Systems Are Not Linear When solving complex business problems, it helps to remember that systems (including organizations) are not linear. Thinking of them as linear leads to easier one-dimensional decisions but ignores these things that we know about systems: systems are dynamic systems are adaptive systems have complex contexts (they connect with many other systems) Unintended Consequences of Linear Problem-Solving
Category: Ethical Leader
5 Unethical Phrases: Refusing to Change
Leading ethically requires staying competent as a professional and as a leader. The speed of change in today's global economy may cause leaders to fall behind even while they are diligently working to stay on top of trends and industry knowledge. These 5…
5 Unethical Phrases: Ignoring Boundaries
Boundaries can be simply described as lines that we don't cross when doing business. Respecting these (sometimes clear, sometimes hazy) boundaries is an important part of today's ethical leadership. The 5 phrases below signal that the speaker is ignoring an important ethical boundary:…
5 Ethics Reports and One Message: Ethics Matters
The Ethics Resource Center has posted a collection of 5 well-written ethical leadership research briefs on its website. Ethics.org The research briefs address issues in ethical business leadership including employee engagement, trust, culture, risk management, and generational differences. For more, see new book 7 Lenses and…
Ethical Business Leaders Think Longer-Term
Author's Note: The last two Leading in Context™ blog posts have focused on the negative implications of using short-term thinking in business leadership. This post provides resources for leaders who want to learn more about using longer-term thinking in decision-making.
The Financial Crisis and the Sustainability Crisis Have a Common Cause
How are the financial crisis and the sustainability crisis connected? They are both fueled by large numbers of business people simultaneously using a narrow, short-term view of their responsibilities. A short-term view is thinking that is narrowly focused on accomplishing short-range internal company goals and fails to consider the impact of business choices beyond the company's walls and beyond the current financial reporting period.
Ethical Office Supplies:Ethical Product Rankings Make Comparisons Easier
Are You Using Ethical Office Supplies? The products you choose can help define you as an ethical business. It is becoming easier to choose ethical office products using websites that rank product ethics. The Good Office Guide 2008 - This guide includes detailed ethics ratings for…
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Sustainability is a Mindset, Not a Job
Many businesses are gearing up for sustainability by adding a position to oversee it. Will adding a position without changing the way decisions are made actually lead to sustainable business practices within the organization? It turns out that sustainable CEOs are making…
Ethical Leadership Resources. LeadinginContext™.com
Free Business Ethics Resources that provide a clear, up-to-date context for leading responsibly have been added to the Leading in Context LLC website under "Resources." A Case Study for Leaders that addresses a common problem - senior management not listening to the concerns of other business leaders in the…
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Ethical Leadership Matters Now, More Than Ever
Linda Fisher Thornton's Guest Column that appeared in Monday's Richmond Times Dispatch explains the quickly changing landscape of ethical leadership, why the ethical leadership movement is gaining momentum, and why ethical leadership matters now, more than ever. "Ethical Leadership Matters Now, More…
Dealing With Chemicals: A Corporate Plan
Chemistry is not just confounding high school students these days. Corporate leaders are dealing with the complications of using chemicals in an age where responsible leadership practices are expected, and where businesses are held accountable for how they impact consumer health and the environment.…
The Bottom-Line Benefits of Sustainability (Written By a CFO)
Selling the sustainability mindset within your organization may require some preparation and persistence. Not all C-suite leaders may be convinced that sustainability will pay off for the company in the long run, and CFOs may be particularly hard to convince. Kurt Kuehn…
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The Sustainability Mindset
There is a completely new mindset required to navigate the complex issues of our time. Sustainability is a word that is being used to describe the practice of operating as if our impact on the world and its resources truly matters…
Leadership and…Ethical Brand Value
Brand Value is more important than ever, and ethical leadership is an important part of it. Trendwatching.com's April free briefing (so check it out soon!) is called "Brand Butlers: Why Serving is the New Selling." Here is an excerpt: With…
Leadership and…Effectiveness: Does Multitasking Work?
According to scientists, continual multitasking doesn't work. It rewires the brain to expect everything to be handled in short spans of time. It restricts the amount of focused brain energy that we can use to get our work done. You…
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