My Leadership Development and Ethical Decision-Making Style

The end of my MBA program is only a few months away. Two years ago, when I started the course, I doubted whether I could finish the program successfully. Simply, I took lessons after lessons. Nevertheless, the more I learned, the more interesting the program became. In the MBA program, each class is completely different from the other. The classes also offer different personalities, experiences, backgrounds, and challenges in learning. I find the MBA course to be a journey of discovery. Through the program, I feel as if I am discovering myself, who I am and whom I want to be (or do not want to be), and what I know (or do not know). My life will change - almost always for the better - as a result of the experiences I have attained from the program and the people I have met. For that reason, the choice to pursue the MBA was the investment of a lifetime, at least for me.

I am in the healthcare career, and I would like to pursue a leadership position in the future. For this reason, each course I am taking in the MBA program is a primary element in the path to my goal. Specially, I have found this course - Business Ethics and Practices for Healthcare Professionals to be a particularly important course, among all the other courses in the MBA program. On this paper, I will reflect on my leadership development and ethical decision-making style, from the theory and practice I have learned in class. I will also summarize my position on the concept of morality and my moral compass as a leader.

My Concept of Morality

Before the MBA classes, the concept of morality was not very clear to me. I even thought that morality is universal. However, after the class discussions, I now understand that morality is defined separately in each society and culture. I have also learned and understood that ethics and good morals in decision making are remarkably important in business. As such every leader has an important role to play in an ethical decision-making process. This is also because according to Pozgar (2013), ethics is defined as the philosophical study of moral behavior, moral decision-making or how persons live the good life (Pozgar, 2013; Pozgar, 2012).

My Moral Compass as A Leader

When I think about my moral compass, I think about a set of personal values that guide my decision making. These values reside in my heart, and they have been formed in the course of my lifetime. I believe I have numerous values, but only a few - three to five - are my core values. Additionally, some of my moral values include integrity, family, fairness, personal responsibility, and kindness. Moreover, I believe that I developed my core values during my childhood years and their formation came from the influences made to me by my family, friends, organizations (e.g., churches, Scouts), and role models (e.g., coaches, neighbors).

Ethical leadership is a form of leadership that is directed by respect for ethical beliefs, values, dignity, and rights of others. As such, in order to make a decision in leadership, a thorough explanation must be appealing to a rule using theory, and it should also apply the value. I now know that organizational leaders must possess the basic qualities that involve; trust, honesty, promise keeping, loyalty, dependability, consideration, charisma, fairness, and consistency both in leading and making decisions in business.

I also believe that morality is based on mores and taboos from our cultures. I was born and raised in Ethiopia, and I believe that my morality comes from my upbringing and entrenched belief system. Additionally, I also believe that my belief system was molded by my parents, religious influences and peer groups. Moreover, I believe that as I grew, my beliefs were tempered by my interaction with others, especially my friends. Ultimately, based on the Kurt Lewins leadership styles in decision making, I believe that I follow participative and delegative styles interchangeably.

Conclusion

In conclusion, morality is defined separately in each society and culture. Also, ethics and good morals in decision making are remarkably important in business. For this reason, every leader has an important role to play in an ethical decision-making process. Also, the moral compass of a leader is based on the personal values that guide his/her in the decision-making process. Additionally, such personal values are built in the heart, and they are developed in the course of a persons lifetime. Ultimately, the individual core values that define a leaders moral compass are influenced by factors such as family, friends, organizations and role models.

References

BIBLIOGRAPHY Pozgar, G. D. (2012). Legal and Ethical Issues for Health Professionals. Burlington: Jones & Bartlett Publishers.

Pozgar, G. D. (2013). Legal and Ethical Essentials of Health Care Administration. Burlington: Jones & Bartlett Learning.