It includes he principles of freedom, choice, and democracy. I consider these principles, if applied, as essential to fulfill my moral vision of he world, where all people can work together in harmony to fulfill both individual and collective goals.
There are various ways in which to ensure one's moral fitness. One good way is to use workbooks on the subject, such as the one created by Thompson (2009). Thompson asks various pertinent, critical thinking questions about one's personal views on morality and leadership. These are a very good exercise to ensure not only that my moral fitness is intact, but also to ensure that I maintain a conscious awareness of my own morality, the principles, that govern it, and the possible need for change within any of these principles. Such workbooks also promote personal and moral growth, which is essential to maintain, especially for those in leadership positions.
When considering all that has been said above, a key defining moment for me, in terms of my moral compass, was a conflict that arose when it came to promoting a chosen candidate to a key leadership position. There were two candidates in the company that were particularly suitable to the position. One was a young woman who has shown full commitment to the company and proved to have an excellent work ethic. Another was a young man with the same qualities, but with a few minor shortcomings in terms of experience and intellectual prowess. A challenging factor was that the young woman was expecting her first baby. Regarding this, the general consensus was that she should be overlooked for the position, since it was possible that her ability to commit the time and energy required would not be at the same level after she has her baby. The decision was then finalized and carried out, but met by confusion and outrage by the female candidate. When she was told the reason for the unsuccessful application, she threatened to sue us. It was only after involving a mediator that we were able to resolve this conflict. If I were faced by a similar conflict in the future, I would attempt to resolve the conflict by talking...
I envision myself being able to apply critical thinking skills to my moral compass. While being open to he arguments of others, I will nonetheless not allow my moral compass to be altered unless there are very good reasons for doing so. When change is needed, however, either within myself or my company, I will ensure this for the good of my company, the social and physical environment within which my company functions, and of the world in general.
In conclusion, we are facing many challenges in the world today. Global conflict, based on religious and social principles, is escalating rather than diminishing. The environment is deteriorating at an alarming rate. All these things are challenges, both for those in leadership positions and for citizens throughout the world. As a conscientious leader, my aim is to apply my moral compass in such a way that not only financial wealth, but social wealth is created. I will do this by starting to effect change and tolerance within my immediate environment.
One of the main advantages of answering questions like the ones above is thinking critically about one's own moral standing and how this relates to the business world. No person and no business operates in isolation. We all need each other in order to survive in the world. Maintaining a good moral viewpoint and being aware of this are important components of being a good business leader, which is why I appreciate opportunities to think about these things.
References
Appiah, K.A. (2010). The Honor Code: How Moral Revolutions Happen. New York: W.W. Norton & Co.
Haidt, J. (2012). The Righteous Mind: Why Good People Are Divided by Politics and Religion. New York: Vintage Books.
Thompson, L.J. (2009). The Moral Compass: Leadership for a Free World. New York: Information Age Publishing.
