Mistakes happen. Do you have the ability to acknowledge the mistake and the courage and integrity to own up to your actions and accept the consequences?
In "The Price of Shame," Monica Lewinsky discusses her mistake and how technology, the media, and society affected her life following the event. Years after the event, she is addressing the issue with moral courage and conviction.
Moral Courage (Leading in the Wildland Fire Service, p. 63)
Wildland fire leaders demonstrate moral courage by adhering to high ethical standards and choosing the difficult right over the easy wrong. We avoid ethical dilemmas by directing team members to operate in ways that are consistent with our professional standards and by directing them only to actions they can achieve ethically.
When we make mistakes, we handle them in honorable and effective ways, fixing the immediate problem then searching for root causes. Leaders with moral courage look for causes, not scapegoats, learning and improving, looking for ways to turn weaknesses into strengths.
An outgrowth of strong character, moral courage enables us to build trust with our teams and gain respect from peers. Although some may judge that leading ethically compromises short-term gains, leading ethically allows us to accomplish more than our mission.
Because the consequences of ethical decisions can be great and those who make such decisions may be asked later to justify their conclusion, following a careful and thorough process is a wise approach in situations with ambiguous courses of action. The values of duty, respect, and integrity should weigh heavily in any ethical decision.
Wildland Fire Leadership Challenge - Digging a Little Deeper
Wildland fire leaders demonstrate moral courage by adhering to high ethical standards and choosing the difficult right over the easy wrong. We avoid ethical dilemmas by directing team members to operate in ways that are consistent with our professional standards and by directing them only to actions they can achieve ethically.
When we make mistakes, we handle them in honorable and effective ways, fixing the immediate problem then searching for root causes. Leaders with moral courage look for causes, not scapegoats, learning and improving, looking for ways to turn weaknesses into strengths.
An outgrowth of strong character, moral courage enables us to build trust with our teams and gain respect from peers. Although some may judge that leading ethically compromises short-term gains, leading ethically allows us to accomplish more than our mission.
Because the consequences of ethical decisions can be great and those who make such decisions may be asked later to justify their conclusion, following a careful and thorough process is a wise approach in situations with ambiguous courses of action. The values of duty, respect, and integrity should weigh heavily in any ethical decision.
Wildland Fire Leadership Challenge - Digging a Little Deeper
- Review "Harassment" via the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity website.
- View and discuss "Workplace Bullying: Challenges Raised by Hostile Environment, Workplace Harassment and Poor Managers in the Federal Sector."
- Download, share and discuss "Stop Workplace Bullying" developed by Washington State Department of Labor & Industries.
- In a group reflect upon the following questions:
- Discuss the difference among healthy conflict, bullying, harassment, and humiliation.
- When does "fun" become humiliation, bullying or harrassment?
- What should you do if you feel harrassed or bullied?
- How can technology accentuate a bad situation?
- Have you had to pay the price for your shame? How has that event impacted your leadership?
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