We all know about Dr. King’s “I Have a Dream” speech, but here is a lesser known quote that can help guide us: “Cowardice asks the question, 'Is it safe?' Expediency asks the question, 'Is it politic?' Vanity asks the question, 'Is it popular?' But, conscience asks the question, 'Is it right?' And there comes a time when one must take a position that is … [Read more...] about Dr. King: “Do What Is Right”
Decision Making
Creating Your Ethical Laboratory
Most organizations are interested in developing an ethical workforce for a wide variety of reasons – from basic compliance concerns to performance issues. In a recent issue of Harvard Business Review, an article suggests that our development as ethical leaders is a lifelong evolution. Organizations can be very intentional about fostering that continuing development in a … [Read more...] about Creating Your Ethical Laboratory
Hail Knowledge and Reason!
Despite the real problems and challenges of our current day - which must be addressed - it can be helpful to take a long view of human progress. When we do this, as Steven Pinker does in his book, Enlightenment Now, we can see that amazing progress has been made in the world. In a broad set of categories including life expectancy, health, peace, knowledge, happiness, … [Read more...] about Hail Knowledge and Reason!
Good and Great
“Good is the enemy of great” Jim Collins famously wrote in his superb book, Good to Great. Collins points out that it is so easy to settle for “good,” that many people and organizations never become “great.” Collins makes an excellent point, but the relationship between “good” and “great” is actually more complex. Consider the personalities of the Perfectionist and the … [Read more...] about Good and Great
Leading with an Open Mind
How open minded are you, really? This is a question I have been asking myself since reading an interview with Adam Grant about his newest book, Think Again. In his interview with Inc. magazine, Grant explains that most of us spend our time in one of three different mind-sets: *Preacher Mode: Persuading others to your point of view. *Prosecutor Mode: Trying to prove … [Read more...] about Leading with an Open Mind