The First Lady - Betty Ford

Betty Ford’s leadership is genuine in light of the actions she performed during her tenure as president (Peter, 2016). She detailed the diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer, which had not previously been discussed publicly. Her candor aided in raising awareness of the disease’s screening and treatment, resulting in a sense of comfort and ease for other women battling breast cancer (Ford, 1978). With her newly discovered influence, she paved the way for the passage of the Equal Rights Amendment bill. Betty also battled alcohol and prescription medication addiction. She established a nonprofit center where both female and male patients of addiction were treated (Andrea, 1987).

2. The role played by Betty Ford critical life occurrence in her leadership development

Betty acted for change after going through different life events (Peter, 2016). When Betty became the First lady before a month was gone she was found with cancer of the breast. This made her to publicly discuss the disease diagnosis and treatment. Women in the region became informed and started going for checkups and fighting the disease.

Again, Betty’s addiction to alcohol and prescribed medicine led her to start another battle of fighting the behavior which was also with other persons in the region (Andrea, 1987). As she was recovering she found many treatment centers were targeting to treat mostly men, therefore, she established a not-for-profit Betty Ford Center (Ford, 1978). Both gender patients of addiction were treated here.

3. Betty Ford’s leadership, moral dimension, and ways in which her leadership was about serving the common good

As a leader, Betty Ford was ready to do good for the community (Peter, 2016). Betty openly spoke and fought for women’s rights in the society and in the place of work. In her first press conference, she supported rights of abortion, women’s politics and the bill of equal rights Amendment. In the interview, she aired out the arousing issues of premarital sex, abortion rights and use of marijuana (Ford, 1978). Her public opinions declined but her popularity rebounded quickly and was approved after a short period.

4. The way Betty Ford exhibited self-awareness and transparency in her leadership.

Betty exhibited self-awareness when she discovered that she was addicted to not only medication but also alcohol (Ford, 1978). From her discovery, she was able to help someone else in the society. In her treatment period, she found treatment centers focused on treating men and therefore went on establishing Betty Ford Center for substance abuse treatment (Andrea, 1987). Here all genders could be treated.

Betty was known for her honesty in expression after becoming the first lady (Peter, 2016). She openly spoke out supporting ladies in politics, abortion rights and the Equal Rights Amendment.

Reference

Andrea C. (1987). Frank as Ever, Former First Lady Betty Ford Describes Her Harrowing Years of Addiction. People Publication.

http://www.firstladies.org/biographies/firstladies.aspx?biography=39

Peter G. Northouse, Leadership: Theory and Practice, Seventh Edition. © 2016 SAGE Publications, Inc