The trap of unethical leaders

 What?

    Accountability of not only our own actions but actions of authority figures around us is what keeps an organization or a community honest and trustworthy. As a leader, followers under you shouldn't have to question your objectives and orders on moral or ethical grounds. But also as a follower, it is important to have the ability to conflict with not just authority but also peers and those around you. In Chapter 7 of Intelligence Disobedience by Ira Chaleff, he discusses the changing dynamics of potentially changing dynamics of leaders, followers, and bystanders when it comes to confronting moral or ethical problems. 

So What?

    Followers are prone to many variables when it comes to executing plans or actions given out by the authority. If a follower is near an authority figure, even if unethical they are more likely to complete said actions. But the problem is no matter how close or how persistent a leader commands an unethical or immoral, once you complete that task you are just as involved as they are. Holly Fenton says once you cross that line it becomes easier to cross again and again and it's best to never cross that line in the first place. This creates an environment where it can create high loyalty and trust within the organization, but when you are in such a harse environment of unethical behavior it can hurt not only your values, but also your reputation and future.

Now What?

    

    As both a future leader and follower, it is important to speak up against unethical actions and requests. As someone who tends to lack in vocalizing opinions in large group settings, this is a major room for improvement for me. One thing that caught my eye in Chapter 7 was "Don't let social politeness too keep you from standing up against immoral orders." If someone is willing to create an intentionally unethical environment they are not worried about social politeness with their followers, so a person should be willing to stand up to that authority figure.

Refrences: 

Chaleff, Ira. Intelligent Disobedience : Doing Right When What You’re Told to Do Is Wrong. First edition, Berrett-Koehler Publishers, 2015, https://www.vlebooks.com/vleweb/product/openreader?id=none&isbn=9781626564299.

Fenton, Holly. “Bad Leadership.” LinkedIn, 19 Dec. 2023, www.linkedin.com/pulse/bad-leadership-holly-fenton-wynec/.