Introduction
According to the author of the article, the matter of leadership ethics can be looked into two important questions. Firstly, whether the process of leadership is ethical and secondly; whether it is deemed ethical to use one’s influential position to try to influence the objectives, values and goals of a community. In putting the ethics of leadership to perspective, the author argues that there are three domains ethical leadership namely transactional, transformational and servant leadership. The author adduces that servant leadership is the pinnacle and the ultimate level of ethicality. Using these three domains, this essay will show that Adolf Hitler did not meet the test of ethical leadership as proposed by the writer of the article.
Discussion
I am of the opinion that Adolf Hitler did not meet the test of ethical leadership proposed by the author of the article. Firstly, the author argues that leadership, an influence relationship should not be used to foster personal values and beliefs into the community. Hitler fell grossly short of this as he promoted Christianity as the basis and foundation for moral and ethical life. While he preached the importance of religion, he had nothing nice to say about secularism and atheism, and many a times praised Christianity in particular. As a leader, his influence on his followers was not multidirectional.
Secondly, Hitler failed the test at the transactional level. After endorsing Christianity as the basis for moral and ethical life, he announced the moral and political cleansing of the public. Individual liberties and beliefs were disregarded here, and the only individuals who were rewarded with liberty were those who transacted by embracing Christianity. Hitler might not have progressed into the second domain of ethical leadership; the transformational leadership. Thirdly, by enacting the Enabling Act, effectively turning the German democracy into a fascist dictatorship, Hitler adopted a unidirectional influence relationship with his followers where he ruled by decree. This way, Hitler protected the dominance of Christianity as a religion in German public life at the same time annihilating godless freethinking and organizations informed by atheism. This led to the cleansing of Nazi Germany and any others who challenged the status quo. In killing millions of people, Hitler justified his actions by arguing that he was ridding the society of the less fit and evolved.
Conclusion
As proposed by the author of the article, servant leadership is the ultimate level of ethical leadership. In exercising this, Hitler would not have usurped the power of the people by instilling fascist dictatorship and fostering his beliefs on the public. Therefore, it is my opinion that Adolf Hitler did not meet the test of ethical leadership proposed by the author.
