When we are faced with a business problem that involves ethics, the easy way out is to blame someone. That appears to remove the pressure of actually solving the problem. But organizational problems are complicated and rarely have one simple cause.
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Highlights From The Donchian Symposium: Evolving Perspectives on Ethics
The Donchian Symposium: Evolving Perspectives on Ethics, held recently at the University of Richmond, was a groundbreaking cross-disciplinary look at how cultural perspectives on ethical leadership are changing. Presenters raised emerging issues and cultural challenges related to ethicsĀ in ways that…
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Ethical Leadership: Perceptions of “Different” Impact Our Behavior
"DIFFERENT" How we thinkĀ as leaders directly impacts our behavior.Ā ItĀ compels us to act based on the value judgements we make.Ā Today's post focuses onĀ howĀ weĀ perceive "different,"Ā howĀ our perceptions change our leadership, and how our leadership changes the work environment in ways…
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Greenwashing: Pretending to be Environmentally Responsible
"Consumers are not particularly patient with companies found to be practicing greenwashing. They perceive it as an abuse of their trust and a violation of the customer relationship."
Five Unintended Consequences of Linear Problem-Solving
Systems Are Not Linear When solving complex business problems, it helps to remember that systems (including organizations) are not linear. Thinking of them as linear leads to easier one-dimensional decisions but ignores these things that we know about systems: systems are dynamic systems are adaptive systems have complex contexts (they connect with many other systems) Unintended Consequences of Linear Problem-Solving
5 Unethical Phrases: Refusing to Change
Leading ethically requires staying competent as a professional and as a leader. The speed of change in today's globalĀ economy may causeĀ leaders to fallĀ behind even while they are diligently working to stay on top of trends and industry knowledge. These 5…
5 Unethical Phrases: Ignoring Boundaries
Boundaries can be simply described asĀ lines that we don't cross when doing business.Ā Ā Respecting these (sometimes clear, sometimes hazy) boundaries is an important part of today's ethical leadership. The 5 phrasesĀ below signal that the speaker is ignoring an important ethical boundary:…
5 Ethics Reports and One Message: Ethics Matters
The Ethics Resource Center has posted aĀ collection ofĀ 5 well-written ethical leadership research briefsĀ onĀ its website. Ethics.org The research briefs addressĀ issues in ethical business leadership including employee engagement, trust, culture, risk management,Ā and generational differences. For more, see newĀ bookĀ 7 LensesĀ and…
Ethical Business Leaders Think Longer-Term
Author's Note: The last two Leading in Contextā¢ blog posts have focused on the negative implications of using short-term thinking in business leadership. This post provides resources for leaders who want to learn more about using longer-term thinking in decision-making.
The Financial Crisis and the Sustainability Crisis Have a Common Cause
How are the financial crisis and the sustainability crisis connected? They are both fueled by large numbers of business people simultaneously using a narrow, short-term view of their responsibilities. A short-term view is thinking that is narrowly focused on accomplishing short-range internal company goals and fails to consider the impact of business choices beyond the company's walls and beyond the current financial reporting period.
A Profitability Focus Signals Short-Term Thinking
A pure profitability focus is based on an outdated cause-and-effect model, a belief that we can control our profit with our choices and that those choices are more important than our constituents and the impact of what we do on our economic system, our environment and our local and global communities.
Overuse of Antibiotics: Antibiotic Hand Soap is Part of the Problem
Studies ShowĀ the Negative Impact of Antibacterial Soaps While it seems responsible to useĀ strong soapsĀ toĀ reduceĀ the spread of germs inĀ workplace bathrooms and kitchens, studies are showing that there areĀ serious problems with that approach from a systems perspective. The Top 3 Reasons to…
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Ethical Office Supplies:Ethical Product Rankings Make Comparisons Easier
Are YouĀ Using Ethical Office Supplies?Ā The products you choose can help define you as an ethical business. It is becoming easierĀ toĀ choose ethical office products usingĀ websitesĀ that rank product ethics. The Good Office Guide 2008Ā - This guide includes detailed ethics ratings for…
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Sustainability is a Mindset, Not a Job
Many businesses are gearing up for sustainability by adding a position to oversee it. Will adding a position without changing the way decisions are madeĀ actually lead to sustainable business practices within the organization? It turns outĀ that sustainable CEOs are making…
100 Most Trustworthy Companies 2010
Forbes has posted its list of the 100 most trustworthy companies for 2010.Ā Ā Ā "Audit Integrity finds that its 100 Most Trustworthy Companies have consistently demonstrated transparent and conservative accounting practices and solid corporate governance and management." Forbes List of 100 Most…
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