Walden University Different Types of Power Organizational Leaders Discussion

COLLEAGUE POST

Post a brief statement by Day 4 that discusses how an ethical leader and an unethical leader would use power. Provide hypothetical or real examples to support your answer.

An ethical leader most often uses legitimate, expert, referent, and reward powers. The use of their power is consistent with the organization’s goals, respecting the rights of individuals, and meets the standards of equity and fairness. An ethical leader acts on the principles of doing something because it is the right thing to do regardless of the consequences. For example, a manager may get fired because he complains about the safety of the company’s product, Ciulla (1003).

When Confucius speaks of the superior man I see and ethical leader. This is someone who does not seek a sense of fulfillment of his appetite,( lust, and desires), nor comfort in his lodgings, (possessions). He is diligent in his duties and careful in his speech, Ciulla (1003). He associates with men of moral principles and thereby knows himself and his weakness providing himself with a safety net to prevent himself from falling from grace.

When we speak about unethical leaders King David comes to my mind. Because of his success, he lost his strategic focus. Instead of being at war with his soldiers, his success leads him to believe he deserved a break from fighting. He failed to be diligent in his duties. If he were where he was supposed to be there would have never been a story of David and Bathsheba.

Because of his success, he felt he could control the outcome of his bad decision to sleep with Bathsheba, Ciulla (1003). To cover-up his bad decision he committed murder, showing no respect for the rights of Bathsheba’s husband. David used his powers in all the wrong ways. He used his powers to fulfill his lust and desires, along with attempting to control the outcome of his wrongdoings. Lastly, he used his powers to commit murder.

Reference

Ciulla, J. B. (2003). The ethics of leadership. Wadsworth Publishing Company.

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Respond 150 words or more to your colleagues’ postings in two or more of the following ways:

• Share an insight from having read your colleague’s posting and back it with scholarly source.
• Offer and support an opinion with scholarly source.
• Make a suggestion and back it with scholarly source.
• Expand on your colleague’s posting and include scholarly source.

Your responses must be substantive. This implies 150 words or more and all claims are supported – with a scholarly source. AGAIN PLEASE be sure and have at least one supported claim with a citation and reference in each substantive post.

Course Text: Principle-centered leadership by Stephen R. Covey

• Chapter 9, “Principle-Centered Power”

Chapter 9 focuses on the factors that help in building a leader’s power. The chapter also explains the impact of power on the followers.

Please see attachment for course reading by Stephen R Covey.