by Linda Fisher Thornton The Merriam-Webster Learner's Dictionary defines civility as "polite, reasonable, and respectful behavior." These are the kinds of behaviors we use when we treat others with care. According to Michael Brannigan, The Pfaff Endowed Chair in Ethics and Moral Values at the College of St. Rose in Albany, NY., "Ethics deals fundamentally with how we treat each other on a daily basis. Indeed, our small acts of civility and incivility constitute the heart of morality."
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What is the Greater Good?
What is the Greater Good? As leaders, we must think beyond our own interests to the interests of those we lead and serve, and the interests of communities and the world. We must take a long-term view, keeping in mind the broad effects of our day-to-day decisions. Many people refer to the "greater good" as an important part of leading ethically, and use different words to describe it. The descriptions collectively paint a picture of a responsibility to think beyond ourselves and to work for a better, inclusive society.
Don’t Separate “Ethics” From “Leadership”
Preparing For Ethical Leadership Preparing leaders for ethical leadership is a long-term process. It requires careful thought about the messages we are sending. For example, what message are we sending when we separate ethics training from other leadership training? The Risks of "Separate" Ethics Training I believe that we take an unnecessary risk when we separate ethics training from the rest of a leader's development. When we separate ethics training and leadership training, we may be unintentionally sending the message that ethics is separate from leadership. What could be the harm of separating ethics from leadership?
The Leadership Development Advantage
by Linda Fisher Thornton Developing Leaders Pays Off Ongoing development for leaders helps companies. According to several recent reports, businesses that invest in leadership development enjoy clear advantages. These advantages include improved bench strength, improved talent retention and greater market value over time.
Collaborative Leadership in a Global Society
What is Collaborative Leadership? What does collaborative leadership look like in a global society? At the societal level it's taking the best that all of us know and can do and putting it together in ways that help everyone.
Reflections on Respecting Differences
Quotations About the Importance of Respecting Differences I hope that you enjoy this collection of quotes about respecting differences. Notice how many different compelling reasons for respecting differences are included - some from unexpected sources! Toward no crime have men…
Leading For Ethical Performance
Discouraging Unethical Leadership The senior leaders in an organization need to work together to create an organization where ethical leadership is rewarded and unethical leadership is quickly corrected. To build an ethical organization over time, Chief Learning Officers can work with leaders throughout the organization to build ethical competence in areas that support effective communication and leadership.
10 Reasons to Embrace Complexity
Leading Through Complexity and Uncertainty In The Center For Creative Leadership's White Paper, The Future of Leadership Development, Nick Petrie describes the new work environment as "typified by an increased level of complexity and interconnectedness." This new work environment requires new leadership skills, including a willingness to lead when the situation is complex and the outcome uncertain.
150th Blog Post – Learning Out Loud
Humble Blog Beginnings The journey to a 150th blog post starts with a single post. This blog had a very humble beginning back in 2009. I had decided to start a blog and took a WordPress class at the University of Richmond. The possibilities were promising. Then came those nagging thoughts...
7 Reasons Ethics Matters in Brand Value
Customers shop globally now, and when they buy, they compare products more and more often based on ethics. In addition to shopping cautiously during the recession when money is tight, there's also a trend toward thinking about how each purchase impacts the global community and the planet.
Complexity, Creativity and Collaboration
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 in the organization. That involves giving up the notion that we are "right."
What is Creativity?
What is Creativity? In the leadership development world, creativity is getting a great deal of attention now. But what is it? Can you learn it? Is it a skill? How do we lead in ways that encourage it? This post begins to answer those important leadership questions. 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."
Ethical Leadership and…a Global Society
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.
5 Reasons Why Respect is an Ethical Issue
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 of as annoyances or different leadership styles are causing harm to people and businesses."
Developing Globally Responsible Leaders
Laws serve as minimum standards for society, but responsible leadership requires that we go well beyond those minimum standards. As the leaders who will help shape the future of our businesses and our societies through small actions and big decisions, we need a global sense of responsibility. This post explores what it means to be a globally responsible leader and what kinds of learning opportunities help leaders develop a global sense of responsibility.
Leading in Context 