CritiqueCitations writings - Essay Example

These characteristics are complementary rather than divisive. Narrow definitions can be misleading, too particularly focused missions can be self-defeating, and neglect for the bigger picture can result in disastrous consequences. In the modern era, despite occasional protests to the contrary, leadership is best demonstrated in terms of flexibility, ethical behavior, perseverance, and a consideration for the effects of every decision and course of action. This essay will set forth a definition which encapsulates the innate qualities of leadership as envisioned by Badaracco, incorporate notions of ethics into the larger conceptual framework of leadership, examine the idea that leaders ought to be concerned with the welfare of others, and agree with the proposition that organizations are fluid rather than static creatures.

Whether leaders are made or born is perhaps a tangential and irrelevant consideration; innate characteristics, whether hormonal or environmentally-instilled, must give way to a more individualistic analysis. Leadership, to be sure, is measured both objectively and subjectively. However one measures leadership, the fact is that some leaders excel and achieve goals; others, just as surely, fail to accomplish the goals set by themselves and the targets set by other concerned individuals and organizations.

There is a persuasive school of thought, a very real theoretical underpinning in the field of leadership, which attempts to link successful leadership and motivation causally. This school thought is represented by commentators like Badaracco, whom has stated that Only people driven by strong motives are likely to make real progress in a world that is often an unpredictable and confusing place, in which trust is fragile and lots of people play for keeps. Merely thinking that something should be done is not enough.

Quiet leaders want to act responsibly and ethically, but to do so they usually have to persevere and improvise, often over long periods. To have any hope of achieving their aims, their motives have to be good enough and strong enough" (2002: 42). There is, in Badaracco's view, a need to identify choices, to consider options pursuant to certain guiding motives or values, and to commit to courses of action in a prolonged and committed fashion. This suggestion, the need to commit to a course of action, is increasingly difficult in a world characterized by imperfect information, conflicting philosophies, and frequent dishonesty.

Indeed, as stated by Aditya and House, this often places the role of leadership into the risk-taking arena (1997: 412). Leaders must, in short, be confident enough, have strong enough goals and motives, and be willing to steer their organization through challenging obstacles. This risk-taking relates well to Badaracco's advice; more specifically, goals must be both legitimate and pursued with vigor if they are to be attained in the modern era.1.2 The Significance of Ethics and Fundamental Values More than ever before, there are leaders, scholars, and commentators whom advocate an incorporation of a fundamental set of values and an ethical framework for guiding leadership decisions.

The incorporation of these value-based components is not universally accepted, but the trend is clearly