Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Grace Howrigon
Leadership Theory
Doctor Loughran
Introduction
The concept of leadership fits with the mission of Siena Heights University because it is
the perfect example of a high quality leader and the qualities that he/she should obtain.
Throughout my undergraduate and graduate studies at Siena Heights University, our mission
statement has been instilled in my head year after year. The President and the faculty stress the
importance of leaving the University as a better version of self. The qualities of being competent,
purposeful and ethical are tools, that when learned and practiced consistently, make for a
Competent
Competence is vital in leadership; in order to be the leader, one must be able to not only
plan, but execute. A leader must understand the vision and the progression required in order to
punctuality, and understanding. In order to be competent, one must possess the cognitive
capacity to establish and exceed organizational expectations. Tony Morden writes “Leadership as
personal traits and qualities, from confidence, to integrity, to initiative (Morden, 1997, Personal
traits and qualities, para. 1).” Morden continues on to explain that performance and ability
should be matched with the followers’ own cognitive capabilities. Although the depth of
cognition differs from one individual to the next, Morden explains that it is not necessarily being
the most intelligent that is the most valuable, but rather being the most adaptive.
Purposeful
leadership that emphasize the importance of follower-focus and goal-orientation (Irving, 2013, p.
83). He goes on to discuss the work done by Paul Wong regarding meaning-centered approaches
to leadership and management. Wong concludes that people “inherently” want to be a part of
something that gives them meaning and purpose (Irving, 2013, p. 83). An organizational body is
lacking in Intrinsic motivation when it is not moving together toward specific and purposeful
common goals. To follow a leader who demonstrates purpose in the way she moves in and
around the organizational body is inspiring, often resulting in a trickle effect throughout the
organization.
Ethical
In a brief essay titled Ethical Leadership, Jane A. Van Buren explores the meaning of
ethical leadership in nonprofit organizations (Van Buren, para. 1). Ethics are the ruler of
organizational conscience; the governing body that answers when one asks herself, as a member
of the organization, “What should I do?” They are the values on which a leader builds her empire
and the values on which she calls when she faces a difficult, perhaps conflicting decision. In
order to implement them, she must know them; radiate them. In order to be followed, a leader
must be attractive, credible and legitimate in her implementation (Brown, M.E. et al. p. 130). In
other words, she must act with integrity. An ethical leader demonstrates this integrity through her
attitude, her work ethic, her communication, the vehicles she uses to she accelerate the
organization’s progression. Van Buren defines ethical leadership as “the process of influencing
people through principles, values and beliefs that embrace what we have defined as right
behavior (Van Buren, para. 2).” In order to expect right and just behavior from her followers, a
leader must exemplify what is right and just for the body of her organization.
Conclusion
LEADERSHIP IN THE MISSION
“To assist people to become more competent, purposeful and ethical.” These three
qualities are necessary in leadership. Without competence, the knowledge doesn’t exist. Without
purpose, human nature does not allow our best. Without ethics, there are no values to stand on
together. In order to be a high quality, effective leader, these qualities are necessary.
References
Brown, Michael E., Tevino, Linda K., Harrison, David A. (2004). Ethical Leadership: A social
learning perspective for construct development and testing. Organizational Behavior and
http://www.iacmr.org/v2/2015%20workshop/4a-
3%20Ethical%20leadership%20A%20social%20learning%20perspective%20for%20cons
truct%20development%20and%20testing.pdf
sienaheights.edu:2048/docview/212065061/8F3CA06941C74E1BPQ/3?accountid=28644
http://search.proquest.com.ezproxy.sienaheights.edu:2048/docview/212065061/8F3CA06
941C74E1BPQ/3?accountid=28644
http://www.uvm.edu/extension/community/buildingcapacity/pdfs/ethical_leadership_fact
sheet.pdf