1. Do you agree with the statement: \"...leaders are responsible not only for th

Question

1. Do you agree with the statement: "...leaders are responsible not only for their own behavior but also for that of their followers..."? Why or why not? Beyond the obvious translation, what is the relevance of this statement?

2. What are some of the implications of leaders apologizing publicly?

3. What is the value of leaders apologizing for sins they did not commit? Give an example of this.

4. What did Nicholas Tavuchis' work state about apologies, and what are its implications for leaders?

5. Why did Gilmartin decide to resist apologizing and was it the right decision?

6. What happens if you do not apologize? Is time on your side - will the problem likely fade? Will your refusal to apologize - or your refusal to do so promptly - make a bad situation worse?

Explanation / Answer

There are many studies that have been done on leadership. These studies have come up with many traits that an effective leader should possess. One such quality of a leader is he has to inspire the followers. This trait has both pros and cons. It implies that a follower looks upon the leader to direct him/her. Being the leader itself will influence a follower.

According to the definition of leadership, a leader is one who directs his followers. He has a responsibility to motivate his followers. He is the one who is looked upon by his followers for guidance. The followers may blindly follow a leader. While the followers look up on the leader for inspiration, there is no doubt that it will have a positive impact on the followers.   Therefore, a leader has to be careful for the words he speaks, the actions that he took because they will have a positive or negative influence on his followers. Leaders are responsible not only for their own behaviors but also for their followers. Therefore, the said statement is justifiable.

Implications of apologizing publicly by a leader

Another important trait that a leader should possess is integrity. The followers always expect honest and fair dealings from their leader. If a situation has resulted due to some sort of inappropriate words or actions, it may create a chaotic situation in the organization or the environment which has his influence. If the leader doesn’t correct the mistake, it may create further difficult situations. Considering the possible implications of his leadership, if a leader uses his power to maintain peace, such as a word or act of apologizing, it will definitely improve the situation and the leader earns the admiration and respect of his followers. Therefore, public or private media is not a barrier for apologizing, what it matters is the integrity of the leader and his responsibility to create a smooth working environment. The leader’s way of apologizing will definitely inspire and influence his followers too. For instance, many such situations where a leader apologizes in public can be visible in international politics as well. One such instance, is when US President Donald Trump apologized to Pope Francis on his remarks for calling him ‘not a Christian”. This happened in 2016 when Trump called to create a wall between Mexico and US. The president immediately apologized to Pope that earned him many respect and helped him to maintain a better image. Later, Pope also apologized to the president for his remark. This shows that public apologizing is common among good leaders. It shows that the leader respects others, accepts and acknowledges his mistake. That shows the strength of his character.

--There are such instances when the leader may have to apologize not for their mistakes too. As a leader is accountable for his followers or his team, it is also an important trait of leaders. There are many instances when the former President of the US, Barack Obama had apologized for US in international platforms. One such apology of Obama is his apology to Islam community. This happened during his interview with a Saudi-owned television channel Al-Arabiya. The former President apologized for not restoring harmony with Muslims.

--Mea Culpa, a noteworthy work of Nicholas Tavuchis deals with apology and reconciliation aspects in a sociological framework. According to the Tavuchis, an apology evolves from the acceptance by the distressed party and taking responsibility for the mistakes and inequity by the other party. This being the scenario, it brings peace to the situation involved and creates harmony parties involved. He further says that an apology has to be from the heart, with utmost sincerity. Following the principles of Tavuchis will definitely create a positive impact on leadership. As an implication, apology will calm down the situation and create a win-win situation.

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