Benjamin Franklin
John Doe
University of Phoenix
LDR-531/Leadership
February 8, 2014 Professor: Jane Doe

Benjamin Franklin According to the Franklin Institute (n.d.), “Today, America's leadership and government are found in Washington, DC. In the late 1700s, that leadership was in Philadelphia because that's where Ben Franklin was” (para. 4). I am a great admirer of Benjamin Franklin. A polymath, Franklin never stopped learning. His numerous accomplishments include cofounding the first hospital in North America, organizing Philadelphia's first fire company and founding the first circulating library, the Library Company of Philadelphia (La Fon, 2013). These endeavors could not be done alone. Says the National Lightning Safety Institute, “Many of Franklin's achievements involved motivating other people towards his goals. He was successful in accomplishing many things because he enlisted the help of others” (Knowing How to Motivate Others Tactfully). To bring his ideas into reality, Franklin had to use a form of leadership to transmit and instill his vision in others. I desire to emulate his leadership style in order to be successful in my next vocation.
Franklin the Leader Franklin embodies every attribute of a charismatic leader as laid out in Leadership in Organizations. His novel and appealing visions lead to the creation of the Franklin stove, bifocals, the odometer and swimming fins as well as the discovery of the Gulf Stream and implications of electricity. He used unconventional behavior in brokering an alliance with France while maintaining diplomatic relations with England. He succeeded by appealing to France’s emotional values of how it would benefit them to curb English expansionism while aggrandizing their own. This was also a self-sacrifice as he was in his 70s during his time in Europe as a diplomat. His cause outweighed his age. He had confidence and optimism which can be surmised from his quote from a web article by Heathfield (n.d.), “While we may not be able to control all that happens to us, we can control what happens inside us" (Quotations about Optimism).
Army Leadership My leadership experience comes from being a sergeant in the United States Army. Leading by example and passive management by exception best describes the leadership styles I utilized. I never ordered my soldiers to perform a task that I had not done or would not do. From basic training soldiers are instilled with the Army standards and regulations. After basic training, soldiers are assigned to a unit. At their units, training and meetings remind soldiers of their obligations and duties. Passive management by exception is enforcement of standards through “contingent punishments and other corrective action in response to obvious deviations from acceptable performance” (Yukl, 2013, p. 322). Indeed, the process of reprimanding misbehaving soldiers was referred to as “corrective action.” Passive management by exception is linked to laissez-faire leadership, described negatively “as the absence of effective leadership” (Yukl, 2013, p. 322). While passive management by exception worked in the Army, it translates poorly into the civilian world. A clean slate and new model are in order.
Incorporating Franklin Currently, I am unemployed. This is a temporary state but just because the beauty salon down the street is hiring does not mean I should apply. It is my ardent belief that love and interest in one’s work is the driving force in becoming a successful leader. I could have progressed in the Army to higher positions of leadership, however the desire was not there after eight years of service. Foremost to becoming a leader in a company will involve finding an industry where I can thrive. The search thus far has yet to produce any concrete results so this issue is on the backburner for now. It is best to start by fostering currently possessed strengths. My mentor said two of my best strengths are persistence and a desire to learn. Franklin would approve as expressed in a quote of his from Brainy Quotes (2001), “Energy and persistence conquer all things” (para. 3).
Multiple-linkage Model Franklin involved himself in manifold industries and pursuits. The web contains thousands of sites that document Franklin’s accomplishments but little relay how he led others. The leadership style in running a print shop may not have worked in dealing with other Founding Fathers as they drafted the Constitution. Franklin displays traits of the multiple-linkage model. The requirements of multiple-linkage model for leadership behavior, situational variables and mediating variables are listed as “many” (Yukl, 2013, p. 176). As I search jobs, I find many industries interesting. Coming from the Army, there is an inclination to go into the bureaucratic world of government. However, I also enjoy working with my hands and being active so maybe manufacturing or the service industry would suit me better. I find the multiple-linkage model appealing but ultimately the industry I choose will determine my leadership style.
Skills and Education over Leadership Since I have not decided on a field or a leadership style to use, studying about group dynamics in the meantime will pay dividends. Conflict is inevitable but correctable with conflict management. Solutions can be found through integrative or distributive bargaining. Prior to negotiation, many problems arise from misunderstanding the issue itself and/or the other side’s objections. “Negotiations that occur when both parties are focused on learning and understanding the other side tend to also yield higher joint outcomes than those in which parties are more interested in their individual bottom-line outcomes” (Robbins & Judge, p. 462). Decision making techniques are also a valuable skill to learn as the team may come to loggerheads over which way to progress. Prior to reading Organization Behavior, I was an advocate of brainstorming that is “An idea-generation process that specifically encourages any and all alternatives while withholding any criticism of those alternatives” (Robbins & Judge, p. 295). Although people may act sincere, I have discovered that true impartiality is rare. I now find myself in the camp of electronic meeting as the best solution. The anonymity allows for a lesser degree of social pressure and interpersonal conflicts. Decisions come from voting on a pool of proposed suggestions. Although unemployed, I can use this time to further my education. As Franklin says on Brainy Quotes (2001), “An investment in knowledge pays the best interest” (para. 3).

References

Brainy Quotes. (2001). Benjamin Franklin. Retrieved from http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/b/benjamin_franklin_3.html
Franklin Institute. (n.d.). Statesman. Retrieved from http://sln.fi.edu/franklin/statsman/statsman.html
Heathfield, S. M. (n.d.). Inspirational Quotes for Business and Work: Optimism. Retrieved from http://humanresources.about.com/od/success/a/optimism.html
La Fon, A. W. (2013). 10 Great achievements of Benjamin Franklin. Retrieved from http://voices.yahoo.com/10-great-achievements-benjamin-franklin-12209730.html
National Lightning Safety Institute. (n.d.). Benjamin Franklin on leadership. Retrieved from http://www.lightningsafety.com/nlsi_info/ben_franklin_on_leadership.html
Resource Development Company, Inc. (2006). January 2006, Ben Franklin-A legacy of leadership. Retrieved from http://www.rdcinc.com/RDCRetainer106.asp
Robbins, S. R. & Judge, T. A. (2013). Organizational behavior (15th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson/Prentice Hall.
Yukl, G. (2013). Leadership in organizations (8th ed.). Retrieved from The University of Phoenix eBook Collection database