After reading this week’s lesson commentary and Northouse chapter, there were many facts that actually surprised me. For example, “a 1988 Harris Poll found that 89% of 1200 workers and managers believed it was important for leaders to be honest and ethical” (PSU WC, 2013). However, the next paragraph states that majority opinion typically overrules principles of justice when making ethical decisions in managers (PSU WC, 2013). So we have the expectation that our leaders and managers will act a certain way but then put people into these positions that essentially do the opposite? It makes me question how these people come to end up in leadership positions in the first place.
In addition, the commentary states “individuals are less likely to report unethical behavior of co-workers when the violation does not seem serious and if the offender is a close friend” (PSU WC, 2013) So once again, we expect our leaders to act a certain way but yet, the employees don’t feel it necessary to embody the same characteristics. It seems so hypocritical and I feel that this is why lawsuits arise in companies and firms. People have such high expectations but yet, don’t strive to meet them. If the managers lead off of opinion and employees are looking out for friends, then who are the real leaders?
Near the end of the chapter, the fact that there is timely research is listed as a strength but at the same time, this area of research lacks research findings to support it and this is listed as weakness (PSU WC, 2013). This is so contradictory and I don’t understand how this theory of ethics is still standing and being used as a working model. Furthermore, another strength listed is “ethics should be considered as an integral part of the broader domain of leadership” (PSU WC, 2013). However, as mentioned before, the managers and employees don’t even support this notion so I think further development is needed in this area.
Penn State World Campus (2013). PSYCH 485 Lesson 14: Ethics and Leadership. Retrieved from https://courses.worldcampus.psu.edu/sp13/psych485/003/content/14_lesson/01_page.html