintain momentum (Schermerhorn 361). “The ability of a superior to influence the behavior of subordinates and persuade them to follow a particular course of action.” (Barnard 1968). Barnard has identified superiority in his definition of leadership which translates to authority and power....
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...Captain Marlow and Gilgamesh: Comparison and Contrast of Leadership The character of Captain Marlow is the central character in the novel Heart of Darkness, while Gilgamesh is the character from one of the earliest known pieces of human literature, the poem Epic of Gilgamesh. Both characters are heroes in their respective texts. The paper discussed the differences and similarities in the characters of Gilgamesh and Marlow. Even though both characters were depicted as leaders, there is stark contrast in their leadership style. Marlow deserved leadership much more than Gilgamesh because Marlow utilized power justly while Gilgamesh used his powers indiscriminately. . The characters of Captain Marlow and Gilgamesh undertake their journeys with an important objective. The novel of Marlow and poem of Gilgamesh, both depict a journey from adolescence to adulthood. The transition of the characters is based on the challenges they face. There is another key similarity in the two characters; Both Gilgamesh and Marlow seek companionship quite eagerly, “Gilgamesh went to the entrance into the mountain and entered the darkness alone, without a companion”. Both Gilgamesh and Marlow possess leadership traits; however, their leadership styles are different reflecting the key ideals of their respective times. Foremost is the difference in the manner in which each one these characters assumes leadership powers. Gilgamesh receives power without putting his own effort into it, and consequently...
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...Teaching Leadership; can it be done? David Ward Everglades University MAN 2435 Thesis When managing a complex entity in any industry, developing strong leaders is one of the most important assets to the longevity and success of that entity. Can this highly complex experience based social skill be passed down to younger generations through education? Developing strong leadership is a common focus in all industries, the argument that teaching the basics of leadership is merely a single step in developing the strong moral and ethical character defined in a good leader. Currently there are many programs in place with the sole intention of training new leaders and improving current leadership skills. However the debate remains, Is leadership a skill, or a trait? Whereas most management educators agree that is both a skill and a behavior, This mutual agreement has only widened the gap in defining whether or not leadership is something that can be taught. Is leadership based upon character, or is it something that can be developed like a skill? Leadership is deeply rooted in management research and development. Many top business schools are reported as such based upon by their publication of leadership coursework. Leading us to the presumption that leadership is widely viewed as an important skill set and our business education institutions are giving the education needed to develop competent leaders. Asking whether or not leadership can be learned is another way of approaching...
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...efficient enough to become a true leader who can lead the dependent people in a correct way. History of ancient Indian sub-continent presents stories of brave, intelligent scholarly leaders who led great and vibrant kingdoms effectively. These leaders could rule the country with wonderful civilization which had people of character, values and ethics. In modern times, many of us could hardly find any leader with a good character and values. In ancient times, although there is no special literature available on leadership qualities, leaders have followed the available ancient scriptures like Vedas, Epics and Upanishads. In the present book, leadership principles based on value education derived from Holy Scriptures is presented to make...
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...their iconic brand recognizable the world-over. Remaining in this position for such a long time has to trickle down from the leadership atop the Coca-Cola’s leadership. Had Coca-Cola had leadership that did not have the character to lead the company towards a continuously promising destination, then the company could have faltered long ago. It is written “Do not be misled: bad company corrupts good character” ("Corinthians 15:33, niv,"). Knowing this, one can assume that the leadership at Coca-Cola, though not presumed to be perfect, has the character to keep their company steered in the right direction in order to provide for a prosperous and continual future. The marketing approach of Coca-Cola will be a reflection of leadership, and this reflection is that of a company that seeks to spread cheer and joy throughout the world. This point is evident in their touching and heart-warming marketing campaigns throughout the holidays, not only in America, but other countries worldwide. Commercial ads in America depict the relationship between family, or that of Santa Clause and the Holiday season surrounding Christmas. This approach is not simply a means to reach out and market to the masses. This approach is a shadow of the leadership’s thoughts and character as they are the governing bodies approving the message and what it stands for. If the leadership was lacking...
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...PSC 410 Individual Leadership must be based on core values that render balance between achieving a goal based on your mission statement and leading people to accomplish that goal, without disregarding the value of those whom you lead. To lead with love is a vital behavior to me because love requires me to treat people with dignity and respect. As a leader I cannot expect from them what they do not see in me or see me doing. From a personal perspective, I have decided to treat everyone equal and with respect. I believe if you cannot treat people of all races and nationalities with dignity and respect you do not qualify as a leader. I want to treat those who follow me with the same respect as I would want. Organizational Hence one of the main problems in bad leadership is the absence of love and respect in top leadership. Many leaders love their company, organization, and the mission, yet they lack love for the people who work for the company and carry out the mission. This lack of love can be noticed by employees. They will eventually know that their leaders only see them as tools to accomplish the bottom line, not people who deserve respect and dignity. Such company that identifies its central focus on the mission apart from the people is doomed for destruction. The doom of the company is because of poor leadership. The success of any company is built on people. Even if such company has no employees, most likely it uses people to buy its products or use its services...
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...qualities: scholarship, leadership, service, and character. Character is defined by the unique personalities, habits, behaviors, and morals of an individual. Our character not only affects the relationships and interactions we make with the world around us, but it makes up the essence of who we are. The empathy we use to build meaningful relationships with others in our community and the ethical decisions we make based on our morals and values make up our everyday character. Character should be based on integrity. We cannot see character and often we do not notice someone’s character until they exhibit a visible mistake or a visible act of virtue. Our character is not about the behaviors...
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...Leadership What is leadership? A simple definition of leadership is that leadership is the art of motivating a group of people to act towards achieving a common goal. This definition of leadership, I think, captures the leadership essentials of inspiration and preparation. Effective leadership is based upon ideas, but won't happen unless those ideas can be communicated to others in a way that engages them. Put even more simply, the leader is the inspiration and director of the action. He is the person in the group that possesses the combination of personality and leadership skills that makes others want to follow his direction. In business, leadership is welded to performance. Those who are viewed as effective leaders are those who increase their company's bottom lines "Leadership is influencing people to get things done to a standard and quality above their norm and doing it willingly." As an element in social interaction, leadership is a complex activity involving: 1. a process of influence 2. actors who are both leaders and followers 3. a range of possible outcomes – the achievement of goals, but also the commitment of individuals to such goals, the enhancement of group cohesion and the reinforcement of change of organizational culture | Good leaders are made not born. If you have the desire and willpower, you can become an effective leader. Good leaders develop through a never ending process of self-study, education, training, and experience . This...
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...into a small, claustrophobic room, on a hot summer day, until they come up with a unanimous decision. The decision that is to decide a boy’s life is to be either guilty or not guilty. The film is particularly important as it examines the twelve men's deep-seated personal prejudices. These are reflected in the perceptual biases and weaknesses, indifference, anger, personalities, unreliable judgments, cultural differences, ignorance and fears, that are in a position to mar their decision-making abilities, and subsequently cause them to ignore the real issues in the case. This can potentially lead them to a miscarriage of justice. What are the key learning for you as leaders? First and foremost, we learn that every decision should be based on reasonable evidence and it can be dangerous to rush to conclusions. In the movie, most of the Jury members were initially in a hurry to shut the case and pronounce the accused guilty even when they know it’s a matter of someone’s life. Only Mr. Raina stands against such a decision and demands that the jury should give appropriate time to the issue and have a healthy discussion on the entire case. Hence, as managers, we should always be dedicated and do a thorough analysis before taking an important decision. The accused in the movie came from a poverty stricken background. Some members of the Jury had preconceived notions against people coming from slums. It was evident in the movie that this preconceived notion had a big impact on their...
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...Research Paper on Leadership Executive Summary Leadership is a quality which cannot be acquired by any person from the other but it can be acquired by self-determination of a person. Leadership is to make a difference, to create a positive change; providing the impetus that creates an atmosphere of change that improves the world, or at least the small part of the world around us. Leading is establishing direction and influencing others to follow that direction. Leaders are individuals who, by their actions, facilitate the movement of a group of people towards a common or shared goal. Leadership is an influential process. The distinction between leader and leadership is very important. The leader is an individual; leadership is the function or activity that person does. The word leader is often used interchangeably with the word manager to describe those individuals in an organization who have positions of formal authority, regardless of how they actually act in those jobs. But just because a manager is supposed to be a formal leader in an organization doesn't mean that he or she exercises leadership. Leadership is one of the important parts of management. Leadership means that we are willing to take on responsibility and make choices for our self, it's not something which was thrust upon by someone else, but a responsibility that we chose because we believe that we are the best man or woman for that job. Another...
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...goals. A leader in the basic meaning takes the lead role by example and motivates others to follow. Leadership is an important aspect of all human activities. Effective leadership helps nations during difficult times and makes a business organization successful. It enables organizations to fulfill their missions and most importantly, effective leadership in parents enables children to grow strong and healthy and become responsible and productive adults in the society. Nurturing and building leadership skills in young people is an assurance of stability and growth for the society and organizations. Brad Lomenick in his book ‘The Catalyst Leader: 8 Essentials for Becoming a Change Maker’ defines leadership and describes the hallmark traits of effective leadership. Most of the leadership approaches that Brad has identified are universal and are congruent with the academic literature on leadership. The study of leadership approaches has been an important part of the literature on organizational behavior and management. Leadership receives more interest than any other role in many organizations (Schwandt &Marquardt, 2000, p.15). Leadership concepts have been studied for a long time dating back to Plato and Caesar times (Bass, 1981, p. 28). Although there is a lack of harmony about the exact definition of leadership, a literature review shows that there is an agreement that leadership is a relationship of influence between the leader and the followers. There are shared purposes, and...
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...personal connections. One example of leadership is coaching. When someone possess leadership traits, that person will be able to become a great coach. John Wooden is among one of the winningest sports coaches of all time, he led UCLA to 700 victories and ten national championships throughout his 30-year career as a basketball coach. This is one achievement that might not happen ever again. “Wooden and his extraordinary leadership abilities are lauded and emulated by contemporaries in a variety of sports. His leadership style can transcend any industry and any aspect of one’s life.” (Farfan, 2014) Wooden believed that good coaching is based purely in leadership. He also believed that, “leadership is influence derived from one’s character.” (Dobbs, 2011)For Wooden, the ideal leader is someone whose life and character motivate people to follow. “The best kind of leadership derives its capacity from the force of example, not from the power of position or personality.” Everyone has their own view of what leadership really is. His accomplishments during his coaching career shows that his leadership style is something that should be inspiring to others that are following his footsteps. If someone was to become a coach, not only in basketball, they should follow his leadership style since it made him so successful at completing a task that many coaches wished that they were able to achieve. Wooden influenced players through the character he displayed in everything he did,...
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...Abraham Lincoln said, “Reputation is the shadow. Character is the tree.“ Our character is much more than just our reputation, what we try to display for others to see. It is who we are even when no one is watching. Having a Good Character means doing the right thing just because it is right to do what is right. (Learn More About Abraham Lincoln) The Dictionary Definitions of “Character” One dictionary defines character as “the mental and moral qualities distinctive to an individual.” Another says it is “the complex of mental and ethical traits marking a person.” In still another dictionary, character is said to be “the stable and distinctive qualities built into an individual’s life which determine his or her response regardless of circumstances.” How Character Determines Success In Life Our Character Is What Determines How We Respond to the Situations and Circumstances of Life The dictionary definitions said character is a “complex of mental and ethical traits“, that those traits, or qualities, are “distinctive to an individual” and that they are “built into an individual’s life.” It is those character qualities, those character traits, that determine a person’s response in any given situation. For example, a person in with a strong character quality of truthfulness is much more likely to accurately report the facts in a given situation than a person who tends to be characterized by deceptiveness. Someone who has the character trait of alertness will be more likely to be...
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...Synthesis Paper: Leadership Ella Mathis-James June 17, 2015 Doctoral students are the future of academic circles and need to possess an in-depth research-based approach. The three articles covered in this paper focuses on organizational candidates, presidential affiliates and doctoral students with the leadership skills needed for the role of educated professionals research. This paper will have the in-depth research-based on the commonality of all the articles which is inclusive of personality and behavior traits as well as embracing the management philosophy portraying a functional method to detect prospective leaders. It is not an ironclad method which envisages who will direct or by what method will he or she direct. These articles give a concept into the methods to effect or utilize a particular description of successful management. However the conception of an effective leader is biased, which makes it challenging to visibly describe what characteristics and qualities cause somebody to be an effective administrator or leader. There is also not any unanimity concluded as to which traits are largely significant for those in chief positions such as leaders and administrators to have. Although some view character traits like self-confidence and inspiration, others contemplate natural traits like individuals size to be more important. This paper is a synthesis analysis of three research articles that explored leadership styles, individual’s temperaments, perception of themselves...
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