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OL 614 Artifact Summary
Susan H. Page
Saint Mary's University of Minnesota
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OL614 Artifact Summary
OL614 Leadership and Ethics class was the first course in the program and the
foundation for many concepts that would be discussed over the following two years. In the
course students were asked to learn, evaluate, analyze, and apply concepts related to leadership
strengths and weaknesses, communication styles, the value of reflection, and recognition of
different types of talent and the strengths or weaknesses those styles bring to an organization.
OL614 aligns with the MAOL program outcome number one (“Saint Mary’s University,” 2015).
When one looks at the internal and external environments that influence an organization,
ethical and cultural issues are the lens through which an employee evaluates issues and selects
behaviors or actions to move forward. The most critical step to making an analysis of anything
is to first understand one’s own strengths and weaknesses. After making an analysis of a
challenge, problem or situation, the importance of reflection cannot be understated.
For the assignment proposed in week three of this course, students were tasked with
writing a Reflective Essay to contemplate and analyze different readings and apply
interpretations to concepts of ethics, leadership, and value systems. Many of the readings and
concepts in this course were foreign to the students and the building block for the rest of the
program. This artifact was selected because it represents the student’s first steps to grasping
these concepts and applying them to oneself and an organizational setting.
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References
Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota. (2015, March). 2013-2015 catalog and student handbook,
Organizational Leadership, M.A. Retrieved from http://catalog.smumn.edu
/preview_program.php?catoid=17&poid=1710&returnto=1041
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Reflective Essay: Insights from Week 3 Readings
Susan H. Page
Saint Mary's University of Minnesota
Schools of Graduate & Professional Programs
OL614 D1 Leadership and Ethics
Mary Ellen Lynch
September 15, 2013
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Reflective Essay: Insights from Week 3 Readings
Insights from ‘Promoting More Integrative Strategies for Leadership Theory-Building
The focus of this paper is to discuss the potential shortcomings of early leadership theory
development as it lacked the integration of many different components that should be considered
when studying leadership and leaders. Some of these factors include determining what impact
the follower has on a leader when seen as a two-part equation, the importance that the situation
or context in which leadership or a leader is needed and how that impacts leadership, the impact
of culture, early childhood development, genetics and survival of traumatic events all play in
leadership development.
I find this paper reflects my own ideas, that are, the study of leadership should not be
segregated to either reductionism or determinism, but has to be viewed more like a large funnel
that holds life influencing and encompassing events, mixes together and filters down a spout into
the demands of leadership in the moment.
Some of the more interesting points to me include the evidence that shows a correlation
between children raised by authoritarian parents are shown later in life to have many of the traits
associated with leadership. (Baumrind 1991). Also, I agree that much more research and
emphasis should be placed on leadership that is an outcome of “coping with difficult situations
or challenging events (and how that) facilitates leadership development.” Avolio (2007). There
is an infinite and intricate combination of factors and influences that make up each human being.
In the event of a traumatic event or emergency when leadership is necessary, the person who
steps forward to lead may not be trained to do so, but could hold a natural talent, or a skill
developed through many factors. How does leading people through such an event or crisis
further develop or determine future leadership abilities?
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There are common traits that many leaders share such as “achievement orientation, selfesteem and risk taking.” Ehrhart & Klein (2001). It seems entirely plausible that those traits are
developed in early childhood and family culture and environment and that leadership
development could in fact begin in the home. I agree with Avolio that a more integrative
approach to the study of leadership is the only way to fully understand how leadership and
leaders are developed, and how that may positively or negatively impact an organization.
The Parable of the Sadhu – an Ethical Dilemma
This story written by Bowen H. McCoy about his experience while mountain climbing in
the Himalayans, has been one of my favorite readings to date. McCoy describes how at a key
marker in the journey to traverse a volatile pass in the mountains, another mountaineer
descended and dropped off a partially clothed sadhu, or Indian holy man, suffering from
hypothermia at the feet of McCoy, his friend Stephen and their guide. They opened their packs
and clothed the man, fed him and gave him water. Other groups of climbers from various
countries were also on the mountain at the same time in close proximity to where the dying
sadhu had been dropped off. McCoy made the decision that there was nothing more he could do
for the sadhu and as he was caught up in the euphoria of being so close to completing a personal
climbing goal, pushed onward up the mountain. Eventually, another group of climbers carried
the sadhu down the trail to a rock in the sun where a small village below could be seen with the
thought or hope that the sadhu would be able to help himself. Even though each group of
climbers did something to assist the sadhu, no group or individual took full responsibility for the
care of the holy man.
Later in the journey, when McCoy’s friend Stephen caught up to McCoy, he blamed
McCoy for what he presumed to be the sadhu’s death due to hypothermia. McCoy has reflected
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on the dilemma that they faced that day and has used the story to frame a greater point about
personal responsibility and a group dynamic where each set of climbers passed on doing more
then giving the sadhu minor assistance while they pursued their own goals.
McCoy makes the analogy to this dynamic taking place within organizations when
individuals “pass the buck” and assume that someone else will resolve a problem and no one,
single employee takes ownership. McCoy also brought up the very important point that it is
possible that the sadhu intended to die on the mountain and the event may have been part of a
holy ritual. He makes the point that different cultures perceive situations from alternate points of
view. Perhaps interfering in the sadhu’s quest on the mountain was not an act of compassion but
of unwanted and unnecessary intervention. The discussions about the ethics of that day on the
mountain, when each person who encountered the sadhu made a decision to put their own
personal goals above the life and well-being of another human being, can be excused by high
altitudes, extreme stress, large amounts of personal sacrifice and investment of time and money
to reach that point on the climb. I personally don’t accept those excuses. I think that leaders ‘do
the right thing,’ although the ethical discussion is an interesting one.
Insights from Leading Through Collaboration: Guiding Groups to Productive
Solutions – Chapter 8
I continue to enjoy this book as we move through our course, for all the wisdom given us
by John Glaser. It is one of the dynamics of an applied education that I am very appreciative to
experience. Glaser began his book discussing the fact that we are biologically programmed to be
adversarial as an evolutionary survival mechanism. When viewing the art of collaboration
within an organization as a skill that must be developed with conscious intention to change an
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intrinsic human response, it is possible to become more forgiving of difficulties that are
experienced in the work place.
In Chapter 8, Glaser talks about ‘searching for solutions’ and how to structure and
facilitate productive and creative problem solving within a group. One point that Glaser
mentions on p. 123, is that “a key component of creative problem solving is finding a way to
frame the relationship to see others as allies rather than adversaries.” This statement reminds me
of the biblical saying, “Do unto others as you would have done to yourself.”
Bringing an in-cohesive group together is a task that a good leader should be able to
facilitate with the establishment of ground rules that frame how discussions will proceed. Glaser
gives many examples of methods allowing for the free flow of ideas and comments from
individuals and I especially like the concept of ‘separating creating and deciding.’ p. 137. When
a group is in disagreement due to personal reasons or professional lack of consensus, it’s
important to take the time to fully explore and hear each idea presented to the group and keep
that process open and separate from discussion about the individual idea. He also makes an
important point about keeping the meeting playful or fun, and I have seen this used many times
at my company to generate a positive feeling and lighten the mood. An example of that was a
recent mandate to change an aspect of the way that we communicate with students. Everyone
was required to attend one of several trainings held over the course of a week. Many people
were not happy about this change in our procedures. One of our leaders created the training and
creatively made a very humorous video, filmed with other employees, about the new concept.
This was an excellent example of leadership as she understood that the collective group was
coming together with resentment; but she diffused that feeling and lightened the mood, aligning
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the group with laughter. She led the group by transforming the collective mood and creating an
atmosphere that was immediately more conducive to being open to ideas and sharing insights.
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References:
Glaser, John. (2004) Leading Through Collaboration: Guiding Groups to Productive Solutions.
Newbury Park, CA: Corwin Press.
Parable of the Sadhu by Bowen H. McCoy. May 01, 1997 Harvard Business Review.
Promoting More Integrative Strategies for Leadership Theory-Building by Avolio, Bruce J.
January 2007. American Psychologist.
The Influence of parenting style on adolescent competence and substance use by Baumrind, D.
(1991). Journal of Early Adolescence.