By Linda Fisher Thornton The purpose of leadership has been debated but most people would agree that it includes bringing out the best in people and organizations. Some of the ways we do this include trust building, supporting, guiding, coaching, team building and removing barriers to good work. While these leadership roles may seem low-key, they are the critical behaviors that lead to strong cultures and productive organizations.
Tag: leadership development
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.
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.
5 Things It’s Safe to Say To An Ethical Leader
You would need the 5 leaf clover pictured above to keep you out of trouble if you were to say these things to someone without strong ethical leadership. But these 5 things are pretty safe to say to an ethical leader.
Ethical Voices on Service
By Linda Fisher Thornton Ethics is fundamentally about thinking beyond ourselves, and service is an extension of that thinking. Service in leadership involves dedicating ourselves to the success of others.
Wishing You Peace
The Peace Paradox In this season of joy, it seems like a good time to reflect on what I call "The Peace Paradox." Peace is one of those things that requires reaching out. Just as we must extend trust to receive it from others, we must extend peace in order to receive it.
100 Trends to Watch For 2013
By Linda Fisher Thornton 100 Trends to Watch For 2013 As we head into 2013, the trend reports at the links below will give you a "business leader's preview" of what to expect in sectors that range from consumer trends,…
Honoring Human Rights is Essential
by Linda Fisher Thornton Human Rights and Morality Business leaders have a clear responsibility to honor universal human rights. In their article The Moral Foundations of Ethical Leadership in the Values Based Leadership Journal, Hester and Killian remind us that…
Differences or Inclusion – Which Are We Focusing On?
Diversity can be Divisive When we talk about diversity, we are noticing differences. That may not seem like a profound statement at first, but think about it for a moment. Diversity is about having different types of employees, right? And that's a good thing for productivity and innovation, isn't it? It is a good thing. But it's not enough. Managing diversity without inclusion as the ultimate goal can make a big difference in the way employees experience our organization.
5 More Ways to Avoid the “Rightness” Trap
By Linda Fisher Thornton 5 More Ways to Avoid the "Rightness" Trap The comments kept coming! Here here are 5 More Ways to Avoid the "Rightness" Trap based on social media responses to Is Needing to Be "Right" Unethical? They are each illustrated here with quotes.
Failure is Part of Innovation
By Linda Fisher Thornton To Innovate, Rethink the Blueprint If we just try to make something better using the design blueprint that we've always used, it is very difficult to innovate. Using the blueprint we have used in the past ties us to the assumptions and limitations of those blueprints.
Civility and Openness to Learning
By Linda Fisher Thornton Author's Note: In a previous post, Civility is an Ethical Issue, I explained why civility is an ethical issue. In this post I'll explore the connection between civility and openness to learning. Moving From Tolerance to Civility in Conversation It seems that "civility" has come to mean something closer to the word "tolerance" in everyday conversation. Civil behavior now seems to imply an aloof stance that doesn't step directly on anyone's toes, but that is not nearly enough. According to W. Jason Wallace, we should be "moral agents" who "share moral relationships."
What is the Greater Good?
What is the Greater Good? As leaders, we must think beyond our own interests to the interests of those we lead and serve, and the interests of communities and the world. We must take a long-term view, keeping in mind the broad effects of our day-to-day decisions. Many people refer to the "greater good" as an important part of leading ethically, and use different words to describe it. The descriptions collectively paint a picture of a responsibility to think beyond ourselves and to work for a better, inclusive society.
Collaborative Leadership in a Global Society
What is Collaborative Leadership? What does collaborative leadership look like in a global society? At the societal level it's taking the best that all of us know and can do and putting it together in ways that help everyone.
Reflections on Respecting Differences
Quotations About the Importance of Respecting Differences I hope that you enjoy this collection of quotes about respecting differences. Notice how many different compelling reasons for respecting differences are included - some from unexpected sources! Toward no crime have men…
Leading in Context 