Reflection on Ethical Leadership

          I did not think Ethical Leadership was so complex when I first took the course. I thought Ethical Leadership simply meant acting with a society’s code of conduct at all times. However, when we looked at “The Prince” by Machiavelli and “Dirty Hands”, it became clear that a leader cannot always act ethically. A leader must conduct “necessary evils” if it serves the common good, but it is better for them to show they have committed a wrong or show their dirty hands than keep it a secret. After watching “Invictus”, we saw how Nelson Mandela was determined in uniting whites and blacks, to the point where he had to forgive his enemies. This class basically taught me that an ethical leader must have balance between different concepts such as having your own voice but listening to others, and being determined about a plan but still compromising along the way. Leading ethically also depends on the circumstances, which means one cannot always act with morals when they need to commit “necessary evils” to help their people in the long run. When I first read “The Prince” last summer, I thought it was cruel for a ruler to commit evils, but now I see how in a dilemma such as a war, one evil may lead to the betterment of a community especially if a leader justifies to their people why they had to take the action.
            My approach to being a leader has been affected by this class because I know now how to make a decision about an ethical dilemma. A leader must assess risk and use caution, and in the end, make a decision which works best for the common good. I also learned how a leader must step up and step back. A leader should not only be passionate about their opinions and motivate others; a leader must also listen to and guide others to action from behind. This concept is important for a leader to maintain their authority without being too controlling.