求回拍 issue 43

芷琳UID: 2682149

TOPIC: ISSUE43 - "To be an effective leader, a public official must maintain the highest ethical and moral standards."


The speaker asserts that only a public official who maintain the highest ethical and moral standards can become an effective leader. While I admit that one's ethical and moral standards are important, however, I do not agree that, these are only decisive factors to determine whether one can be an effective leader.

It is true that public moral is always critical for one's success. Those who have high moral consciousness can rally others to cooperate with them while those who only think about themselves and could do anything to attain their own goals will never acquire others confidence and belief to fight for success together. Even though one who has low moral thinking has been a leader due to certain factors, such as inheritance, it will not last long; he will be turned over (overturned) eventually. In the history, they are many good examples that the monarchs are overthrown because they only enjoyed themselves rather than think about their citizens. Hence , having high ethical and moral thinking is crucial.

However, the moral and ethical cultivation are not only factors to decide individuals' accomplishment especially whether he can be an effective leader. Just like in the business circles, the leader must be able to have far sight of economic situation, and can help his employees get maximum profits, thereby setting up a stable condition for the companies and continues to make earnings. Those who can do such things may become leaders. Take Bill Gates for example. The company he established has became one of the biggest companies in the word and have enormous fund, which has been always alluring applicants to work there. It can not be denied that Bill Gates is an effective leader. Subsequently, the decisive factor in business circles is ability to earn enormous profits for his employees.

On the other hand, in the political realm, the high ethical and moral cultivations are still necessary, accompanying the far sight and the ability to earn the large profits are crucial too. But what is most important is that those who have power can control themselves and do not abuse the authority. In the political circles, power is an item that can not be avoided and always be fought for by everyone. Nearly every people in this field wants to have supreme authority, however whether he can control and make the best use of the power is an issue. Only those who can make
the power worthy and earn profits for his citizens could be successful leaders, while those who abuse their power on behalf of their own profits will never be advocated. The Watergate scandal is a good example that the leader lost the credence of public and eventually lost hold on his power. As a result, the decisive factor to be an effective leader in political realm is capability to utilize one’s authority.

In conclusion, while the high moral and ethical standards are essential and can exert significant influence for one's accomplishment, the key factors are various in different fields. Those who want to be effective leaders must identify the most important factors in their own areas, and take great advantages to acquire those abilities, and then they may get the possibility to be effective leaders.