Ethical Leadership Anyone?
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| U. S Virgin Islands Governor K. Mapp |
Ethical
leadership involves acting with moral purpose and integrity to do what is
right, just, and fair in service of common good; they are genuine with
themselves and others, they remain true to who they are and what they stand for
(Weiss, 2011). The main characteristics of ethical leadership are authenticity
and integrity. Authentic leaders have genuine desires to serve, they know
themselves and lead from their values; they understand their purpose, have
strong values about doing the right thing in work and in their lives and are
passionate about their mission (George with Sims, 2007). Ethical leaders with
integrity often illustrates an 'alignment between what one does and what one says;
doing and saying should belong to the same whole' (Brown, 2005). Acting with
integrity is the same as acting ethically or morally (DeGeorge, 1993).
Notable examples of ethical leaders include but aren't limited to the Dalai
Lama, Dr. Martin Luther King, Maya Angelou, Nelson Mandela, Mohandas Gandhi,
and Erykah Badu (a notable activist for youth engagement and development
through the arts). As I mentioned in discussions, the most influential leader in our territory, the
governor, is continuing to lose the confidence of the people and even the
Senate committee due to unethical actions continuously arising since he took
office in January. His actions have caused many of the
nominees selected as commissioners and chairpersons resigning every month as a
new scandal of some sort is making headlines again because of the governor lack
of ethics. His lack of ethics and those who held the office before him set the
precedence for every other aspiring politician within our territory including
those who are the most impressionable, the youths.
Outside of our own governor and that he has recently become
notable for, many of his cabinet/ administration's members are also under much
needed scrutiny for their actions during the short tenure this administration
has had. My main concerns are with all being discussed and the spotlights being
'lit' what exactly are these politicians and their aids doing to better serve
the needs of the territories educational institutions? I have heard of the many strides made for UVI's medical program and think it great as
nursing has become such a common occupation within the territory, but early
childhood education is still not being addressed. Too many have to wait until
they are of school age (five years old) to attend public school because Head
Start programs have waiting lists by years and not enough facilities.
This sort of leadership has caused discord among our
governments officials, the community at large and has even stopped initiatives
and legislations from being practiced due to hardball being played between too much
people with power.
Ethics is generally defined as motivations or actions that are based on ideas of what is right and wrong, but it also encompasses the values and morals that an individual, society, or institution deems acceptable and desirable (Weiss, 2011). Leaders who do not
encompass the values and morals of the society cannot effectively and
authentically lead any majority without first being motivated to do so by
similar causes. I think ethical leadership is important because it teaches
integrity and culture to followers in turn empowering the masses.
Weiss, J. W.
(2011). An
introduction to leadership. San
Diego, CA: Bridgepoint Education, Inc.
The views expressed within the blog are solely those of Ms. Child Advocate and does not reflect on any of her affiliations. For more on the U.S Virgin Islands youths read PTA, Parent Committee, & Volunteering: Get Involved , Too Much Violence: USVI Shootings Near Preschools, USVI Shootings Near Preschool's 2, and Respect Goes Both Ways: Teacher and Student
