Power
There are five bases of power, each of which has unique characteristics and requires special attention. The importance of researching these aspects is that power lies in the ability to influence and affect other people (Northouse. 2020). As the main focus for the examination, such a type of power as legitimate power was chosen. It is one of the types that are most often used by individuals to achieve specific goals when managing people. French and Raven defined legitimate power as the one “associated with having status or formal job authority” (Northouse, 2020, p. 317). This type has one of the most significant prevalence and can be found in any field of activity of society, for example, a judge.
The most vividly legitimate power evidence in the film titled “Remember the Titans.” This cinematic picture is a biographical story about an African American coach who is working with a high school team. In the selected passage, the main character perfectly shows how legitimate power works and how it can be used in persuading and influencing individuals. This power base is represented through a conversation between a coach and one of the athletes (Robynbet, 2106). In this example, he uses his authority to show the young man that he is in charge and that they should obey his commands.
When choosing a force, it is necessary to take into account such an important aspect as ethics and how it is implemented when working with other individuals. This is due to the fact that it largely affects relationships with people involved in the activity. In addition, it is worth noting that the power base being used is implemented for ethical reasons since a sports team has a specific power structure that must be observed by all participants. However, the coach’s choice of words could be different, as it carries a disrespectful character.
Character
Character is one of the most critical components of a successful and productive leader. This aspect is of particular value in the context of ethical leadership, as it provides an opportunity to cope with the dilemmas that people may face more successfully. Determining which type individuals belong to helps identify the main strengths of the character and highlight skills that may require improvements and improvements.
When passing the ethical leadership style questionnaire among the six ethical styles, I received the highest score on duty ethics. This indicates that I “follow a set of moral rules and do what is expected of myself when facing an ethical dilemma” (Northouse, 2020, p. 330). Moreover, it indicates that I highly value such aspects as fulfilling moral obligations and doing duty, which are assigned to a person. I can clearly trace this characteristic in myself, which can be illustrated by examples from my life. So, in a situation where I have to choose a side in the conflict, I will give it up and will better contribute to solving the problem by analyzing the point of view of both sides. This is due to the fact that I do not consider it ethical to take sides and see negotiations as the primary way to limit the collision.
Ethical leadership style questionnaire also showed a high indicator of such a type of leadership as justice ethics. It implies that individuals in this category “focus on treating others fairly when facing an ethical dilemma and try to make sure the benefits and burdens of decisions are shared equally” (Northouse, 2020, p. 331). This aspect can also be traced in the example I provided earlier. Thus, when resolving a conflict, I try to weigh the opinions of each side and determine how to come to the most productive consensus. This also provides an opportunity to limit the development of the conflict further and satisfy both sides.
Application of Power and Character in Leadership Development
I believe that ethics is one of the most essential characteristics that all individuals should adhere to and take into account. This is especially true for people who are involved in leadership activities and whose decisions can directly affect others. Thus, this type of responsibility implies compliance with ethical norms and moral values in order to obtain the most favorable results of activity. When developing a person as a leader, both power and character must be taken into account.
These indicators contribute to gaining an understanding of the steps that can be taken to increase ethical awareness. Hence, knowing that duty and justice ethics are inherent in me, I can determine which skills will be most beneficial for this. On the other hand, I can pay more attention to other styles that can contribute to the development of my character. On the part of power, the development of ethical awareness will also have a positive impact on the approaches that individuals take in leadership and decision-making. Henceforth, I can delve into the study of what actions on the part of the leader may be unethical in order to minimize the possibility of conflicts or dilemmas.
References
Northouse, P. G. (2020). Introduction to leadership: Concepts and practice. SAGE Publications.
Robynbet. (2016). Legitimate power [Video]. YouTube. Web.