Walden University Moral Challenges of Power and Self Interest Discussion

ASSIGNMENT: Post a brief statement by Day 4 that discusses how an ethical leader and an unethical leader would use power. Provide hypothetical or real examples to support your answer.

COLLEAGUE POST TO ABOVE ASSIGNMENT:

Power generally refers to an agent’s capacity to influence a target person, but the term has been used in different ways by different theorists (Ciulla, 2003). Sometimes power means the agent’s capacity to influence over the target person’s behavior, whereas at other times it means influence over the target person’s attitudes as well as behavior (Ciulla, 2003). Sometimes powers refers to the agent’s influence over a single target person, and sometimes power is measured in relation to multiple target persons (Ciulla, 2003). So, when it comes to ethics, how would an ethical leader and an unethical leader use power?

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There are plenty of ways that leaders can use power, ethically and unethically. Hypothetically speaking, lets think of teenager one, Robin. Very popular, does what he wants, has no rules, star athlete and barley ever gets in trouble. Now lets think of teenager two, Alex, who gets picked on, sits alone at lunch, gets good grades, and is considered to be the “nerd.” Robin sees Alex out front of the local gas station and says, “Hey, Alex, if you go inside and steal a pack of bubble gum, I will let you sit with my friend group tomorrow.” Alex, wanting to be just like the popular group, goes inside and gets caught trying to steal a pack of gum. Robin would be considered the leader in this situation, because he has influence over Alex. Alex is someone who wants to fit in, and for people to stop picking on him. Robin uses his leadership power unethically to persuade Alex into doing something wrong, so he gets a good prize in the end.

On the other hand, we can look at a situation where a leader uses their power ethically. Again, hypothetically speaking, lets use Robin and Alex as an example. Robin and Alex have the same personalities as the last example. However, this time, Robin sees Alex in the gym trying to shoot a basketball. Robin stands there for a moment, and watches him miss, over and over again. Robin goes into the gym and says to Alex, “Hey, Alex. If you want to practice every day after school, I will help you. Also, we can try out for the basketball team together.” Alex get very excited, and meets Robin every day after school for a month straight. By the end of that month, Alex makes the basketball team, along with Robin. In this example, Robin uses his leadership power to help Alex do something to make himself better. Robin is doing something ethical.

Reference

Ciulla, J. B. (2003). The Moral Challenges of Power and Self-Interest. In The Ethics of Leadership (pp. 1-52). Belmont, CA: Wadswoth.

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Respond 150 words or more to your colleagues’ postings in two or more of the following ways:

• Share an insight from having read your colleague’s posting and back it with scholarly source.
• Offer and support an opinion with scholarly source.
• Make a suggestion and back it with scholarly source.
• Expand on your colleague’s posting and include scholarly source.

Your responses must be substantive. This implies 150 words or more and all claims are supported – with a scholarly source. AGAIN PLEASE be sure and have at least one supported claim with a citation and reference in each substantive post.

Course Text: Principle-centered leadership by Stephen R. Covey

• Chapter 9, “Principle-Centered Power”

Chapter 9 focuses on the factors that help in building a leader’s power. The chapter also explains the impact of power on the followers.