Respond to the two discussion essays below: 

Discussion 1

George Jordan

Moral Courage as a determinant of effective leadership

“Leaders carry a tremendous responsibility for setting the ethical climate and acting as positive role models for others (Daft, R., 2018)”.  So there is a need to provide a standard for moral courage with that responsibility.  However, this also includes developing moral courage in followers.  Both are needed for the future success of our organizations and country.  To create moral courage, leaders and followers will have to commit causes they believe in, connect with others, harness anger, and develop their skills (Daft, R., 2018).

Developing moral courage starts at home, continues throughout academia, and is reinforced in the work environment.  This impacts the development of leaders and followers.  In this week’s video, I was inspired by the speaker’s approach to the impact on parenting, technology, and the work environment  (RSA, 2016).  The factors of the participation ribbon, cell phones, and social media are all impacting the development of moral courage.  Academia continues by focusing students on college versus understanding what is in the best interest of the students.  Some students should not attend college and are disappointed when they do not have the success they have been led to believe would be theirs.  The work environment must discontinue focusing on the numbers and focus on the process and people.

In developing a standard for moral leadership, there is a need to commit to a cause.  When football teams win championships, they tend to be committed to their leader’s direction.  They also want to have a connection with others.  Leader must harness their anger.  Next, they need to have the self-awareness that allows them to control their emotions.  Lastly, they need to continue to develop their skills.  If you are not learning, you are dying.

The desire is to have a team of leaders and followers with 100% moral courage.  However, that would be the dream because the leader has to consider the purposes of everyone involved in the group and is attentive to the interests of the community and culture (Northouse, 2022, p. 439).  It is more important for the leaders to have the moral courage to provide a framework for the team to observe and hopefully mimic.  Northouse, 2022, p. 440,  reflected that research has demonstrated that followers exhibit ethical norms, positive job attitudes, and constructive ethical behaviors because their leaders serve as role models.

Reference

RSA.  (2016, November 3).  Simon Sinek: Together is Better.  [Video].  YouTube.  

Northouse, P., (2022).  Leadership: Theory & Practice.  9th ed, p. 439 – 440.  SAGE

Daft, R., (2018).  The Leadership Experience, 7th ed. p. 166 – 187.  CENGAGE 

Discussion  2

Sabriya Hill

Moral courage is an instrumental value that is beneficial to the entire establishment; therefore, it must be exhibited by leaders and followers alike.  Moral courage is a mutual level of trust and respect.  The responsibility lies on all parties involved.  Leaders must create an atmosphere where followers trust the leader’s ability to direct them to meet organizational goals.  Likewise, leaders need to depend on the follower’s willingness to help achieve objectives. 

Many organizations use moral courage to help build cultures where environments suffer from issues of integrity, or to prevent issues from arising.  In the article Ethic Matters, “moral courage helps us address ethical issues and take action when doing the right thing is not easy. Moral courage involves the willingness to speak out and do what is right in the face of forces that would lead us to act in some other way”, which can be detrimental and have adverse effects (Bon Secours Health System, 2012).  Organizations can help develop moral courage in it’s followers by (1) providing ethical practices followed by leaders which motivate followers to behave with integrity, (2) identifying policies and procedures that outline expectations of truthfulness, and (3) offering rewards and incentives to those that perform honorably.

“Followers… need moral courage to question unethical practices or challenge authority through constructive criticism when the leader/system is in the wrong” (Kelly, 1992).  Accountability is the reason why it is more important for leaders to have moral courage than it is for followers.  While it is important for both leaders and followers to instill integrity, it is important for leaders to be an example to their followers, and to display what ethical leadership looks like.

References

Bon Secours Health System- Mission Department. (2012, March). Ethics matters March 2012 – intensive bioethics course. Retrieved April 12, 2022, from https://ibc.georgetown.edu/wordpress/wp-content/up…

Ganu, J. (2021, January 13). Moral courage: The essence of ethical leadership and followership. The Journal of Applied Christian Leadership. Retrieved April 12, 2022, from https://jacl.andrews.edu/moral-courage-the-essence-of-ethical-leadership-and-followership/#:~:text=For%20the%20ethical%20leader%2C%20courage,system%20is%20in%20the%20wrong.