Modeling Ethical Leadership and Behavior

It is simultaneously a burden and an opportunity for us as leaders to model ethical behavior. It is a burden in that we must work hard to ensure that we are using the highest ethics. it is an opportunity in that by using ethical behavior brings out the best in us and those we lead.

200th Blog Post – Learning at the Speed of Life

By Linda Fisher Thornton In my 150th Blog Post, I wrote about starting a blog and being new to the process of Learning Out Loud. To celebrate my 200th post, I want to reflect on what it's been like to learn new things faster than I ever thought possible. It seems especially clear to me now that we all have capabilities we're not using in our day to day lives. But imagine what could happen if we believed we could make a difference, lurched toward that goal unsteadily, and then just held on for the ride.

Developing the Ethical Leader of the Future

by Linda Fisher Thornton On Thursday, I spoke about The Future of Ethics and Business Leadership at the Richmond SHRM Strategic Leadership Conference. My lens was leadership development - how to help leaders be ready to lead ethically in a highly complex, connected future. Here are some success principles for developing "Ethical Leader Future:"

What Does Ethical Consumerism Mean for Business?

What is Ethical Consumerism? Ethical consumerism means that more customers are choosing to purchase goods that are ethically sourced, ethically made and ethically distributed. In her article "Ethical Consumerism and Conservatism: Hand in Glove" in the Heinz Journal, Jacqueline Payne describes the ethical consumer this way:

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.

Social Media for “Good”

The 5 reasons to engage in social media describe how social media can benefit us as leaders who are learning in complex times, but that's only one dimension of the benefit of connected communication through social media. In this post I'll explore some of the ways social media can be used for "good."

The Adaptability Paradox

The well worn path that we have followed for years is easy to follow. We know the rules, the processes, the tools, the pitfalls and all other aspects of that path. Our comfort with that path makes it harder for us to see that even though the 'way we have always done things' has led us to success in the past, it may not in the future.

Top 100 Thinkers in Management, Leadership and Business

It is no surprise that there is not just one list of thinkers in management, leadership and business. There are many, and they vary in scope and topic. Here is a wonderful sampling of some of the top thinkers that impact business, management and responsible leadership:

2011 Most Ethical Companies

Which companies are the world's most ethical? It depends on who you ask! Three reports posted at Ethisphere.com, MillwardBrown.com and Forbes.com reveal their rankings. Ethisphere's World's Most Ethical Companies 2011 at Ethisphere.com organizes the mostethical companies by industry and country. Ethics Impacts Top Brand Value The Forbes Top Brands Report at Forbes.com lets us choose how you want to see the rankings by clicking the term at the top of the table. You may choose to rank based on Trust, Ethical Leadership, Innovation, Revenue, Advertising Spending or Industry. It's interesting to see the names change when you compare the revenue rankings to the ethical leadership rankings.

Leading in Context® Blog Index

Thank you for being committed to responsible leadership, and for following the Leading in Context® Blog. This Index includes over 100 posts that I have written on a wide variety of subjects related to responsible leadership. ... May they help you be successful on your leadership journey. Linda Fisher Thornton, CEO/Owner, Leading in Context LLC, LeadinginContext®.com © 2009-2011 Leading in Context LLC. All rights reserved.

de Klerk’s Powerful Message: Conquering Fear in The Quest for a Shared Future

I was honored to have the opportunity to hear F. W. de Klerk speak in person last week when he visited the University of Richmond and spoke at the Jepson Leadership Forum about his role in ending apartheid in South Africa. In his remarks he said many powerful things about leadership in a global society. The one that struck a chord with me most was about "radical change."