An Introduction to
Individual and Shared Leadership
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Historical Leaders
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Boot Camp Survival Tools for Dealing with Change
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Types of Power Used By Leaders
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How Teams Become Successful: Forming, Storming, Norming, and Proforming
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Take the time to work through each of the following three exercises designed to build on you knowledge of ethics and the role they play in your life. Although they are all similar to one another, each exercise has a unique twist. When possible, you may want to do your work online and then print it. Or, you may choose to print each worksheet and then complete it by hand. Whatever your choice, once you’ve finished each exercise remember to print a copy of your work for your TRY-IT Personal Leadership Portfolio.

Have fun!

In this exercise, you will read a story about Cathy and Mary, two girls who are very different from each other. After reading the story write an analysis of each girl. Describe each girl, her personal values, and her ethical decisions addressed within the content of the story. Discuss their character and lead into what values that each of them portrays.

Remember:
Values are what we stand for and what is important to us.
Ethics are concerned with how a moral person should behave.

Cathy’s goal in life was to be wealthy. She put all the money she earned in her personal bank. Her friend Mary gave her money to charities that catered to feeding and clothing the poor. Mary was friendly to all, no matter what walk of life they came from or how little money they had. On the other hand, Cathy was friends with only the most popular people, especially if they had money. She was friends with Mary only because Mary was popular.

One day both girls were shopping together at the mall. Mary saw Cathy dropping a pair of earrings into her purse. Mary waited until they were walking home to confront her. Mary turned to Cathy and asked her about the earrings she saw her drop them into her purse. Cathy denied taking the earrings. Mary could not believe that Cathy lied about the incident.

The next day at school, Cathy was wearing the earrings that Mary saw her steal. When Mary asked her where the earrings came from, Cathy laughed and told her that a male friend had given them to her as a gift. A couple hours later, Sally, a friend of Cathy asked Mary where she bought Cathy’s earrings. She said Cathy told her they were a gift from Mary. Mary wanted to set her straight but didn’t respond. She made up an excuse to Sally and dashed off down the hall.

At the end of the day, Mary confronted Cathy after driving her home. She said “Cathy, why did you tell Sally I had given you the pair of earrings?” Cathy said “I thought you had given them to me.” Mary said “Cathy, I can no longer be your friend if you steal and lie to me.” Cathy’s said “Mary, you are making this a big deal.” Mary looked over at Cathy and asked her to please get out of the car. When Cathy got out, Mary told her that friends don’t involve friends in their lies and theft. Mary pulled away and started crying as she drove off. She was upset about losing Cathy as a friend, but her integrity was worth more to her than Cathy’s friendship.
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Now, write an analysis of each girl. Describe each girl, her personal values, and her ethical decisions addressed within the content of the story. Discuss their character and lead into what values that each of them portrays.

Remember:
Values are what we stand for and what is important to us.
Ethics are concerned with how a moral person should behave.

Do you perform selfish deeds or unselfish deeds? On the following worksheet are two columns, one for selfish deeds and the other for unselfish deeds. Think about all the deeds that you performed this past week. In which columns do they belong? List each deed in the appropriate column. Remember to be true to yourself and not to worry if one column over-rides the other. Once you have completed this exercise, absorb and reflect on the two columns. What have you observed about yourself? Which column is longest?

Examine the column that lists selfish deeds. Think about how you can convert them into unselfish deeds. In your Reflection Journal, list each selfish deed and describe how you can transform it.