The Rule And The Golden Rule Essay

This book identifies three standards of employees which each may require a different method of leadership form the same leader. These employees

"There is a difference between being a leader and being a boss. Both are based on authority. A boss demands blind obedience; a leader earns his authority through understanding and trust." Klaus Balkenhol

The belief that morality requires God remains a widely held moral maxim. In particular, it serves as the basic assumption of the Christian fundamentalist's social theory. Fundamentalists claim that all of society's troubles - everything from AIDS to out-of-wedlock pregnancies - are the result of a breakdown in morality and that this breakdown is due to a decline in the belief of God. This paper will look at different examples of how a god could be a bad thing and show that humans can create rules and morals all on their own. It will also touch upon the fact that doing good for the wrong reasons can also be a bad thing for the person.

Participating in the course Foundations of Organizational Leadership presented many opportunities to enhance and enrich my perspective on leadership as well as develop my own unique leadership philosophy. By observing the theories, models and cases presented in Northouse, Kouzes and Posner textbooks, I was able to learn through the experience of others what a true leader should represent. While considering the strengths and weaknesses of each theory, I am able to implement a leadership style with an effective approach tailored to many different types of learners. In addition, witnessing both the triumphs and failures of various businesses and leadership styles, helped me confirm my personal stance and aspirations towards becoming a leader. By implementing what I have learned from the course and textbooks, I will address in this paper what specific leadership theories, styles and models have contributed to forming my own leadership philosophy. In addition, I will also define the values, qualities, strengths and weaknesses and ethical considerations that pertain to my stance on leadership. By integrating a faith based approach as the foundation of my leadership style, I hope to implement my new philosophy into my current and future career path.

“Rely upon the golden rule.How we consider others reflects upon each of us, both personally and as a professional organization. Treat people as they should be treated.”

Leadership and management are two different concepts. Management is involved with the operational oversight of employees, departments, or processes, while leadership is involved with leading the company through organizational changes that are intended to enable the company to meet its objectives. Leaders are expected to carry themselves in a positive manner to motivate and influence the rest of the organization positively, because they act as an example to the rest of the employees in the organization. Since leadership is mainly influenced by the behavior, different leaders apply different strategies to ensure that the objectives of the company have been fully met (Sheahan, 2006). This paper analyzes the leadership theories and the methods and tools given situations while selecting the appropriate behavior of different leaders in resolving some problems in the organization.

Throughout the world there are new companies opening up on a daily basis, some of these companies will find success while many will struggle and eventually close. A large part of makes a company find success is the type of leadership that is found at the top and engrained throughout the company. This done with how the employees are treated and starts with the Companies Mission Statement. When someone is hired they look to what their company’s values and standards and if how the management treat their employees and workers go hand in hand with this. During this paper I will contrast one Servant Leadership Company (South West Airlines and one Standard leadership Company (The New York Times). I will also show why the Servant Leadership

Throughout my time at Troy University, I have learned a great deal about people, subjects, and myself. I have had great successes and days full of light and celebration. However, I have also made mistakes, which have left me with nights characterized by regret and darkness. These experiences, both good and bad, taught me a great deal about life and gave me a deeper understanding of the world. I write this paper in order to impart whatever wisdom I have collected in my twenty years upon this earth. To begin with, I shall say what my definition of leadership is. Chancellor Hawkins once told my leadership class that “Leadership is the management of hope.” This is a definition that I have chosen to adopt as my own. However, this definition does not completely tell a person what the components of leadership are. For me, there are five core components of good servant leadership: love, integrity, balance, appreciation for diversity, and confidence.

I operate daily under the basic philosophy of the “Golden Rule”. Matthew 7:12 states, “So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophet.” I value diversity and inclusiveness in the workplace. In both my professional and personal life, I have recognized a duty beyond self-interest and accepted the responsibility to treat others in a morally right manner.

The authors of “Why Should Anyone Be Led by You” are Robert Goffee and Gareth Jones. Goffee is a founding partner of the organizational consulting firm, Creative Management Associates, professor of Organizational Behavior at London Business School, professional speaker, and an author of numerous books. Gareth Jones is the co-author and a Fellow of the Center for Management Development at London Business School, a visiting professor from IE Business School in Madrid, and is an author and speaker as well. Their main contention in their book “Why Should Anyone Be Led by You” is that numerous or most companies in the world are not led by “true leaders,” but they are simply managed by pencil pushers and employees playing different roles on the company’s professional stage. In my evaluation of the book “Why Should Anyone be Led by You” written by Goffee and Gareth, I will be using different personal examples from my own life to expound on the book’s strengths, my likes, and the book’s limitations and weaknesses as well.

Leadership is essential to the success of any organizations. Strong and effective leaders must have clarity of purpose and a compelling vision to propel organizations forward. Every leader has a philosophy which is a founding principle for their belief. Successful leaders know their personal leadership philosophy and know how to communicate it in everything they do. Leaders must know who they are, their priorities, and their values. This paper will highlight my personal philosophy and the attributes that aspires me.

Due to the heavy Judeo-Christian influences in our culture, concepts like religion and its associated ideas such as cosmology and ethics are seen as universal. Divinity is usually interpreted as either omnipresent or far-beyond-this-world. Ethics are seen as unanimously appropriate, though they are fashioned from the relationship between the divine and his/her individual worshippers. However, many of our Anglo-Saxon ancestors did not see the world or the nature of the divine in this way, as their concepts of religion, culture, and politics were directly related to their familiar surroundings – the mountains, fields, and rivers that shaped and created their everyday life (Bauschatz 130). To put it bluntly, the pagan Anglo-Saxons recognized that

Ethics refers to what people consider good or bad and right or wrong. It is a theory dealing with values that relate to human behaviour; with respect to their actions and purpose. The two most important philosophers that deal with ethics are Immanuel Kant and John Stuart Mill. Kant’s ethical theory is Kantianism or deontological ethics. Mill’s ethical theory is utilitarianism. Both philosophers’ theories have many differences; Kant’s theory deals with conduct, seeking reason for good action in duty. Mill’s theory deals with consequences and maximizing human happiness. However both Kant and Mill’s ethics relate to the important biblical principal of the Golden Rule.

The contents and assignment in this course has helped me understand the various theories of leadership and how different leadership styles can have a negative or positive effect on followers and organizations. The leadership theories helped me understand the concept of leadership better because it educates me on the different leadership options that are available. Leadership and followership is not based on specific characteristics. Leaders must draw from things and approaches to find the right style. A follower’s attitude determines the way a leader leads. According to Johnson (2011) “Being a good follower means ensuring your boss is supported, but only if he is making optimum decisions”.

My thoughts, assumptions and personal values on leadership have developed over many years, simply holding the title as leader or manager is much more than being able to actually lead, and this ability is not a quality that everyone has, good bad or indifferent. Over the past seven weeks I have developed and grown in my own leadership philosophies.