A641.1.5.RB_TheTrainDilemma:WhenNoChoiceIsAG

A634.1.5.RB - The Train Dilemma: When no Choice is a Good One!

How shall we live, as individuals in the face of decisions about right versus wrong? How shall we handle those occasions when none of the choices are attractive? Consider the following ethical dilemma and create a reflection blog regarding what you would do when having to make a choice in each train scenario. Justify your position and create a synopsis of your position and the implications.

The Train Dilemma

Scenario 1: A train is hurtling down the track where five children are standing. You are the switch person. By throwing the switch, you can put the train on a side track where one child is standing. Will you throw the switch?  In the 1984 movie, Star Trek III: The search for Spock, Captain Spock sacrifices himself by entering a radioactive chamber to repair the radiation breach.  Through a glass wall he says to Admiral Kirk, “SPOCK: Don't grieve, Admiral...it is logical. The needs of the many...outweigh... KIRK:..the needs of the few. SPOCK: Or the one. I have been...and always shall be...your friend...Live long...and prosper.”  (IMDb, 1984).  You can look at this two ways regarding this first scenario.  The switchman throws the switch taking the life of the one child and sparing the lives of the other five children.  The five children are the many and the one child is the few.  The other way of looking at this is a sacrifice is made by the switchman who throws himself in front of the train sparing the lives of all six children.  So, if I were the switchman, which course of action would I take?  The way I look at it is I have lived 53 years, at this point, and the children have many more years ahead of them.  There would only be one family mourning for me where there could be up to five families mourning for the five children or one for the single child if I threw the switch.  My family is smaller due to the passing of all of my grandparents many years ago and other older family members.  I could safely assume that the one child’s family had more surviving family members because of his or her age.  The impact on them would be greater.  I feel that death would be instantaneous so I would not suffer.  So, to answer the question…no…I would not throw the switch, I would sacrifice myself.

Scenario 2: Same scenario except: You are standing next to an elderly man. If you push him in front of the train it will stop the train and all the children will be saved. Will you push him?  This is very interesting.  Now there is someone that has lived longer than me and probably only has a few surviving family members.  He has lived his life.  What harm would it do, after all?  Well, it would be murder.  But wouldn’t pulling the switch, taking the life of the one child, be murder also?  I am sure that the families of the five wouldn’t think so but the family members of the one could quite possibly see it that way.  It also could be quite possible that the elderly man would take it upon himself to jump in front of the train.  Now he would be the sacrifice and I would survive along with the children. 

Scenario 3: Same scenario except: The one child on the side track is your child. Will you throw the switch to save the five children?  This version reaches deep into one’s emotion’s core.  A parent’s love for their child truly would over-ride ethical and moral thinking.  In this version I might consider not throwing the switch.  If the old man was present, I might even consider pushing him.  But I would only think this for a split second and again, jump in front of the train sparing all, but myself.  The most important thing is to preserve my child’s life, no matter the cost.

            Regardless of which version of the scenario became reality, I am pretty sure that I would react the same way each time.  However, not all people think like me.  According to a research study done at Michigan State University, “Research participants were put in a three dimensional setting and given the power to kill one person (in this case, a realistic digital character) to save five.

            The results? About 90 percent of the participants pulled a switch to reroute the boxcar, suggesting people are willing to violate a moral rule if it means minimizing harm.” (Navarrete, 2011).  That is nine out of ten participants!  I believe if they were given scenario 2, they would push the old man. 

            What truly amazed me was the number of participants and their choices.  Maybe they would have made different choices if it were children instead of hikers in their virtual reality.  “Of the 147 participants, 133 (or 90.5 percent) pulled the switch to divert the boxcar, resulting in the death of the one hiker. Fourteen participants allowed the boxcar to kill the five hikers (11 participants did not pull the switch, while three pulled the switch but then returned it to its original position).” (Navarrete, 2011)

            Sadly, each modification of the scenario still requires someone to die.  That is truly a dilemma!

            I realize that I may have created my own course of action based on what may have been the expected response but that is my view of what is ethically correct for this scenario and it’s variations.

References

IMDb. (1984). Star Trek III: The search for Spock. Retrieved from http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0088170/

Navarrete, C. D. (2011, December 2). Michigan State University: Moral dilemma: Would you kill one person to save five? Retrieved from https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/12/111201105443.htm

A641.9.3.RB_BecomingAResonantLeader_LouBeldotti

A641.9.3.RB

Becoming a resonant leader

            In this blog I have been asked to now begin to turn my desires from awareness into action by composing a reflection blog in the form of a letter to myself. In the letter, I briefly state my personal vision and list at least three learning goals, three milestones for each goal, actions steps for each milestone, and list key people who will support me to achieve the learning goals.

            I learned a lot about myself in the exercises found in chapter 6 of “Becoming a resonant leader” (McKee, Boyatzis, & Johnston, chp. 6, 2008) and throughout the entire text.  The first exercise entitled, “My Planning Style”, I discovered that I was equally “Goal Oriented” and “Action Oriented” (McKee, Boyatzis, & Johnston, pgs. 156 – 157, 2008).  According to Annie McKee, “Goal-Oriented planners tend to focus on very specific goals and outcomes, which are not always tied to the pursuit of a dream or fulfilling a mission” and conversely, “Action- Oriented planners live largely in the moment, foregoing deep thoughts about the future and long-term planning” (McKee, Boyatzis, & Johnston, pg. 154, 2008).  This outcome came as a huge surprise to me.  When I served in the Army I was definitely mission oriented.  Obviously I have over the last seven years.

            I chose mostly military leaders to be on my “Personal Board of Directors” (McKee, Boyatzis, & Johnston, pg. 160, 2008).  My choices are H. Norman Schwarzkopf, Colin Powell, my former Drill Sergeant Walter Gaylord, my former boss and friend Gary Schoolfield, my former guitar teacher Larry Cole, and my former Pastor Terry Knighten.  Schwarzkopf and Powell were great tacticians.  These great leaders led hundreds of thousands of Soldiers safely through many conflicts.  Gaylord created the Soldier I would become.  Schoolfield was my voice of reason and stability.  Finally, Knighten woke up my spirituality.  All of these men impacted who I am today.

            You are never too old to learn.  I have learned plenty will completing exercise in the “Becoming a resonant leader” text (McKee, Boyatzis, & Johnson, 2008).  In chapter 1, I was able to reflect on who helped me become who I am, as a resonant leader, over the years.  In chapter 2, I was able to identify who I lead and who I led, identify my beliefs, identify the traits of a good and bad leader including those that I have met, understand and identify my feelings, and decide whether or not I was a resonant leader.  In chapter 3, I was enabled to take a personal inventory, evaluate my mindfulness, find balance, evaluate my desire for intentional change, how I cope with pressures and problems, and identify my wake-up calls for change.  In chapter 4, I was enabled to discover and identify my noble purpose, create my bucket list, think about my ideal life, think about what my life would be like in twenty years, think about my fantasy job, identify my dreams and aspirations, identify the major themes in my dreams, identify my legacy, identify my passion, discover my calling, think about what people would say about me at my funeral, lay out my values, and create my personal vision.  In chapter 5, I was able to answer the question, “How did I get here?”, evaluating the rhythms of career, reviewing the transitions in my life and work, identifying my social identities and roles along with realizing my social web, identifying my strengths and weaknesses, and create a personal balance sheet.  In chapter 6, I was able to identify my planning styles, think about who I wanted to be on my personal board of directors, identify my learning edge, and think about my learning goals (McKee, Boyatzis, & Johnson, 2008).  There is more to learn from this text and its exercises.  I will continue to use it as I develop.      

   

Dear Lou,

            In the late 1970s and early 80s, you wanted to be a doctor because of the people in your family that died from cancer. You had set a learning goal of going to medical school and graduating by the time you were 30 but things in your life changed and you never achieved this goal.

            You joined the Army out of necessity.  You saw enlisting as a way to get money for college so that you could fulfill your vision of becoming a doctor.  However, after four years, you decided to make the Army a career.  You spent over twenty-seven years in uniform. 

            So, what is your vision now?  It has changed many times since you retired from the Army.  You have now set your eyes on completing seven years in Volusia County Schools and retiring.  That goal is still five years away but is well in your grasp.  Upon retirement you have stated that you want to move to the Florida Keys and open a restaurant.   

            You have achieved most of your educational goals before you retired from the Army.  However, a little over a year ago, you decided to go back to school and pursue a Master’s Degree in Leadership.  Each module in the classes are milestones that take nine weeks to reach.  There are nine modules per class.  You planned on attacking each module head on completing each module as early as possible. You intend on graduating, Summa Cum Laude, in September of 2017.

            You have consider fulfilling some of the items on your bucket list.  Besides all the traveling that you want to do, you have decided that running in a marathon and flying an airplane are attainable in the near future.

            You have run in four consecutive Army 10-milers in Washington, D.C. and know how to train for that.  A marathon is over two and a half times that distance.  Your plan is to train over the course of a year broken down into quarters.  First quarter, you will train three days a week achieving at least seven miles per training day.  Second quarter, you will train four days a week achieving at least ten miles per training day.  Third quarter, you will train five days a week achieving at least fifteen miles per training day.  Finally, fourth quarter will be staged over a three month period.  Week one will find you running five days per week achieving seventeen miles per training week.  Week two will find you running five days per week achieving twenty miles per training day.  Week three will find you running four days per week achieving 23 miles per training day.  Finally, week four will find you running two days per week achieving 26.2 miles per training day.

            To achieve your flying a plain goal, you will research where, when, and how to take flying lessons.  Once you have found the right program for you, you will establish a time-line.  Your goal is to solo within eight months of starting.  You will commit at least three days a week to your training.  You will also commit at least five hours per week to study for this achievement.

            Your board of directors will help you achieve your goals.  Generals Schwarzkopf and Powell will help you be technically proficient.  DS Gaylord will help you maintain your discipline.  SGM Schoolfield will assist you in staying grounded and keeping your cool.  Finally, Pastor Knighten will keep you spiritually grounded and calm so that you can achieve your goals.

            I have faith in you!  I know that you will fulfill and succeed at everything you set your mind to.

Sincerely,

You

            Becoming a resonant leader just takes opening your mind and a desire to change. According to the Teleos Leadership institute, “Resonant leaders use emotional and social intelligence skills to renew themselves, create positive relationships, and foster a healthy, vibrant environment to engage others toward a common goal. They do this through mindfulness, hope and compassion.” (Teleos Leadership Institute, 2017).

References

McKee, A., Boyatzis, R., and Johnston, F. (2008). Becoming a resonant leader.  Boston, MA: Harvard Business Press

Teleos Leadership Institute, (2017). Resonant leadership. Retrieved from             http://www.teleosleaders.com/howwedoit/resonant.php

             

A641.8.3.RB_PersonalBalanceSheet_LouBeldotti

A641.8.3.RB

Personal Balance Sheet

            It is often said that “you are your own worst critic”.  I will add that if you are narcissistic you can’t take criticism well and that, in itself, is a character flaw.  I must admit that I border on narcissism but do my best to keep in check.

            In the text, “Resonant Leadership”, the authors inform the reader that one must become aware of who they are now.  They must identify their “real self”.  “This is the next step in intentional change”.  “This is an important aspect of mindfulness and requires deep self-awareness and the willingness to be vulnerable” (Boyatzis & McKee, pg. 92, 2005).

            In this blog I have been asked to do the following:

Create a reflection blog that discusses your personal balance sheet that summarizes your assets and liabilities. Use the outputs from the exercises that you have completed in the course workbook and your reflections of those assessments as your guide. 

In the blog, discuss your assets:

• My distinctive strengths (Things I know I do well and strengths that others see in me).
• My potential Strengths (things I could do better or more often if I focused, or things I do well in some situations and could begin to apply more broadly).
• My Enduring Dispositions that support me (traits, habits, behaviors that I do not want to change and that help me to be successful).

Discuss your liabilities:

• My weaknesses (things I know I don’t do well and I want to do better).
• Weaknesses I want to Change (things I know I don’t do well and want to change).
• My enduring dispositions that sometimes get in my way (traits, habits, behaviors that I do not want to change and that sometimes cause me to be less effective).

(McKee, Boyatzis, & Johnston, pg. 150, 2008)

            Here goes…

DISTINCTIVE STRENGTHS                                           DO OTHERS SEE THIS IN ME?

I am an optimist and try to see good in everything                                       Yes

I am a critic thinker                                                                                        Yes

I am analytical                                                                                                Yes

I am logical                                                                                                    Yes

I am empathetic and sympathetic                                                                  Yes

I am organized at home and work                                                                  Yes

I am compassionate                                                                                        Yes

I am a forward thinker                                                                                    Yes

I have a great sense of humor                                                                         Yes

I am loyal                                                                                                        Yes

I perform well under pressure                                                                         Yes

            In chapter 8 of Resonant Leadership, Boyatzis and McKee lay out the importance of compassion in leadership.  They inform the reader that “Compassion is empathy and caring in action” (Boyatzis & McKee, pg. 178, 2005).  The entire chapter is peppered with words like understanding, willingness, social awareness, listening, competence, self-awareness (Boyatzis & McKee, chp. 8, 2005) and spoke volumes to me about my strengths and weaknesses.

MY POTENTIAL STRENGTHS

            I found this hard to answer.  Remember, I border on narcissistic.  I think I am a good listener but could do better.  I’m also patient but do reach my tipping point on occasion.  Because of my age (personal opinion), I feel I have wisdom but don’t capitalize on it.  I am very enthusiastic but when it comes to certain tasks I keep my enthusiasm in my pocket.  I am flexible but there are certain things that I will not bend on.  As a retired Soldier and now a JROTC Instructor, flexibility was and is used sparingly.  Soldiers and Cadets must be the flexible ones because of General Military Authority.  However, I could be more flexible with my Cadets because they are just children.  Finally, I am good at keeping records but I usual wait until things pile up.  They are neat piles but piles, none-the-less.  I have been pushing myself to file things as they are created.  It’s a work in progress.

MY ENDURING DISPOSITIONS THAT SUPPORT ME

            I am pretty content with who and how I am.  I have many traits, habits, and behaviors that I believe benefit me and enhance my strengths and potential strengths.  Here is my short list:

                        1.  Punctual – I am never late for work or an appointment.  If I am going somewhere to visit someone, I arrive at the prescribed time.

                        2.  Sociable – I get along well with whomever I meet.  I have never met a stranger.

                        3.  Articulate – I am well versed in the English language and have the gift of gab.

                        4.  Confident – I am very sure of my abilities.

                        5.  Energetic – I am always filled with energy and am up for any challenge.

                        6.  Humorous – I put “funny” into everything.  I am usually the one who will make people laugh in any situation.

                        7.  Perfectionist – Some may consider this a fault or a weakness.  Not me.  It has worked well for me over the years. 

                        8.  Accessible – I am very approachable.  In my current profession as a school teacher, my students know that they have unfettered access to me regardless of the situation.

MY WEAKNESSES

            I have weaknesses.  Sometimes I come off as rude.  It is not with malicious intent and I am sure it has a lot to do with my military experience.  Also stemming from my military experience is my level of strictness.  I am loosening up a bit these days though.  O.C.D. (self-diagnosed) has been a weakness of mine for years.  I am a firm believer that “every place has its thing and every thing has its place”.  I notice when things have been moved and I move them back.  However, it’s not the type of problem that has me flipping a light switch off and on fifteen times every time I enter a room.  I procrastinate on certain things.  I have a tendency to put unpleasant things off until the last minute.  I am pretty sure this is human nature.  Finally, I am overly forgiving.  However, I am not a pushover nor do I allow people to walk over me but I am quick to forgive, even if I know the individual did do something wrong.  I am sure that I have other weaknesses but these are the ones that are most prominent.

 

WEAKNESSES I WANT TO CHANGE

            This is a no brainer.  All of them, of course.  So, how do I change?  According to Minda Zetlin, there are six things that must be done to change weaknesses into strengths.

            1.  Recognize and accept your weaknesses.

            2.  Get guidance from someone you trust.

            3.  Be very prepared.

            4.  Hire the skills you lack. 

            5.  Get just good enough.

            6.  Look for ways to serve others with the same problem.

(Zetlin, n.d.)

            As a school teacher, I agree with five of these six things.  I am in no position to hire someone with the skills that I lack.  I am just going to have to overcome.

MY ENDURING DISPOSITIONS THAT SOMETIMES GET IN MY WAY

            My procrastination and over forgiveness are probably my biggest obstacles.  These things affect both my work and my home life. 

            An example of my procrastination just occurred.  It has been cooler in Florida over the past couple of months.  Because of the cool weather, I have been putting off maintaining my pool.  Each week, I would say that “I will do it this weekend” and the weekend passes and then I say “I’ll do it next weekend”.  This has gone on until yesterday when my pool started to look like the Chicago River on Saint Patrick’s Day.  My procrastination cost my $103 at the pool store to right my wrong.  All is well with the pool today but cost me labor, time and money.

            Over forgiveness is problematic because some of my Cadets believe that they can get away with just about anything.  I am of the opinion that my Cadets say and think, “I can do this or not do that and Master Sergeant will just let it slide”.  I have been working really hard at overcoming this.

            Finally, I feel that my strengths outweigh my weaknesses.  However, my weaknesses must be addressed.  This is something that I am working on and will continue to work on to perpetuity. 

            This exercise has been really eye opening.  Gentle reader, I would recommend that you give it a try!

References

Boyatzis, R. and McKee, A. (2005). Resonant leadership.  Boston, MA: Harvard Business Press

McKee, A., Boyatzis, R., and Johnston, F. (2008). Becoming a resonant leader.  Boston, MA: Harvard Business Press

Zetlin, M. (n.d.). How the most effective leaders turn weaknesses into strengths.  Retrieved from http://www.inc.com/minda-zetlin/how-the-most-effective-leaders-turn-weaknesses-into-strengths.html