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3.3 Assignment: Leader2Leader Dialogue Question Preparation

Tina Alvarado-Mendez
Indiana Wesleyan University

Psychology of Leadership
LDR-370

Dr. Hope Zeller
10-23-2023

Statement of Academic Honesty. I have read and understand the sections in the Student

Bulletin and/or course syllabus relating to IWU’s Honesty/Cheating Policy. By affixing this

statement to the title page of my paper, I am certifying that I have not cheated or plagiarized in

the process of completing this assignment. I also verify that this assignment is unique to this

class and that I have not used work from previous courses. If it is found that cheating and/or

plagiarism did take place in the writing of this paper, I understand the possible consequences of

the act which could include expulsion from Indiana Wesleyan University.

For this assignment I plan to interview my previous campus Assistant Principal Ms. Desiree San

Miguel.

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3.3 Assignment: Leader2Leader Dialogue Question Preparation

• How do values, virtues, and character relate to one another?

Our morals/virtues and values tend to shape our character and who we are. What we
value in life and the moral standards in which we were raised determines what we think is
the right and wrong thing to do. Character, how we act and present ourselves is based
upon what we believe is right and wrong.

• How can we specifically encourage virtue in our communities, workplaces, and
educational institutions?

The best way to encourage virtue in our communities, workplaces, and educational
institutions is by leading by example. With the popularity of social media, little of what
we do in public is solely visible by those around us, but rather the whole world. If we are
“acting the fool” out in public, that is going to be captured, uploaded, and viewed
thousands if not millions of times. Judgment to your character and how you were raised,
as well as your virtues are going to be quickly judged. If we lead by example, doing the
right things, presenting ourselves in the best ways possible, while not as quick to be
uploaded, it does show those around us how we should treat each other/behave.
Especially in the school setting–kids need to have positive influences and examples in
their lives. Not all students have this at home, so they don’t really know what is socially
acceptable, right/wrong, or the best action to take. It’s the educational system’s job to
pick up where parents’ are lacking at times. It’s unfortunate, but reality.

• What are the advantages of leading a moral life?

There are several different advantages to leading a moral life. Those led by faith,
whatever it might be, would believe that this would be to get them into heaven, or favor
of God. While that does push me to live a moral life, there is a stronger force at play.
Wanting everyone to have a positive experience when they enter my life is what drives
me to do the right thing. In different settings and situations, doing the right thing will feel
like the wrong thing to those with differing ideas of what is right. For example,
suspending a student because they made a racial slur. I know that is wrong, and that all
students deserve to belong, however, someone with a different background, who was
raised to believe that is right views me as immoral or wrong. Does this mean I change the
way I work with racial slurs, no. Does this mean my morals change, no. While that may
create a negative interaction, it’s my hope that down the line, some positive can come
from it–even if it’s just that I remained calm and fair.

• How can we support people in cultivating their virtues?

The best way to support people in cultivating their virtues would be to be present when
needed and offer advice when asked. It’s important to allow them to go through what they
need to, but to be there as a safety net when they ask for it. Pushing your virtues onto
them while they are trying to grow/figure it out is the quickest way to lose trust and faith

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3.3 Assignment: Leader2Leader Dialogue Question Preparation

with those people. It’s a vulnerable place, and support is being there when needed, but not
forcing your way in when not.

• How do our characters change as time goes on?

Experiences change our character as time goes on. The person I was in my 20s is not the
person I am today. The person I was before losing my mom is not the person I am today.
My values changed, thus my character changed. Some people, when going through hard
times, can become jaded or shut down from the world around them. When I lost my mom
I definitely went through a major change in character. It took me over a year to find
myself again. Things I used to value were no longer important and others grew in
importance. Interactions with those around us, both positive and negative can change
your character. Wanting to be more or less like someone can change things within
yourself.

• How do our personalities affect the decisions we make?

Our personalities definitely affect the decisions we make. I’m a naturally calm person–I
wasn’t always. As an AP, I have to make a ton of split second decisions on a daily basis.
My calm personality tends to see the world differently than the two bosses I’ve had while
in this role. Both, while very different, tend to make knee jerk decisions because they are
more reactionary than calm, and this often causes us to disagree in moments. Our
personalities, pet peeves, loves/dislikes, all affect how we make decisions. In the
lunchroom, noise does not bother me, but it does my boss. He tends to make decisions in
the lunchroom because he’s irritated by the noise. I am able to ignore the little things
because the noise doesn’t bother me.

• What distinguishes personality from character?

The biggest distinction between personality and character would be that your personality
doesn’t change. It’s not shaped by what you believe, it’s who you are. Character is shaped
by what you believe, and how you approach life. Personality is that no matter what you
do, you’re that person. No matter what I do, I’m always going to be a calm person. It’s
just who I am. I’ve never been one to blow up in a room–it takes A LOT to get me there.
However, my character has been shaped by things I’ve gone through.

• What obstacles must we overcome in order to lead moral lives?

The biggest obstacle we must overcome in order to lead moral lives would be when we
are faced with someone who disagrees or holds different morals. I hate making this
political, but it’s the best example I can provide in this moment. Rather than picking a
“sticky” moral debate like abortion, I’ll use gun control. I could debate that this is a moral
decision–you either believe we all have the right to own any type of gun or you don’t.
When your belief is strong on one side of the debate, it makes it very difficult to work
with or be around those who disagree. I come from a family where I am alone in a lot of

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3.3 Assignment: Leader2Leader Dialogue Question Preparation

how I view what is right and wrong. My family (aunts, uncles, cousins, etc.) all tend to
lean one way, and I tend to lean the other. This creates some awkward moments when the
conversation sways to one of these topics. That doesn’t mean I shut out my family and
only make friends with those who believe the same things I do. It’s important we
surround ourselves with differing opinions to either confirm or strengthen our own
morals.

• How can we get past these obstacles?

I don’t believe we actually need to get past the obstacles but learn and grow from them.
Getting past them seems like you just shove through and don’t give it another
thought–which I feel is a very negative way to go about moral challenges. It’s like the
racial example I gave earlier. If someone is ok with racial slurs, because that’s how they
were raised, and they never experienced anything other than their inner circle, they don’t
know anything different. By challenging our morals, we may learn something different or
grow because we faced an obstacle.