Martin Luther King Leadership

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The title or term, Leader, and the name Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. are synonymous in the minds, hearts, and souls of millions perhaps billions across the globe today and for many years to come. Not only was Dr. King an effective visionary leader, he accomplished enormous feats applying appropriate ethical principles along the way. As the focal point for the Civil Rights Movement from December 1955 through April 1968, Dr. King was able to successfully lead a movement that garnered more results for the equality of African Americans in the United States than the previous 3.5 centuries had produced. As the son, grandson, and great-grandson of Southern Baptist Ministers, Dr. Kings up-bringing and religious faith provided a solid foundation of values and structurally sound ethical practices that aided and guided him along the journey he embarked on that would inevitably change the American landscape and transform the lives of every person that was fortunate enough to call America home ("The King Center", 2014). His overarching vision for the future of an equal and level playing field for all and the peaceful pursuit of such a climate in America is regarded as one of the most significant accomplishments in our countries great history. The first area we will explore in this paper speaks to how Dr. King was effective at using transformational leadership in leading the Civil Rights Movement. We’ll also look at how Dr. King was effective at aspects of Team Building. Being ethically sound was pertinent given the climate in America back then, so we’ll also dive into some of Dr. King’s practices and how they were ethically apt. Finally, looking back over the tools Dr. King used, we’ll explore how his leadership ability and ethical principles ...

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...n was yet another display of the most beneficial style of leadership. Putting together teams, holding regular meetings in locations that were conducive to deep thinking, allowing debates, and discussions to take place, not choosing sides and arriving at a consensus is the very core of team building and fostering inclusive environments. Doing it all while displaying sound ethical principles routed in being a southern Baptist Minister enabled Dr. King to achieve huge successes as the primary leader of the Civil Rights Movement. Taking notes from one of the great leaders of yesteryear can and does help senior non-commissioned officers get better. Being an effective motivating speaker, putting the organization before self, team building, and having appropriate ethical principles to back it all up go hand in hand with leading Airman in today’s United States Air Force.

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