Complexity, Creativity and Collaboration

May 30, 2012 Leave a comment

By Linda Fisher Thornton

How are Complexity and Creativity Related?

We are living in a complex world. Dealing with complexity is easier when we utilize collective knowledge and creativity. IBM interviewed more than 700 Corporate Human Resource Officers and found that creativity, flexibility and collaboration need to play a major role in leadership development:

Based on the key capability gaps revealed in this study, we believe organizations should focus on three critical workforce imperatives: cultivating creative leaders, mobilizing for speed and flexibility and capitalizing on collective intelligence.

Working Beyond Borders Executive Summary, IBM.com

Complexity is the Path We’re On 

It’s tempting to repeat the same strategies we’ve always used successfully as leaders – but those same approaches may not work well when we’re solving complex problems. To be successful leaders in a global society, we need to learn how to navigate through complexity.

The world’s private and public sector leaders believe that a rapid escalation of “complexity” is the biggest challenge confronting them. They expect it to continue — indeed, to accelerate — in the coming years. They are equally clear that their enterprises today are not equipped to cope effectively with this complexity in the global environment.

Capitalizing on Complexity: Insights from the Global Chief Executive Officer Survey, ibm.com

Creativity is a Way Through It

In his article in Psychology Today, The Creative Personality , Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi writes that ”Creative individuals are remarkable for their ability to adapt to almost any situation and to make do with whatever is at hand to reach their goals. If I had to express in one word what makes their personalities different from others, it’s complexity. They show tendencies of thought and action that in most people are segregated. They contain contradictory extremes; instead of being an “individual,” each of them is a “multitude.”"

In his Note to Fellow CEOs, IBM Chairman Samuel J. Palmisano shares that “We occupy a world that is connected on multiple dimensions, and at a deep level — a global system of systems. That means, among other things, that it is subject to systems-level failures, which require systems-level thinking about the effectiveness of its physical and digital infrastructures.” The IBM report Capitalizing on Complexity found that Executives are realizing that creative thinking is critically important for business leaders.

…they identify “creativity” as the single most important leadership competency for enterprises seeking a path through this complexity.

Capitalizing on Complexity: Insights from the Global Chief Executive Officer Survey, ibm.com

Diversity of Ideas Provides Perspective

When dealing with complexity, we need fresh thinking.  We need to listen to all ideas that may help, regardless of where they come from.  We need to build solutions together. To do that successfully requires giving up the notion that we are “right.” In their HBR article “Creativity and the Role of the Leader” Amabile and Khairi recommend that we foster creativity in those we lead by:

  • Not thinking of ourselves as the source of ideas and bring out and champion the ideas of others
  • Opening our organization to diverse perspectives
  • Knowing when to impose controls on the creative process and when not to
Key Elements For Dealing With Complexity
As leaders, we are all “learning through” complexity and we need to use:
  1. an open mind
  2. the collective wisdom of the groups and organizations we lead
  3. respect for others
  4. respect for ideas, and
  5. respect for differences.

♦

Linda Fisher Thornton is Adjunct Assistant Professor of Leadership for the University of Richmond School of Professional and Continuing Studies. She is also CEO/Owner of Leading in Context LLC, a consulting firm helping business leaders lead responsibly in a complex world.  Her publication “Ethical Implications of How Leaders Perceive Different” includes a continuum of 5 perspectives (some more ethical than others) and helps leaders understand how their thinking and behavior impact the organization and those they lead.

A Guide to Finding What You Need: How to Use the Leading in Context® Website

You are invited to access the full benefits that Leading in Context provides to customers, follwers and subscribers:

  • Access selected publications via Slideshare
  • Develop ethical leaders using materials from the  Store
  • Participate via twitter @leadingincontxt
  • Connect via the Leading in Context Facebook Page
  • Connect on Google Plus
  • Subscribe to the Leading in Context® Blog, which addresses ethical leadership issues in engaging weekly posts designed for business leaders
  • Contact Linda Fisher Thornton about your consulting, custom design, group facilitation, research or writing projects at Linda@LeadinginContext.com

 

 

 

 

 

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What is Creativity?

May 23, 2012 5 Comments

By Linda Fisher Thornton

What is Creativity?

In the leadership development world, creativity is currently getting a great deal of attention. But what is it? Can you learn it? Is it a skill? How do we lead in ways that encourage it?

When we explore the question “What is creativity?” from a thinking and learning point of view, an open and active mind is clearly required – one that can see new possibilities. But is there more to it than that? This post explores the variables that make up what we think of as “creativity.”

Many Definitions

Creativity is studied across a number of disciplines, and according to Wikipedia:

“Scholarly interest in creativity ranges widely…Creativity and creative acts are therefore studied across several disciplines - psychology, cognitive science, education, philosophy (particularly philosophy of science), technology, theology, sociology, linguistics, business studies, and economics. As a result, there are a multitude of definitions and approaches.”

“Creativity,” Wikipedia.com

Is it A Skill or a Mindset?

Can you learn “creativity” as a skill? According to John Maxwell in his book Thinking for a Change, creativity is not a single skill or attribute, but a mindset that embraces a broad array of different things including Ambiguity, Learning, Possibility, Connecting, Ideas, Options, Exploring Gaps and Inconsistencies, the Offbeat, and Failure.

In his book The Evolving Self; A Psychology for the Third Millennium, Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi reflects on the limits of reason and says “We must foster intuition to anticipate changes before they occur; empathy to understand that which cannot clearly be expressed; wisdom to see the connection between apparently unrelated events; and creativity to discover new ways of defining problems, new rules that will make it possible to adapt to the unexpected.”

Creativity, then, is as a way of thinking – a flexible, connecting mindset that helps us deal with a changing world, and keeps us nimble and adaptable.

How is it Different From Critical Thinking? 

 How does creative thinking relate to critical thinking? According to Sir Anthony Jay (Management Trainer) “The uncreative mind can spot wrong answers, but it takes a creative mind to spot wrong questions.” Gail Sheehy (Author) says that “creativity can be described as letting go of certainties.” 

The University of Michigan “Criticial and Creative Thinking” Page at umich.edu sees criticial thinking as “the process we use to reflect on, assess and judge the assumption underlying our own and others ideas and efforts” and creative thinking as “the process we use to develop ideas that are unique, useful and worthy of further elaboration.” 

In his paper “Critical Thinking and Creativity:An Overview and Comparison of the Theories” Jean Marrapodi wrote that “Creative thinking is designed to create, and critical thinking is designed to analyze. It seems that creative thinking has aspects of critical thinking, and critical thinking has aspects of creativity.”

How Do Creative Thinkers Handle Failing?

Creativity is now seen as generating a great deal of value in our complex global society, but it requires the element of action and a tolerance for failure. In his article “Wierd Rules of Creativity: Think You Can Manage Creativity? Here’s Why You’re Wrong” Robert Sutton says that

If you want a creative organization, inaction is the worst kind of failure—and the only kind that deserves to be punished. Researcher Dean Keith Simonton provides strong evidence from multiple studies that creativity results from action. Renowned geniuses like Picasso, da Vinci, and physicist Richard Feynman didn’t succeed at a higher rate than their peers. They simply produced more, which meant that they had far more successes and failures than their unheralded colleagues.

Robert Sutton, “Wierd Rules of Creativity: Think You Can Manage Creativity? Here’s Why You’re Wrong” , Harvard Business School Working Knowledge for Business Leaders, online at hbs.edu

The Role of Creativity in Leadership

As leaders, we need to create an environment where learning and creativity are encouraged, where people are respectful, and where work is meaningful. In such an environment, people can actually enjoy what they’re doing.

Here are two compelling definitions  that place creativity in the context of the fun and the joy of learning:  

“Creativity is the joy of not knowing it all.” Ernie Zelinski, Creativity Expert 

“Creativity is intelligence having fun.”  John Maxwell, Leadership Author

When we use our creativity, we can do our best work.  In her article “What is Creativity Anyway” Huffington Post author Jan Phillips says that “Creativity is about being fully alive, living courageously, or as the painter Joan Miro´ says, ‘Expressing with precision all the gold sparks the soul gives off.’ “

Using our creativity is part of expressing our authenticity as leaders. Leaders who are leading authentically and using their creative capacities within ethical boundaries will find it easier to

  • stay ahead of change
  • build a loyal, productive team
  • find innovative solutions to complex problems, and
  • engage others in the work of meeting goals and advancing the organization’s vision and mission.

In his article on HBR Blog Network called “Why Are Creative Leaders So Rare?” Navi Radjou describes “a new breed of visionary and empathetic leaders who act less as commanders and more as coaches, less as managers and more as facilitators, and who foster self-respect rather that demanding respect.”

Creative Thinking Resources:

Creativity Tools, MindTools.com

Creativity Tools, WatchOut4Snakes.com

Tools for Creating Ideas, CreatingMinds.org

♦

About the Author Linda Fisher Thornton is CEO/Owner of Leading in Context, a consulting firm that also publishes leadership development modules, graphics, case studies, discussion guides and videos. Her mission is to clarify what it means to lead ethically in a complex world. Linda is also an Adjunct Assistant Professor teaching Leadership for the University of Richmond School of Professional and Continuing Studies.

Her most recent publication is a Leading in Context™ Video called “The Evolving Leadership Context: Respectful Workplaces” which is downloadable at the LeadinginContext.com/Store.

A Guide to Finding What You Need: How to Use the Leading in Context® Website


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Ethical Leadership and…a Global Society

May 16, 2012 Leave a comment

Are We Moving Toward a “Global Society”?

To imagine the world as a global society we must look at the issue from a view that is many levels above our day-to-day routines and our sometimes mechanical responses to our day-to-day challenges.

When we see the world as a global society, we see that we need to act as if what happens to others, even people we may never meet, matters. We all share space, food and natural resources. We also share international communication and transportation systems and a global economy.

Thinking about our planet as home to a global society, it is clear that we must act as if what happens to the environment matters. Our survival is dependent on the limited resources we have available and how responsibly we use them.

Trends in A Global Context  

Our collective thinking is evolving. There are currently movements toward

  • random acts of kindness
  • collaboration
  • ethical consumerism
  • sustainable business
  • sharing information to help others

and movements away from

  • tolerance for greed
  • tolerance for harm
  • tolerance for disrespect
  • tolerance for angry behavior
  • tolerance for environmental destruction

Does this mean that we are finally beginning to think and act like a global society?

♦

About the Author:

Linda Fisher Thornton, CEO/Owner of Leading in Context, is on a mission to clarify what it means to lead ethically in a global society. She is the former Senior Vice President and Chief Learning Officer of Central Fidelity Bank, where her Team was nationally recognized as “Outstanding Performers in Training” in Linking Training to the Business by Lakewood Publications and Training Director’s Forum Newsletter. She is an Adjunct Assistant Professor of Leadership for the University of Richmond School of Professional and Continuing Studies.

Linda publishes learning materials for leaders and those who develop them at LeadinginContext.com.  Her most recent publication is a Leading in Context™ Video called “The Evolving Leadership Context: Respectful Workplaces” which is downloadable at LeadinginContext.com/Store.

A Guide to Finding What You Need: How to Use the Leading in Context® Website

You are invited to access the full benefits that Leading in Context provides to customers and subscribers:

  • Access selected publications via Slideshare
  • Develop ethical leaders using materials purchased from the  Store
  • Participate via twitter @leadingincontxt
  • Connect via the Leading in Context Facebook Page
  • Connect on Google Plus
  • Subscribe to the Leading in Context® Blog, which addresses ethical leadership issues in engaging weekly posts
  • Contact Linda Fisher Thornton about your consulting, custom design, group facilitation, speaking, research or writing needs at Linda@LeadinginContext.com


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5 Reasons Why Respect is an Ethical Issue

May 9, 2012 Leave a comment

Why We Need Respectful Workplaces

Is your workplace high stress? Do people treat each other in disrespectful ways? It just may surprise you to know that “behaviors that we once thought were just abrasive leadership styles or annoyances, are causing harm to people and businesses.”

This 5 Minute Video

  • Explains the importance of respectful behavior in today’s workplace
  • Reviews 5 trends organizational leaders need to know
  • Highlights important research about ethics, interpersonal behavior and harm
  • Includes discussion questions for organizational leaders

This Leading in Context™ Video “The Evolving Leadership Context: Respectful Workplaces” is provided as a community service for leader education. It is re-released here to spread the word about the importance of respect, and how unethical interpersonal behaviors can cause harm to people and businesses. The research highlights may surprise you.

To Learn More

Subscribe to the Leading in Context Channel on YouTube to be notified when new videos come out!

[View the story "Why We Need Respectful Workplaces" on Storify]

Preview the Leading in Context Graphic “Ethical Interpersonal Behavior.”

♦

Linda Fisher Thornton is CEO/Owner of Leading in Context. She is on a mission to clarify what it means to lead ethically in a complex world. Before becoming an external consultant, Linda was Chief Learning Officer and Senior Vice President for Central Fidelity Bank, headquartered in Richmond, Virginia. She teaches Leadership as an Adjunct Assistant Professor for the University of Richmond School of Professional and Continuing Studies.

A Guide to Finding What You Need: How to Use the Leading in Context® Website

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Developing Globally Responsible Leaders

May 2, 2012 3 Comments

Global Guidance Beyond the Law

Laws serve as the minimum standards for society, but responsible leadership requires that we go well beyond those minimum standards.

This post explores resources that help us understand (1) what it means to be a globally responsible leader and (2) what kinds of learning opportunities help leaders develop a global sense of responsibility.

Who is the Globally Responsible Leader?

Leaders build responsible cultures and companies through strong ethical values and their own daily responsible actions and choices.

As leaders, we will help shape the future of the businesses and societies we serve through our small actions and big decisions.

What if we’re not a leader in a global business? What if we’re part of a small, local company? In our complex connected society, we all need to be thinking about ethical issues beyond our customers, our employees, our communities and our profits.

What is globally responsible leadership and why does it need to be a business priority? If we did think beyond our geographical boundaries, what would that look like? How can we help develop the present and future generation of globally responsible leaders?

Today I share a collection of quotes from varied sources that describe the “thinking process” of a globally responsible leader.

Purpose

“The globally responsible leader gets out of bed every day and goes to work energised by a sense of purpose. S/he has a strong enough sense of self not to subordinate personally important values but to impose those values on production.”

To Be a Responsible Leader by Grant Jones, GRLI Magazine, June 2011

Following Ethical Principles

“Guiding principles that establish a starting point for globally responsible leadership include: fairness; freedom; honesty; humanity; tolerance; transparency; responsibility and solidarity; and sustainability. These are not fixed ethical points but need to be constantly refined and developed.”

Globally Responsible Leadership: A Call for Engagement, An Invitation to Join the Founding Members of www.globallyresponsible leaders.net, at grli.org

Societal Responsibility and Sustainability

“Corporate policy in its widest sense – that means including the ethics around bringing their products to the market – should set objectives that take the corporation’s societal (global) responsibility into account. That will be less complicated for the marketers of baby-food than for those trading arms; but both will have to do it.”

Global Responsibility,  The European Foundation for Management Development (efmd.org)

“It is no longer acceptable for a corporation to experience economic prosperity in isolation from those agents impacted by its actions. A firm must now focus its attention on both increasing its bottom line and being a good corporate citizen. Keeping abreast of global trends and remaining committed to financial obligations to deliver both private and public benefits have forced organizations to reshape their frameworks, rules, and business models.”

Corporate Social Responsibility and Sustainable Business, by Amato, Henderson and Florence, Center for Creative Leadership

Creating a Globally Responsible Culture

“Create economic and societal progress in a globally responsible and sustainable way.”

The Globally Responsible Leader: A Call to Action, Globally Responsible Leadership Initiative, grli.org

“Leadership for global responsibility goes beyond setting a vision and goals. The central point is action to create alignment and to maintain commitment, such as: configuration of resources, development of supporting policies, implementation of globally responsible decision-making criteria, setting personal examples, stakeholder engagement and alliances, and development of a globally responsible mindset.”

Global Leadership Competence: A Cultural Intelligence Perspective, Chin and Gaynier at csuohio.edu

How Can We Develop Responsible Global Leaders?

Embracing Complexity

“Multiple-perspective analysis helps students to understand the points of view of others who live in their community or across the world. Multiple-perspective analysis deals with difficult questions of power, money, resource distribution and conflict of interest. Such questions have complex answers.”

Exploring Sustainable Development: A Multiple-Perspective Approach UNESCo Education Sector

Seeing From Multiple Perspectives

“A multiple-perspective approach promotes interdisciplinary and intercultural competencies as it addresses challenges to local or planetary sustainability. Interdisciplinary thinking, in which concepts and knowledge from different academic traditions are used to analyze situations or solve problems, allows students to use knowledge in new and creative ways. ‘Intercultural dialogue contributes to sustainable development by facilitating knowledge exchange – traditional, local, and scientific. Through combining all these valuable forms of knowledge, more sustainable practices can be developed and better resolutions to current issues may be achieved’ (Tilbury & Mulà, 2009, p. 7).”

Exploring Sustainable Development: A Multi-Perspective Approach, United Nations Decade of Education for Sustainable Development (2005 – 2014), unesco.org

Educating Responsibly

“But above and beyond these considerations, the developed world, its universities and its corporations must show in practice where the priorities lie. Foremost among them must be the need to bring global responsibility to the level of the individually educated person, which means committing the necessary resources to educating socially responsible citizens for a world desperately in need of them.”

Global Responsibility The European Foundation for Management Development, efmd.org

“Principle 3 | Method: We will create educational frameworks, materials, processes and environments that enable effective learning experiences for responsible leadership.”

United Nations Principles of Responsible Management Education, unprme.org

Leading Into the Future

Seeing issues and problems from multiple perspectives, and seeing ourselves as part of a global community will help us lead our businesses into the future. For anyone training, coaching, mentoring, teaching or simply setting a good example for other leaders in the organization,  demonstrating globally responsible leadership should be a top priority.

♦

About the Author Linda Fisher Thornton is CEO/Owner of Leading in Context, a leadership development firm that publishes leadership development modules, graphics, case studies, discussion guides and videos. Her mission is to clarify what it means to lead ethically in a complex world. Linda is also an Adjunct Assistant Professor teaching Leadership for the University of Richmond School of Professional and Continuing Studies.

Her most recent publication is a Leading in Context™ Video called “The Evolving Leadership Context: Respectful Workplaces.”

A Guide to Finding What You Need: How to Use the Leading in Context® Website

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Social Media for “Good”

April 25, 2012 Leave a comment

Joining the Social Media Information Wave

In the post Leaders and Social Media: 5 Reasons to Engage I gave 5 compelling reasons to join the social media information wave.

  1. Not Embracing Social Media is a Risk
  2. Social Media Helps us Adapt
  3. The Newest Information is Shared There Freely First
  4. It’s a Learning Connection to the “Global Brain”
  5. It’s a Hub Connecting You to the Meaningful Information You Need
  Leaders and Social Media: 5 Reasons to Engage Linda Fisher Thornton, Leading in Context Blog
These 5 reasons to engage in social media describe how social media can benefit us as leaders who are learning in complex times, but that’s only one perspective on the benefits of the social media connection.
In this post I’ll explore some of the ways social media can be used for “good.”
.

Connecting For Good
How can social media help us help others? How does it change how we think about marketing? How is social media pushing marketing to become more service-oriented?
Here are 5 ways that social media helps us help others and change the world.
.
5 Ways Social Media Can Be Used for “Good”
1.  It connects and mobilizes people to create positive change locally, regionally and globally
2.  It allows free sharing of information and advice that helps others solve complex problems
3.  It changes business marketing – with so many messages out there, the new “marketing” looks
      more like adding value and providing free services to demonstrate what your company can do
4.  It fosters fast, connected, global networks of diverse thinkers who are interested in a topic,
      allowing them to more quickly solve problems that cross geographic and political boundaries
5.  It enables anyone with a cause to start a movement to right a wrong, educate others and
     change the world for good.
.
Resources
These books and articles will help you learn more about ways to use social media for “good.”

9 Social Media Uprisings That Sought to Change the World in 2011  Zoe Fox, Mashable.com

How Social Media Really Can Produce Social Change Stephanie Myers, TriplePundit.com

10 Ways to Change the World Through Social Media Max Gladwell, MaxGladwell.com

Twitter for Good: Change the World One Tweet at a Time Book by Claire Diaz-Ortiz

Can NonProfits Use Pinterest to Change the World? kellis, GlobalGiving.org

Is Youtility the Future of Marketing? Jay Baer, ConvinceandConvert.com

The Networked NonProfit Book by Beth Kanter and Allison Fine

Social Media for Social Good: A How to Guide for Non-Profits Book by Heather Mansfield

♦

Linda Fisher Thornton is CEO/Owner of Leading in Context LLC, a leadership development firm helping business leaders lead responsibly in a complex world.  She is also Adjunct Assistant Professor of Leadership for the University of Richmond School of Professional and Continuing Studies.

♦

You are invited to access the full benefits that Leading in Context provides to customers and subscribers:
  • Access selected publications via Slideshare
  • Develop ethical leaders using materials purchased from the  Store
  • Participate via twitter @leadingincontxt
  • Connect via the Leading in Context Facebook Page
  • Connect on Google+
  • Subscribe to the Leading in Context® Blog, which addresses ethical leadership issues in engaging weekly posts designed for business leaders
  • Contact Linda Fisher Thornton about your consulting, custom design, group facilitation, research or writing projects at Linda@LeadinginContext.com

Filed under Context, Ethical Organization, Trends Tagged with , , ,

Leading Ethically Through Complexity: How to Prepare Leaders

April 18, 2012 6 Comments

 
The Leader of the Future
 
In response to the post “Business Leader Future: A Sketch” Graham posted a question about how we can support leaders who are learning to lead in the ways described in that post. It seemed difficult for some readers to imagine a single leader being able to handle complexity so responsibly in a fast-paced global business arena.  One reader described the leader in the sketch as a “saint.”
·
How to Help Leaders Prepare to Handle Complexity
I spent some time thinking about what Senior Leaders and leadership development professionals can do to be sure that their leaders are learning the kind of leadership that is in such high demand now, and will be essential for success in the future.
 
My list of “10 Practical Ways to Help Leaders Lead Ethically Through Complexity” is below. What would you add?
·
 
10 Practical Ways to Help Leaders Lead Ethically Through Complexity
1.   Help them learn to embrace complexity
2.   Help them learn to respect others
3.   Help them learn to respect differences
4.   Help them learn to respect the environment
5.   Help them understand global trends
6.   Help them understand their ethical responsibilities
7.   Help them learn to think like a global leader
8.   Help them understand the importance of learning and adapting
9.   Help them understand the importance of service to others and society
10. Help them embrace social media and socially connected learning

♦

About the Author Linda Fisher Thornton is CEO/Owner of Leading in Context, a consulting firm that also publishes leadership development modules, graphics, case studies, discussion guides and videos. Her mission is to clarify what it means to lead ethically in a complex world. Linda is also an Adjunct Assistant Professor teaching Leadership for the University of Richmond School of Professional and Continuing Studies.

Her recent publications are a Leading in Context™ Video  “The Evolving Leadership Context: Respectful Workplaces” (view on Leading in Context’s YouTube Channel)  and a Respecting Differences Training Module (See the Free Preview) “Ethical Implications of How Leaders Perceive ‘Different.’”


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Scholars and Practitioners: Debate or Collaborate?

April 11, 2012 Leave a comment

Working Together to Advance Our Understanding

Scholars and practitioners often see the world from different perspectives, providing an opportunity for them to learn from one another.  Such an opportunity only helps us advance our understanding of ethics and ethical leadership if we take advantage of it.

Marshall Goldsmith, in his article “The Sunk Cost Fallacy” in Talent Management Magazine (November 2011) remembers behaviors he has observed in his colleagues.

When my UCLA colleagues would respond defensively, even violently, to well-meaning constructive criticism of their research papers, I saw it as another sign of the sunk cost fallacy. They were so attached to their years of hard researching they couldn’t brook an alternative viewpoint.

Marshall Goldsmith in The Sunk Costs Fallacy, Talent Management Magazine, November 2011

Scholars seek to prove that ideas are valid through research, and practitioners seek to prove that ideas “work” in today’s complex and connected society. It takes both a research focus and a focus on real-world relevance to provide the kind of clarity about ethical leadership that today’s leaders need.

Choosing Respectful Collaboration

I am saddened by the many times I see scholars and practitioners judging one another and trying to prove each other wrong. Defensive and judgmental reactions to other people’s ideas and feedback signal an unwillingness to learn.

Linda M. David, in her article “Perspective Shift – The Power to Change Your Mind” (Training and Development, November 2011) says that “the concept of shifting perspectives is a tool that will give you a wider view of most situations you encounter and, with practice, expand the options for how you perceive your world.”

Philip Friedrich points out in his article “Feedback as a Gift” (Training and Development, January 2012) that

Too often we reject the gift of feedback before we even understand it by explaining, justifying or rationalizing our actions. Explaining why we did or didn’t do something is a form of defensiveness that slams the door on opportunities for growth.

Choosing A Learning Perspective

Learning to shift our perspective and to be open to the ideas of others keeps us learning. The alternative choices (being defensive and  judging others) do not.

When we are defensive, we aren’t hearing valuable insights and observations that others offer, and we are:

  • Protecting our “turf” (our ideas)
  • Pushing away anyone who is “too interested” and “getting too close for comfort”
  • Closed to the ideas of others that could make our work better

When we are judging others, we are not open to learning from them.  When we judge we are:

  • Discouraging others from doing their “good works”
  • Moving away from a collaborative mindset, and
  • Missing the learning opportunity

When we choose to adopt a learning perspective, we believe that:

  • Ideas are made to be talked about and improved
  • We are more knowledgeable collectively than we are individually
  • We grow and advance our work by learning
 I am optimistic that we can enrich our understanding of ethical leadership with the experience of executive leaders and the rigor of scholarly inquiry, without devaluing either, and achieve the clarity that today’s leaders need.
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Related Leading in Context Blog Posts: 

Thinking Beyond Disciplines: Why We Need It

Ethical Leadership Thinking: When We Attack An Issue

The Ethical Leadership Puzzle: A Broader View

Ethical Grey Areas: Our Choices Define Us

♦

Linda Fisher Thornton is Adjunct Assistant Professor of Leadership for the University of Richmond School of Professional and Continuing Studies. She is also CEO/Owner of Leading in Context LLC, a consulting firm helping business leaders lead responsibly in a complex world.  

You are invited to access the full benefits that Leading in Context provides to customers and subscribers:
  • Access selected publications via Slideshare
  • Develop ethical leaders using materials purchased from the Store
  • Participate via twitter @leadingincontxt
  • Connect via the Leading in Context Facebook Page
  • Connect on Google+
  • Subscribe to the Leading in Context® Blog, which addresses ethical leadership issues in engaging weekly posts designed for business leaders
  • Contact Linda Fisher Thornton about your consulting, custom design, group facilitation, research or writing projects at Linda@LeadinginContext.com
A Guide to Finding What You Need: How to Use the Leading in Context® Website


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100 Leadership and Ethics Blogs 2012

April 4, 2012 Leave a comment

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“Don’t focus on having a great blog. Focus on producing a blog that’s great for your readers.”
(Brian Clark) quoted in 50 Thoughtful, Funny and Polemic Blogging Quotes
 

Looking for Leadership Blogs?

This collection of blog lists provides links that will lead you to hundreds of blogs about leadership, management and ethics. Understandably, some of the lists will overlap, since each blog list creator selects blogs based on different factors.

Jurgen Appelo lists the Top 150 Management and Leadership Blogs.

Nicole White lists The Top 100 Leadership Blogs at bestuniversities.com.

Stephenslighthouse.com has selected The 50 Best Blogs For Future Leaders

Blogrank’s Top 50 Leadership Blogs sorts them by many different variables – number of unique visitors, RSS subscribers, etc.,

The Blogbridge Top 100 Blogs includes leadership topics.

Looking for Ethics Blogs?

OnlineMBAGuide.net lists its 50 Best Business Ethics Blogs.

The GRC Blog Roundup: Best Business Ethics Blogs and Ethical Issues at Vivimind at corporatecomplianceinsights.com includes more.

The World Watchdogs: Top 50 Human Rights Blogs is online at criminaljusticeusa.com.

There’s a Best Green Blogs Directory at bestgreenblogs.com.

Post Your Favorites! 

Feel free to share your favorite leadership and ethics blog directories. Submit your comment below!

♦

Linda Fisher Thornton is CEO/Owner of Leading in Context. She is on a mission to clarify what it means to lead ethically in a complex world. Before becoming an external consultant, Linda was Chief Learning Officer and Senior Vice President for Central Fidelity Bank, headquartered in Richmond, Virginia. She teaches Leadership as an Adjunct Assistant Professor for the University of Richmond School of Professional and Continuing Studies.

How to Use the Leading in Context® Website

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The Adaptability Paradox

March 28, 2012 5 Comments

The Well Worn Path

Recently in the “Strategic Thinking for Leaders” Class I teach, I talked with students about how difficult it can be to change when we have been successfully doing something the same way for a long time.

The well worn path that we have followed for years is easy to follow. We know the rules, the processes, the tools, the pitfalls and all other aspects of that path.

Our comfort with that path makes it harder for us to see that even though the ‘way we have always done things’ has led us to success in the past, it may not in the future.

The Adaptability Paradox

Sometimes the familiarity of the well worn path makes it harder for us to see what’s changing around us. And even if we do see changes, we have to choose to adapt to them. One element that makes it difficult for us to easily embrace change is the time involved in learning new ways of doing things.

Learning Through Change

Adapting to change and learning new ways of doing our work makes our jobs easier – but only after an adjustment period. The paradox is this – When I adapt to change, it will be MORE DIFFICULT short term and also EASIER long term.  

More Difficult - Initially, we must accept that it will be more difficult as we learn new tools, skills and approaches.

Easier - Long-term, our productivity will increase and it will be easier for us to get work done. When we learn through the changes, our lives and work become EASIER because we are approaching them in new successful ways – with new thinking, new tools, new information and new skills.

Warning Signs

Here are some of the warning signs that our skills are becoming outdated:

  • People are routinely using terminology we don’t know
  • It is becoming more difficult to get things done the way we’ve always done them
  • People are not seeking out our input the way they used to
  • Coworkers are adapting to new approaches and are more productive than we are
  • There are new studies, books and articles being mentioned that we haven’t read
  • There is free technology for improving efficiency  in our line of business that we aren’t using
  • We feel out of the loop somehow but can’t quite figure out why

If we miss the signs of change (or if we see the signs but do not adapt), our skills become outdated fast – just as fast as the speed of change.

When a change in the world, our world, becomes a change we’ve ignored, then by doing nothing, we are actively choosing the more difficult path in the long run.

Questions for Reflection:

1. In what areas have I been missing the warning signs that my skills are becoming outdated?

2. How will I choose the easier path in the future by learning through these areas now?

3. How much easier and more productive could my work be after I make these changes?

♦

Related Resources:

Linda Fisher Thornton is CEO/Owner of Leading in Context. She is on a mission to clarify what it means to lead ethically in a complex world. Before becoming an external consultant, Linda was Chief Learning Officer and Senior Vice President for Central Fidelity Bank, headquartered in Richmond, Virginia. She teaches Leadership as an Adjunct Assistant Professor for the University of Richmond School of Professional and Continuing Studies.

There are timely resources for leaders throughout the website. See How to Use the Leading in Context® Website.

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Ethical Leadership and…Vitamin D Deficiency

March 21, 2012 1 Comment

Author’s Note: This article is not meant to take the place of medical advice. Consult your provider about your individual situation.

Why is Vitamin D3 Important?

In my research I found that vitamin D3 deficiency is being studied as a possible missing link in the research about a number of diverse health problems including Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, Autism, Cardiovascular Disease, Asthma, Dementia, Depression and Cancer. It is as a factor in our DNA being able to naturally repair itself (see the details in the articles and links below).

How Much Does it Help Us?

A Mayo Clinic Health Newsletter in September 2009 declared that vitamin D “appears to boost health from head to toe.” Vitamin D: Many Benefits, Optimal Dose Uncertain MayoClinic.org. 

The Linus Pauling Institute at Oregon State University mentions a form of vitamin D as an “immune system modulator.” Vitamin D, Micronutrient Information Center, LPI.OregonState.edu.

The University of California UC San Diego News Center reports that researchers from UC San Diego School of Medicine and Creighton University School of Medicine in Omaha have found out more about how much vitamin D we need to reduce the risk of cancer and other diseases:

“We found that daily intakes of vitamin D by adults in the range of 4000-8000 IU are needed to maintain blood levels of vitamin D metabolites in the range needed to reduce by about half the risk of several diseases – breast cancer, colon cancer, multiple sclerosis, and type 1 diabetes,” said Cedric Garland, DrPH, professor of family and preventive medicine at UC San Diego Moores Cancer Center. “I was surprised to find that the intakes required to maintain vitamin D status for disease prevention were so high – much higher than the minimal intake of vitamin D of 400 IU/day that was needed to defeat rickets in the 20th century.”

Higher Vitamin D Intake Needed to Reduce Cancer Risk UC San Diego

A 2011 BBC Health News article by Doctor Joseph M. Reed of Southhampton General Hospital in the UK explains how the problem affects his patients: “Alarmingly, our figures suggest that up to 40% of children presenting to the orthopaedic outpatient service in Southampton have vitamin D deficiency or insufficiency. But with a little knowledge, these conditions are avoidable.” Children Are at Risk of Getting Rickets, Says Doctor BBC News Health

What is Our Ethical Responsibility?

This important health information needs to be shared. I was personally diagnosed with a severe case of vitamin D3 deficiency, and learned the importance of taking a supplement the hard way. If we want to feel better, prevent disease and reduce health care costs as a society, then we must be proactive in sharing the kind of information that can help us achieve our goals. If a deficiency of vitamin D is implicated in many varied health problems, and is crucial for healing, and helps repair the body and helps prevent illness and is so affordable, then:

  • It should be part of standard patient education in every type of medical practice when patients come in for treatment or well checkups.
  • It should be discussed and recommended to patients before starting a course of treatment for any illness.
  • It should be a subject that all health and wellness practitioners follow closely.

Articles About Vitamin D Deficiency and Disease

There are co-factors that need to be present in order to maximize the absorption of the D3 you’re taking - Vitamin D Cofactors, VitaminDCouncil.org.

The most effective type of D3 is naturally derived.   Read more about that here: Vitamin D: The Most Natural Form Easily Absorbed By the Body is D3 cholecalciferol.

Vitamin D Dosing Mayo Clinic (includes list of diseases that D3 may prevent or improve)

Vitamin D  Medline Plus, National Institute of Health (Includes list of diseases that D3 may prevent or improve)

Dietary Supplement Fact Sheet: Vitamin D  Office of Dietary Supplements, National Institute of Health

Vitamin D and DNA Repair Dr. John Cannell, VitaminDCouncil.org

Cancer Research Center Study Reveals Enhanced Role of Vitamin D3 in Fighting Prostate Cancer Albany.edu

Nutrition: 4 Vitamins That Strengthen Older Brains NYTimes.com

Vitamin D Supplementation  VitaminDCouncil.org

Vitamin D: The Unknown Treasure to Health and Well-Being  Morgan Brady, WomanforAction.org

Could Lack of Vitamin D be behind Sids Cases? BBC Today  (Report includes that 40% of British population is deficient)

Oral Vitamin D May Help Prevent Some Skin Infections UC San Diego News Center

Aspects in Autism  Dr. John Cannell, VitaminDCouncil.org

Vitamin D Deficiency Related to Increased Inflammation in Healthy Women ScienceDaily.com

Experts Review Vitamin D Advice  BBC Today

Disease Prevention Chart VitaminDRevolution.com

Could the Sun Save Your Children From Depression? Exposure to Vitamin D can Lower Risk of Mental Health Problems  DailyMail.co.uk

IOG Research Colloquium : “Vitamin D Deficiency – The Missing Link in Cardiovascular Disease Disparities Wayne State University

Vitamin D: The Sunshine Hormone Mattapan Community Health Center, American Public Health Association, Public Health Action Campaign — Approved Resolution on October 28, 2008 “Call for Education and Research into Vitamin D Deficiency/Insufficiency”

♦

About the Author Linda Fisher Thornton is CEO/Owner of Leading in Context, a consulting firm that also publishes leadership development modules, graphics, case studies, discussion guides and videos. Her mission is to clarify what it means to lead ethically in a complex world. Linda is also an Adjunct Assistant Professor teaching Leadership for the University of Richmond School of Professional and Continuing Studies.

Her most recent publication is a Leading in Context™ Video called “The Evolving Leadership Context: Respectful Workplaces” which is downloadable at the LeadinginContext.com/Store.

A Guide to Finding What You Need: How to Use the Leading in Context® Website

You are invited to access the full benefits that Leading in Context provides to customers and subscribers:

  • Subscribe to the Leading in Context® Blog, which addresses ethical leadership issues in engaging weekly posts designed for business leaders
  • Access selected publications via Slideshare
  • Develop ethical leaders using materials purchased from the  Store
  • Participate via twitter @leadingincontxt
  • Connect via the Leading in Context Facebook Page
  • Connect on Google+
  • Contact Linda Fisher Thornton about your consulting, custom design, group facilitation, research or writing projects at Linda@LeadinginContext.com

Filed under Ethical Leader, Ethical Thinking Tagged with , , , ,

Assessing Corporate Ethics

March 14, 2012 1 Comment

How Well Are We Doing?

Would you like to be able to assess your progress toward ethical standards?

This week I’m sharing tools for comparing business practices with global ethical standards in the areas of

  • human rights
  • labor
  • environment
  • anti-corruption and
  • culture.

Three Free Tools: 

Related Articles With Questions and Tools:

Responsible Management Education: UN Principles Leading in Context® Blog

Leadership and Human Rights Leading in Context® Blog

Precautionary Principle: Profiting With Care  Leading in Context® Blog

Trustworthy Business Behavior Leading in Context® Blog

♦

About the Author Linda Fisher Thornton is CEO/Owner of Leading in Context, a consulting firm that also publishes leadership development modules, graphics, case studies, discussion guides and videos. Her mission is to clarify what it means to lead ethically in a complex world. Linda is also an Adjunct Assistant Professor teaching Leadership for the University of Richmond School of Professional and Continuing Studies.

Her most recent publication is a Leading in Context™ Video called “The Evolving Leadership Context: Respectful Workplaces” which is downloadable at the LeadinginContext.com/Store.

A Guide to Finding What You Need: How to Use the Leading in Context® Website

Filed under Ethical Organization Tagged with , , , , ,

The Learning Paradox: How Too Much Homework Harms

March 7, 2012 Leave a comment

How Much Homework is Too Much?

As we build increasing awareness about learning, motivation and the general well-being of children, more people are beginning to wonder if the way we use homework is part of the solution or part of the problem.

The National PTA recommendations fall in line with general guidelines suggested by researcher Harris Cooper: 10-20 minutes per night in the first grade, and an additional 10 minutes per grade level thereafter (e.g., 20 minutes for second grade, 120 minutes for twelfth). High school students may sometimes do more, depending on what classes they take (see Review of Educational Research, 2006).

The National PTA says that “when you add classroom time to homework time, school-age children should not be working longer than an eight-hour day.”  (Hints to Help Reduce Homework Stress pta.org)

According to my research and my own experience as a parent, children in elementary school are sometimes being given homework that takes their required school time well beyond an eight-hour day.  Spending too much time on homework means losing important family time and missing out on exercise, time outside and other stress-reducing activities. For these reasons and others, it can create more stress for children than they know how to handle if too much homework is given too early in their development.

Paradoxically, by trying to help children learn more by adding graded homework for every child,we may be hurting the learning process more than we’re helping it.

Here are some of the reasons why giving homework for additional practice is not necessarily better for learning:

…Because love of learning is driven by curiosity and exploration, not repetition.

children “lack the time to pursue interests they care about” Homework Harms Kids, Says Debunker, by Kris Rushowy, TheStar.com

“damaging our kids’ interest in learning.” The Myth About Homework, Time Magazine

“single greatest extinguisher of a child’s curiosity” Homework Harms Kids, Says Debunker, by Kris Rushowy, TheStar.com

“I’ve heard from schools in the U.S. that have banned homework that kids are more likely to read for pleasure, to follow the news in the newspaper, to pursue a question online, to show their parents a science experiment they did at school, and so on.” Homework Harms Kids, Says Debunker, by Kris Rushowy, TheStar.com

I agree with Bill Glassner (1992, p. 231) that children would be better emerging from schooling ignorant, than hating to learn. It’s the children’s willingness to learn that is most harmed by compulsory homework. Children don’t like it, many parents don’t like it, teachers don’t like it. For good reason.” Homework Hysteria by Louise Porter, Child Psychologist

…Because completing independent work requires a level of development that only comes with age and is not well developed in the elementary and early middle school years.

“One of the complicating factors is age. Most small children and early adolescents have not yet developed the kind of self-reflective or self-monitoring skills to get the benefit out of either homework or self-study” LeTedre explains.  Probing Question: Is Homework Bad for Kids? by Alexa Stevenson

…Because more homework is not better for the child.

“It is generally agreed that the younger the child, the less time the child should be expected to devote to homework. A general rule of thumb is that children do 10 minutes of homework for each grade level. Therefore, first graders should be expected to do about 10 minutes of homework, second graders 20 minutes, third graders 30 minutes, and so on. If your child is spending more than 10 minutes per grade level on work at night, then you may want to talk with your child’s teacher about adjusting the workload.” Homework: A Guide for Parents by Peg Dawson, EdD, National Association of School Psychologists Online

“The trouble seems to crop up in the elementary grades when kids do too much homework — defined by some as an hour or more. Studies have shown a negative correlation between math scores and the amount of homework completed. In other words, the more homework the students did, the worse they performed on math tests.”  Does More Homework Mean Better Grades? ABC World News With Diane Sawyer

…Because too much homework creates a burden on students and harms their academic skills.

“Prior to the late high school years, children who are given more than 30 minutes of homework a night show declines in their academic skills, compared with children who are given none. “  Homework Hysteria by Louise Porter, Child Psychologist

“The problem, he (LeTendre) adds, is that most teachers use ‘the shotgun approach,’ photocopying worksheets and giving each student the same assignment.” Probing Question: Is Homework Bad for Kids? by Alexa Stevenson

“Teachers have to set homework, police its completion, and mark it. For the majority of students who are progressing well, this extra work is an unnecessary burden on both students and teachers. If instead teachers could design specific remedial activities for the handful of struggling students, both they and their students would be less burdened.” Homework Hysteria by Louise Porter, Child Psychologist

…Because too much homework takes the place of things children need, like relaxed family time, play and rest.

“Homework eats into relaxation time, which would offset stress.” Bill Glassner, quoted in  Homework Hysteria by Louise Porter, Child Psychologist

“takes the place of “evenings for family and serendipity” The Myth About Homework, Time Magazine

“Play is so important to optimal child development that it has been recognized by the United Nations High Commission for Human Rights as a right of every child.1″ The Importance of Play in Healthy Child Development and Maintaining Strong Parent-Child Bonds by Kenneth Ginsberg, MD, and the Committee on Communications and the Committee on Psychosocial Aspects of Child and Family Health, American Academy of Pediatrics

“Homework does not meet children’s needs and indeed violates their requirements for recreational and extra-curricular activity time, and for sleep…” Homework Hysteria by Louise Porter, Child Psychologist

“homework demands can limit the time available to spend on other beneficial activities, such as sport and community activities” Homework: Is it Worth It? Memory-key.com

Bright students who are conscientious about doing homework have no time left to pursue other recreational activities; less able students do not do the homework but because this defines them as failures, they do little else either.” Bill Glassner quoted in Homework Hysteria by Louise Porter, Child Psychologist

…Because when children who have not developed the skills to handle independent work are given challenging assignments and asked to do them by themselves without parent help, it creates a stressful dilemma for them and their parents.

 “nightly grind that is stressing out children”  New Recruit in Homework Revolt: The Principal, The New York Times

“brought home homework only a parent could complete”  Do Kids Have Too Much Homework? SmithsonianMag.com

“straining parent-kid relationships” The Myth About Homework, Time Magazine

“Most homework is more easily and better done at school.” Bill Glassner quoted in Homework Hysteria by Louise Porter, Child Psychologist

“turned their living room in to an anguished battleground” Do Kids Have Too Much Homework? SmithsonianMag.com

“Then there’s the nightly nagging to get started on the homework. This policing role leads to tension in the family and disputes between parents and the many children who cannot or do not want to do the work.” Homework Hysteria by Louise Porter, Child Psychologist

…Because to get the homework done and protect free time, parents, children and teachers have to lower their standards for completing the homework, which sends the wrong message to children.

“schools are deciding what happens during family time” Homework Harms Kids, Says Debunker, by Kris Rushowy, TheStar.com

“To avoid arguments, teachers (and parents) accept low quality homework, sending the message that it is acceptable to do poor work.” Bill Glassner quoted in Homework Hysteria by Louise Porter, Child Psychologist

While there are differences of opinion on the impact of too much homework, I believe that we need to fiercely protect the rights of all children to keep their:

  1. curiosity
  2. love of learning
  3. time to play, and
  4. time with family and friends

…and that whatever approach we take to the homework issue should be in that context.

“When we lack choice, activities become work, and when they are joyless, they teach us very little – other than to dislike them.” Homework Hysteria by Louise Porter, Child Psychologist

Additional Resources: 

Research Spotlight on Homework National Education Association, nea.org

Homework: What the Research Says Brief National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, nctm.org

Rethinking Homework by Alfie Kohn, Principal

Research Spotlight on Homework, National Education Association, nea.org

American Students are Underwhelmed by Homework Assignments Carnegie Mellon

Do Students Have Too Much Homework?  The Brookings Institute

The Balanced View: Homework Sharingsuccess.org

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About the Author Linda Fisher Thornton is CEO/Owner of Leading in Context, a consulting firm that also publishes leadership development modules, graphics, case studies, discussion guides and videos. Her mission is to clarify what it means to lead ethically in a complex world. Visit LeadinginContext.com/About for more information about Linda, her background and her mission. Linda is also an Adjunct Assistant Professor teaching Leadership for the University of Richmond School of Professional and Continuing Studies.

How to Use the Leading in Context® Website

Filed under Ethical Leader, Ethical Organization Tagged with , , , ,

Precautionary Principle: Profiting With Care

February 29, 2012 1 Comment

What is the Precautionary Principle?

Simply stated, the Precautionary Principle asks us to err on the side of caution. Following the Precautionary Principle as business leaders, for example, we would avoid using product ingredients that may be harmful in addition to avoiding those that we know are harmful.

Using the Precautionary Principle we would do more than simply follow the law – we would make the decision that would be in the best long-term interests of our customers and other stakeholders.

Proactive Leadership for the Long Term

The Precautionary Principle (PP) is a proactive way for leaders to make decisions that are the best over the long term.  Using the PP, we take the long view and make decisions that offer the most protection to our company and its stakeholders.

It was originally formulated as a response to the constraints of policy and science in sufficiently addressing complex and uncertain risks and its consequences to human health and the environment (Tickner, 2003: xiii).

Rabbi Elamparo Deloso in “The Precautionary Principle: Relevance in International Law and Climate Change” a Masters Thesis in International Environmental Science, Lund University, Sweden

The Temptation to Squeeze Out Extra Profits

Using the Precautionary Principle as a basis for making decisions helps businesses avoid the temptation to squeeze out extra profits while something is “still legal.” The PP uses a  broader definition of what is “responsible” and a narrower definition of the level of  ”harm” that is acceptable.

There is still some disagreement about how widely we should use the PP.  Some leaders think precaution is critical and others think it is unnecessary. Here are two examples of what can happen when we do and do not use the PP in business decisions:

Example 1: Embracing PP and Avoiding Suspected Carcinogen

Erring on the side of caution, a company using the Precautionary Principle would stop using ingredients that were suspected carcinogens rather than waiting for a series of studies that showed with certainty that they caused cancer.

Regulations often lag behind science and consumer experience. Waiting for scientific certainty and for an ingredient to be banned, a company could harm millions of people and poison the environment.

Precautionary companies would take action to avoid the harm that might take place while we were waiting to be “sure” that it was actually harmful.

Example 2: Choosing to Do Harm 

NPR did a news story on the cosmetics industry several years ago that revealed that some cosmetics manufacturers were using ingredients that were suspected of causing harm to people and had been banned in other countries. The cosmetics manufacturers were selling purer versions of their products in the tighter-regulation countries, but still selling the suspected harmful ingredients here in the U.S., where the Precautionary Principle had not yet fully been embraced.

Why would any business continue using ingredients suspected of being harmful? If they were using a narrow profit-based view of  responsibility it could easily happen. If the banned ingredients were cheaper, and they were not yet illegal in the US, then legally they could  be used.

……But is that a responsible decision?

The Importance of Profiting With Care

In a profit-based view of business responsibility, profits are not balanced against possible harm. That short-sighted view does not honor the way that we now understand our global leadership responsibilities. The world is more connected, and that connection informs consumers.

Businesses continuing to use ingredients that have been banned in some countries as possible carcinogens are finding that global shopping sites now rate them lower on ethical business.

The emergence of the PP has marked a shift from postdamage control (civil liability as a curative tool) to the level of a pre-damage control  (anticipatory measures) of risks.

The Precautionary Principle, UNESCO World Commission on the Ethics of Scientific Knowledge and Technology (COMEST)

Precaution is Gaining Momentum

The Precautionary Principle is gaining momentum as the way the world can best deal with risk and human and environmental safety.  Looking at ethics on a global scale, and our world as one global community, it makes sense to  many to err on the side of caution when evaluating possible harm that choices could cause.

…philosopher C. West Churchman had struggled with the question, “What is morality?” He eventually decided that morality is “what a future generation would ask us to do if they were here to ask.”

Edward Cornish in his book Futuring: The Exploration of the Future, published by the World Future Society

Global principles (developed by diverse global groups) are including precaution as a required element of responsible business.  The U.S. has now recognized the importance of Precaution as a guiding principle:

We believe: (number 12) even in the face of scientific uncertainty, society should take reasonable actions to avert risks where the potential harm to human health or the environment is thought to be serious or irreparable.

President’s Council on Sustainable Development. Sustainable America: A New Consensus, 1996, cited in The Precautionary Principle in Action: A Handbook

There are 17 international treaties and agreements that include the Precautionary Principle on pages 20-23 in The Precautionary Principle in Action: A Handbook, written by Tickner, Raffensperger and Myers for the Environmental Science Health Network.

Profitability is usually the reason that businesses continue using products after they are identified as possibly harmful or known to be harmful. At the same time that our economy struggles to regain stability, consumers are increasingly aware of how they are affected by the long-term greed of  business leaders who have chosen to ignore precaution and cause harm. Consumers are aware that if you use an ingredient or process that you know MIGHT be very harmful in the long run, then you know that you MIGHT be causing them great harm, and you are still choosing to use that ingredient.

Today’s more informed consumers are seeking businesses and products that go well beyond following laws to intentionally demonstrate a higher level of care and concern for constituents.

Because the Precautionary Principle is broad and still being interpreted, I’ve included resources below that explore the complexities of its various interpretations.

Questions For Discussion:

1. In what areas are we applying the Precautionary Principle?

2. Where are we ignoring precaution so that we can increase profits?

3. What are the likely long-term results of our decisions as shown in our responses to questions 1 and 2 above?

4. What could we do now to apply the Principle of Precaution and how could that improve our brand?

For Further Reading:

Debating the Precautionary Principle by Henk van den Belt, PlantPhysol.org

“A Core Precautionary Principle” article by Stephen M. Gardiner, Philosophy, University of Washington, in The Journal of Political Philosophy

For information about cosmetic safety, see Market Shift: The Story of the Compact for Safe Cosmetics and the Growth in Demand for Safe Cosmetics at safecosmetics.org.

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About the Author Linda Fisher Thornton is CEO/Owner of Leading in Context, a consulting firm that also publishes leadership development modules, graphics, case studies, discussion guides and videos. Her mission is to clarify what it means to lead ethically in a complex world. Visit LeadinginContext.com/About for more information about Linda, her background and her mission. Linda is also an Adjunct Assistant Professor teaching Leadership for the University of Richmond School of Professional and Continuing Studies.

A Guide to Finding What You Need: How to Use the Leading in Context® Website

Filed under Complexity, Ethical Organization Tagged with , , , , ,

Leadership and…Human Rights

February 22, 2012 Leave a comment

Honoring Human Rights

As business leaders, it is our responsibility to honor human rights in all that we do. Article 1 of the The UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights says that:

All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.

UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights

What Does Honoring Human Rights Look Like?

These sources discuss human rights issues that business people need to be aware of, and explain how to lead in ways that support human rights:

Human Rights Compliance Assessment (HRCA) Quick Check   humanrightsbusiness.org

Business and Human Rights Resource Center, Principles and Standards business-humanrights.org

Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights: Implementing the United Nations ‘Protect, Respect and Remedy Framework    United Nations General Assembly Human Right Council, ohchr.org

Top Ten Business and Human Rights Issues   Institute for Human Rights and Business, irhb.org

Profit at What Price? Amnesty International Business and Human Rights

Questions to Consider

1. How well do we understand our responsibility as leaders to protect human rights?

2. How well are we respecting human rights in our work and leadership?

3. What improvements would put us in alignment with the guiding principles listed above?

◊

Linda Fisher Thornton is Adjunct Assistant Professor of Leadership for the University of Richmond School of Professional and Continuing Studies. She is also CEO/Owner of Leading in Context LLC, a consulting firm helping business leaders lead responsibly in a complex world.  

A Guide to Finding What You Need: How to Use the Leading in Context® Website

You are invited to access the full benefits that Leading in Context provides to customers and subscribers:
  • Access selected publications via Slideshare
  • Develop ethical leaders using materials purchased from the Store
  • Participate via twitter @leadingincontxt
  • Connect via the Leading in Context Facebook Page
  • Connect on Google Plus
  • Subscribe to the Leading in Context® Blog, which addresses ethical leadership issues in engaging weekly posts designed for business leaders
  • Contact Linda Fisher Thornton about your consulting, custom design, group facilitation, research or writing projects at Linda@LeadinginContext.com

Filed under Ethical Leader, Ethical Organization Tagged with , , , , ,

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