By Linda Fisher Thornton Ignoring complexity reduces the number of variables considered in a decision. That may seem convenient (see last week's post) but it also removes the nuanced thinking that is necessary for ethical decision making. With all the information available in a socially connected world, it is easy to fall victim to the quick oversimplified understanding of issues. This "quick glance" way of gathering information doesn't reveal the breadth and depth of what's really going on.
Tag: 7 Lenses
Trust: The Force That Drives Results
By Linda Fisher Thornton When leaders trust and are trustworthy, this brings out their best and fuels a virtuous cycle that brings out the best in others and releases the potential of the organization for great performance. Ethical Leaders Are Trustworthy and They Choose to Trust Others When we choose to trust, we access a higher level of capacity in ourselves and our organizations. When we are consistently trustworthy, people know they can count on us to support their success. How Does Trust Drive Results? Once thought by business leaders to be "soft," trust is now proven to be a "results-changer." Here is a sampling of the many ways trust transforms organizations:
Ethical Leaders Don’t Put the Brakes on Learning
By Linda Fisher Thornton When leaders stop learning, they generate friction. Professionals who work with a leader who has "put the brakes on learning" are likely to experience conflict and dissatisfaction. A leader's failure to learn starts a chain reaction that harms individuals and teams.
TAP Into Trust With These 12 Principles
By Linda Fisher Thornton Every organization needs to pay attention to trust. It improves metrics including productivity, employee satisfaction and ethical brand value. It makes organizations better places to work where people want to invest time and plan careers.
Why Ethical Thinking Matters (Part 3)
By Linda Fisher Thornton To celebrate 7 Lenses going into its second printing, this is the third post in a special series focused on Why Ethical Thinking Matters. In case you missed them, take a look at Why Ethical Thinking Matters (Part 1) and Why Ethical Thinking Matters (Part 2). I’m hoping the strategies shared in this series will give you a fresh perspective on your plans for developing leaders in 2018. You may already realize that ethical thinking is important, and if you do, I ask you to spread the word. To help you champion the cause in your organizations and on social media, I have included the business case below.
Top 10 Posts 2017: Leading in Context Blog
By Linda Fisher Thornton Of the 52 posts published on the Leading in Context Blog in 2017, these 10 were the most popular. See if you notice a theme that connects these topics that readers accessed most frequently:
Rethinking “Smart” Leadership in an Ethical Context
By Linda Fisher Thornton This week I'm looking at what it means to be a "smart" leader through the 7 Lenses (introduced in the book 7 Lenses) to get the full ethical context. Take note: You can do this with any idea, concept or project to better understand the ethical nuances.
The “Less Than” Fallacy
By Linda Fisher Thornton Anytime we think about another person or group as "less than," or treat another person or group as "less than," we are unethical. It's very simple, really. We are all human, and as humans, we all have rights and dignity. We all have a right to be here and to be treated with respect and fairness.
The Rise of Pay to Play
By Linda Fisher Thornton It is sometimes difficult to sort out "pay to play" awards (you pay someone to say good things about you and give you an icon to put on your website) from legitimate awards (the judging process is objective -- if you win you have actually earned it). "Pay to Play" is On the Rise
What is the Current State of Business Ethics?
By Linda Fisher Thornton
I met with faculty members and students at Plymouth State University on October 3rd on the topic of "Decoding the Complexity of Doing the Right Thing." They had lots of questions, including the one answered in this video, "What it the Current State of Business Ethics?" This is a question that is 'top of mind' for many people as this year draws to a close.
Ethical Leadership is a “Fear-Free” Zone
By Linda Fisher Thornton
Fear is insidious. It changes how we see the world and how we treat others. Here are 5 important reasons why fear has no place in our workplaces, our families or our communities:
117 Trends to Watch in 2017
By Linda Fisher Thornton
There are many changes in progress that will impact your leadership and your business this year. Get settled in and take a look at (more than) 100 trends that should be on your radar in 2016:
Is Spam An Ethical Red Flag?
By Linda Fisher Thornton
Consumers expect companies to respect boundaries. That allows them to live happy and meaningful lives without intrusion from companies that want them to "buy right now."
Is Our Ethics Who We Are Or What We Do?
By Linda Fisher Thornton
This week's question is about what defines our ethics - "Is our ethics based on who we are or what we do?" Some people would argue that we have a persona, a manner, either ethical or not. Others would say that it is our decisions and actions that define how ethical we are, and therefore our ethicality changes from moment to moment.
Ready to Change the Ethics Quo (For Good)? – Part 3
By Linda Fisher Thortnton
The first post in this series addressed ACCOUNTABILITY. The second asked you to evaluate your IMPACT. These four ways to Change the Ethics Quo (For Good) focus on MANAGING THE SYSTEM.
Leading in Context 