When solving a difficult problem, it's easy to get carried away and begin attacking people instead of the problem. When we attack issues, we are more respectful. When we attack people, our thinking narrows.
Category: Ethical Leader
Leadership and… Language: Business Leadership and the Words We Choose
Ethical leadership language focuses on the positive, recognizes that organizations are systems, and is inclusive.
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 ethics in ways that…
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Ethical Leadership: Perceptions of “Different” Impact Our Behavior
"DIFFERENT" How we think as leaders directly impacts our behavior. It compels us to act based on the value judgements we make. Today's post focuses on how we perceive "different," how 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 global economy may cause leaders to fall 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 as lines that we don't cross when doing business. Respecting these (sometimes clear, sometimes hazy) boundaries is an important part of today's ethical leadership. The 5 phrases 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 a collection of 5 well-written ethical leadership research briefs on its website. Ethics.org The research briefs address issues in ethical business leadership including employee engagement, trust, culture, risk management, and generational differences. For more, see new book 7 Lenses and…
Ethical Business Leaders Think Longer-Term
Author's Note: The last two Leading in Context™ 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.
Ethical Office Supplies:Ethical Product Rankings Make Comparisons Easier
Are You Using Ethical Office Supplies? The products you choose can help define you as an ethical business. It is becoming easier to choose ethical office products using websites that rank product ethics. The Good Office Guide 2008 - 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 made actually lead to sustainable business practices within the organization? It turns out that sustainable CEOs are making…
Ethical Leadership Resources. LeadinginContext™.com
Free Business Ethics Resources that provide a clear, up-to-date context for leading responsibly have been added to the Leading in Context LLC website under "Resources." A Case Study for Leaders that addresses a common problem - senior management not listening to the concerns of other business leaders in the…
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Ethical Leadership Matters Now, More Than Ever
Linda Fisher Thornton's Guest Column that appeared in Monday's Richmond Times Dispatch explains the quickly changing landscape of ethical leadership, why the ethical leadership movement is gaining momentum, and why ethical leadership matters now, more than ever. "Ethical Leadership Matters Now, More…
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