Leadership Void at Enron
According to Brown and Trevino (2006), ethical leadership refers to the display of formal and appropriate behavior and conduct through both interpersonal associations as well as personal actions, and demanding the same from others. Enron did not possess any form of ethical leadership, and they grew accustomed to making money through any available option. Enron could have avoided all that happened if the company and its leadership possessed ethical values. The former CEO would have invested the large profits he gained back to the company to improve its chances of success instead of giving it all to the employees as bonuses. Companies behave differently during tough economic times. In time, making profits takes precedence over the right, and ethical behavior and misconducts start to arise. Consequently, the reporting of misconduct declines during good economic times. Another approach would have been for the company to come up with new ways of rewarding the accomplishments of its employees rather than solely basing it off economic performance.
Obstacle: Complex Task
The obstacle I encountered was that of a complex task. My supervisor once assigned an incredibly complex task for me to complete within a very short time frame. I had a hard time completing the task at first since it was above my expertise, but I found a way to finish it in the nick of time. I requested a colleague who was an expert in that field, and she offered valuable insights that acted as pointers. She took her time in carefully explaining the steps that I should take, and I was learning as she explained, gaining knowledge that might come in handy in the future. The approach I used was successful in that I found someone willing to assist me in accomplishing the task. The initial approach I took was to try and puzzle it out on my own and find a way of delivering satisfactory results. This initial approach was not effective, and it took precious time as I tried to figure things out on my own.
Perspective on Leadership
I think that leadership sets precedence to the people that follow. Leadership should be a tool that leaders use to inspire and promote quality values that benefit the society from the people they have the task of leading. Unfortunately, most people in leadership positions abuse it use leadership as a means of satisfying their individualistic needs at the expense of those that they should lead. The leadership approach that resonated with me is the trait approach. The approach looks for specific leadership qualities that effective leaders possess. I feel that this approach is the best in choosing well-rounded leaders who have the best-suited qualities to serve the people better. The skills that might be beneficial include decisiveness and problem-solving. I would utilize these two skills in tandem in making the best decisions about the situation I face.
Reference
Brown, M. E., & Treviño, L. K. (2006). Ethical leadership: A review and future directions. The leadership quarterly, 17(6), 595-616.