Power is an interesting concept in that: The more you have, the more you want; It’s addictive in that if I can make you do something once, I’ll make you do it again.
The wrong type of power can distort, cheapen and destroy morale, productivity and ethics!
There are two types of power for leaders to choose from and simply put they are:
1. Authoritarian:
• Empowers oneself at the cost of another.
• Self serving as one uses fear to get obedience. Must power over others.
• Commands and does not invite. To command is to settle for behavior change. No values change or understanding is needed.
2. Authoritative:
• Empowers others through service for the others.
• They don’t force themselves on others, but gain people’s trust.
• Invites and not commands, to invite, is to recognize the value of the other.
Leaders make this choice daily as to what type of power they will wield. One type builds up and the other tears down. One type is values based, the other is individually based. One type is community focused, the other is individually focused, etc.
Ethics, transparency, empowerment, and trust, is only found in authoritative power.
As a leader which type of power do you use? What type of power does your boss/leader use? How’s it really working for you?
fbucaro
Like you, business ethics and ethical leadership expert, Frank Bucaro has seen the challenges and problems of corporate leadership, particularly over the past few years in regards to poor decision-making, SEC violations, and record breaking financial settlements in a number of different industries.
With over two decades of executive training, speaking, writing and with real life experiences, his view and approach to ethics in the workplace is uniquely different. He emphasizes that ethics is a moment-to-moment choice and has little to do with position, titles, personalities or education. Ethics is everybody’s responsibility from the top down.
His goal is to help organizations to:
a. Strengthen their ethics training initiatives in order to significantly decrease the odds of an ethical/compliance violation.
b. Energize, train and motivate employees to understand the value of consistent “high road” behavior as a business advantage.
c. Support individuals and thereby the organization by contributing to its success by quality, ongoing values based leadership development.
Frank is known for his very practical, slightly irreverent, yet somewhat humorous approach to ethics and leadership development. His conversational style and real life stories connect with his audience in a personal, intense and practical level.
Companies such as Bayer Healthcare, BP, ReMax International, EnMax Energy, Danone, etc. have partnered with Frank when they want to proactively stress the message, tools, insights and practical applications that good ethics IS good for business!
