By Linda Fisher Thornton This week I am honored to share with you an Expert Interview that I did for the John Mattone Blog at JohnMattone.com. This interview explores my business journey and includes advice for leaders about learning and applying ethical leadership. It addresses issues that concern leaders including: qualities of ethical leaders the multidimensional nature of ethical leadership learning ethical thinking identifying ethical leaders measuring leadership success
Category: Ethical Thinking
The Triple Bottom Line Is Just The Beginning
By Linda Fisher Thornton Many organizations are still talking about the triple bottom line (Profits, People, Planet) as if it's the standard for ethical business. While it's a great improvement over focusing on profit alone, the triple bottom line doesn't reflect the current expectations of customers, employees and global markets.
What is “Harm?” (It Depends On Your Perspective)
By Linda Fisher Thornton Leaders interpret "harm" according to the perspective on ethical leadership they are using to make decisions. They may consider harm narrowly (only what would harm them) or broadly (what would harm others and society). At its most narrow, harm could be interpreted as harming me or my company's profitability.
The Future of Learning Isn’t About “Knowing”
By Linda Fisher Thornton If we want to prepare leaders to handle complex challenges, we need to move beyond shallow approaches that focus on knowledge building. We need to help leaders learn to think deeply (beyond symptoms to complex, systemic causes) and broadly across disciplines as they work to meet the needs of multiple stakeholders. To accomplish this, the way we approach learning must change.
We’re All Padawan Learners
By Linda Fisher Thornton Have you ever noticed that no matter how many times the forces of good overcome the forces of evil in the Star Wars movies, there is always another challenge? There is never a moment when the characters "arrive" and are exempt from ethical challenges.
Being Thankful is a Virtue
By Linda Fisher Thornton Cicero's quote reminds us that before we can act on the important virtues that create a just society, we must see the world with a thankful heart.
What is Ethical Thinking?
By Linda Fisher Thornton Today I'm taking you inside the mind of the ethical leader to explore ethical thinking. Inside the Mind of an Ethical Leader “I make decisions based on values, not money pressures.” “I need to constantly learn in order to stay ethical.”
Do Differences of Opinion Set Off Your Threat Detector?
By Linda Fisher Thornton Differences of opinion can be inconvenient and uncomfortable. We may be in a discussion with someone who has very different views from ours, on a topic of great importance to us. How we handle it shows others the inner workings of our character.
“Is It Ethical?” (Decision Tool Based on the Book 7 Lenses)
By Linda Fisher Thornton A new ethical decision-making tool is available for readers of 7 Lenses!
Is Ethics a Body of Knowledge? (No! It’s a Process of Human Growth.)
By Linda Fisher Thornton If you think ethical awareness is about knowledge and learning, think again. Knowledge and learning are only useful in ethics if we are open to receiving them, open to shifting our perspective, and open to changing our minds.
Leaders: Check Your Motivation, Your Authenticity and Your Ethics
By Linda Fisher Thornton If we are leading others, we need to be asking the questions of leadership - about our motivation, our authenticity and our ethics.
Where Is Ethical Leadership Found?
By Linda Fisher Thornton While it may be convenient to think about ethical leadership as a task, a program, or a rule book, that's not where it lives.
Reader Question: Why Did You Include Profit as One of the 7 Lenses?
By Linda Fisher Thornton Recently, a 7 Lenses reader told me she loved the leadership book but she had one question - "Why did I include Profit in the 7 Lenses?" This is a question that has come up before, so I will address it in today's post.
What is Positive Leadership?
By Linda Fisher Thornton Positive leadership is a new term that is popping up regularly in articles. What does it mean? What kind of leadership do we describe as positive?
5 Warning Signs Of Oversimplified Ethics
By Linda Fisher Thornton Leaders and organizations can get into real trouble if they oversimplify ethics. Some examples of what that might look like include lonely ethics statements (that look good on paper but are not brought to life) and grand statements (that are vague and not well understood). Here are 5 warning signs to watch for that signal an oversimplified approach to ethics:
Leading in Context 