Courage to take moral action

1. Courage to take moral action • When/why to take moral action • Leaving • Growth • Group optimization • Principled action: if we have failed to serve the common purpose in some important way, we must be willing to resign the position given us in trust. Followers may need to resign if a leader is failing.

2. Difficulty of separation • Maintain relationships and interests outside of the organization • Financial contingencies • Courage may be offset by responsibilities • Offering to resign: because of our own breach of trust or in protest of the leader’s. • Query (request for clarification) and appeal (explicit request to cancel or alter or delay implementation of an order or policy) to a higher authority in the organization • Duty to disobey policies or orders destructive to the common purpose. Even if the whole group obeys. • Threatening to resign. Warning of impending resignation, if not used lightly, is one of the legitimate ways to voice the depth of our concern.

3. Dilemma of the unreasonable leader (e.g. Rumsfeld) • Values review: are leaders walking the talk? • Follower self-examination • Examine ourselves before acting • Seek guidance of peers. • Decision to withdraw support • Responsibility to blow the whistle. When the leader’s actions seriously endanger the organization, silent withdrawal is inappropriate. • Protecting yourself. Best protection for abusive leaders is darkness and secrecy, our protection is light and documentation. • Opposing the leader: stay focused on the purpose • Evil behavior. Better to contain it early than to wait until it is out of control. • If we decide to stay.