Got Ethics? Are You Positive?

In spite of all the bad news you see in the media about ethics, we don't build ethical cultures by focusing on the negative. Let's face it - thinking about fraud, embezzlement and conflict of interest won't make us better leaders. But that's what many of us are focusing on in our organizations.

Leading the Conversation About Ethical Leadership

By Linda Fisher Thornton Dialogue is a powerful tool for developing ethical organizations. Workplace issues are complex and opinions will always vary about what ethical behavior means. This combination creates a kind of "murky uncertainty" that keeps employees from giving us their best, most ethical performance.

Building an Ethical Leadership Culture (Webcast)

By Linda Fisher Thornton I was recently invited to co-present an ASTD Public Manager Webcast “Developing Ethical Leaders and an Ethical Government Brand” with John Umana. While the Webcast which aired on March 19, 2013 was customized for government HR and Training leaders, the content is applicable across industries.

“Ethics” Means Acting Beyond Self-Interest

By Linda Fisher Thornton "Ethics" Means Acting Beyond Self-Interest Ethics is fundamentally about acting beyond our own self-interests. Can we be ethical without considering others and acting in ways that benefit them? Here are some interesting questions and quotes on the subject.

Why We Need A Strong Moral Center

As we deal with increasing work complexity, connection and speed, we need a strong moral center to guide us. We can think about it as having a strong character, being principle-centered, having integrity, or following an ethical compass. No matter what we call it, we need a strong moral foundation.

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.

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.

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.