There is a lot of discussion about what is a leader or how to be a leader. The question that should be being asked is “what make’s a good leader?”. What would make someone a good leader is someone who has a good, firm understanding of what it means to be ethical and a good leader. Once developed and used, ethics become more than a philosophy. They become a way of life that is demonstrated through words, actions and expressions. Ethics turn opinions into judgments, which lead to analysis and decision-making. Two qualities required to fix any problem. Ethics affect everyday life, not just the most significant issues. Consciously or unconsciously, we use ethics with every decision. From what kind of milk you buy to your understanding of the meaning of life, ethics affect all thoughts and behavior. (Waggoner)
Ronald Reagan was such a great leader of this nation because he knew what was the right thing to do and he never backed down. He stood for what was right and challenged the biggest threat America had seen to date and he ultimately prevented a devastatingly deadly war by talking and not backing down from this countries values that he held dear.
Instead of using a pencil to sketch leadership, visually paint it as a watercolor. Make every variable that determines leadership a different color. Now, stand back and look at what you created. Colors everywhere, right? All of these variables are mixed together in real life as well. However, what are the two things that affected the way you painted? If you answered the water and brush you are correct. In real life, the water and brush are ethics. The water is a leader’s understanding of ethics and the brush acts as the role model for decision-making and a plan of action for promoting ethical conduct. (Waggoner)
The most important aspect a leader can have is a desire to put others first. The mark of a great leader is one who understands what is the right, ethical thing to do and to ensure that all others are cared for before self. I see and use that everyday stemming from my experience in the Marin Corps. The health and safety of my fellow Marines was always paramount and their needs always came before my own.
Waggoner, Jessica, “Ethics and Leadership: How Personal Ethics Produce Effective Leaders” (2010). CMC Senior Theses. Paper 26.
http://scholarship.claremont.edu/cmc_theses/26