The second chapter of Joseph L. Badaracco Jr.'s Questions of Character discusses moral codes and how leaders develop theirs. Badaracco uses the story Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe to illustrate his message. The story centers on the leader of an African tribe named Okonkwo, who is "the psychological and emotional counterpart of the strong, determined people who lead most organizations today" (Badaracco, pp. 31-32). At first, he is exactly the type of leader his tribe seeks because of his strong moral compass. As the British try to change their way of life, Okonkwo tries to get his clan to follow him into opposition. However, his tribe eventually rejects his leadership because their moral code "has not grown and evolved over the years" (Badaracco, p. 32). What initially made Okonkwo a great leader “turned out to be signs of weakness, not strength (Badaracco, p. 32). Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get an original essay This story demonstrates the complexities of a leader's moral code. Because of these complexities, “it is essential that men and women in positions of responsibility reflect, from time to time, on the strength of their moral codes” (Badaracco, p. 34). Okonkwo's life “offers several fundamental ways for leaders to test the validity of their own deeply held beliefs” (Badaracco, p. 51). His story also “warns us against viewing moral codes as simple, mechanistic devices” (Badaracco, p. 51). It is dangerous for a leader to think that they are acting morally simply because they believe they have a strong moral code. According to Badaracco (2006), a strong moral code has its roots in the values ​​of the community. It is dynamic and “requires ongoing and open engagement in the moral and practical life that surrounds a leader” (Badaracco, p. 52). This is revealed in a leader's failures as well as their reactions to them. Badaracco believes that flexibility is “the clearest sign of a good moral code” (Badaracco, p. 52). Okonkwo was so firm in his own beliefs that he ignored those around him who could have helped him develop this flexibility. How was Okonkwo in the story Things Fall Apart similar to leaders of organizations today? He was a hard worker whose drive and determination took him to the top of his community. He was “the psychological and emotional counterpart of the strong, determined people who lead most organizations today” (Badaracco, p. 32). What do good leaders do when faced with their own failures? Good leaders “think about their reactions to these failures; they also seek explanations, and they begin by examining themselves rather than blaming others” (Badaracco, p. 41). What three standards can be used to judge the characteristics of one's moral code? fundamental characteristics “can be judged according to three criteria: clarity, motivation and dominance” (Badaracco, p. 43). Why did Okonkwo fail when he tried to act on his ideas as a leader? Okonkwo did not express his values ​​and his code of ethics was not for a changing world. He needed “the ability to crystallize and powerfully communicate his beliefs and ideas – in a way that resonated with the values ​​and feelings of the people he wanted to lead” (Badaracco, p. 50). What does Okonkwo's life story tell us and warn us about? His life reveals the complexities of everyone's moral code. It “shows us the importance of code..