Is accountability becoming even more important in 21st Century business? In an age of ubiquitous social media and cell-phone videos, Big Brother’s watchful eyes seem to loom large. Rudeness, politically incorrect slips of the tongue and outrageous conduct are digitally captured and immediately … [Read more...] about Accountability Essentials
Ethics
The Leadership Trust Deficit
Employees want consistency between their leaders’ words and actions. But only 11 percent strongly agree that their managers “walk the talk,” a 2011 Maritz poll reveals. Fairly or unfairly, leaders’ behaviors are magnified and weighted, including their values, work ethics, integrity and perceived … [Read more...] about The Leadership Trust Deficit
The End of Bad Leadership
Leaders everywhere are in disrepute. Hardly a day goes by without news of corporate ethical violations, financial fudging and CEO failures. Yet, compensation packages and bonuses continue unabated, even when disgraced leaders are sent packing. (photo courtesy freedigitalphotos.net) Harvard Business … [Read more...] about The End of Bad Leadership
The Truth About Dishonesty
"Morality, like art, means drawing a line somewhere." ~ Oscar Wilde Forbes Magazine calls a recent financial scandal "the shocking indictment of the culture of banks." This time it involves unethical, illegal fixing of financial markets by the great names of banking. Barclays has admitted guilt … [Read more...] about The Truth About Dishonesty
Office Gossip: How to Survive and Thrive
Working in some office environments is similar to reality TV, where participants are pitted against each other for survival of the cunning. If you work in an organizational culture where gossip and rumors run rampant, how can you navigate your way through it and thrive? In one sense, gossip is a … [Read more...] about Office Gossip: How to Survive and Thrive
Leadership Power, Politics and Persuasion
Some executives are uncomfortable using power or office politics, viewing them as the dark side of workplace behavior. They believe morale and commitment erode when politics dominate the environment. But research clearly shows that being politically savvy and building a power base pay … [Read more...] about Leadership Power, Politics and Persuasion
Ethical Slips and the Irresistible Urge to Cheat
Even with a solid foundation of good moral values, no one is immune to making unethical choices. Ethical slips and traps are rampant, from telling white lies that protect a friend, to ignoring a gut feeling and following orders when we know better. Not a month goes by without some highly … [Read more...] about Ethical Slips and the Irresistible Urge to Cheat
What’s Needed Next? Transparency & Trust
We need a better way to evaluate our business leaders, assert James O’Toole and Warren Bennis in a recent Harvard Business Review article (“A Culture of Candor,” June 2009). It’s no longer prudent to judge American corporate leaders’ performance solely on the extent to which they create wealth for … [Read more...] about What’s Needed Next? Transparency & Trust
Bullies in the Workplace
The fact that the phrase "going postal" has become common workplace jargon is a significant commentary. While workplace murders and assaults are in the media, far more frequent are incidents of bullying and intimidation. Often it is accepted as poor management style: an overbearing boss or … [Read more...] about Bullies in the Workplace
Finding True Meaning at Work
"Without work all life goes rotten- but when work is soulless, life stifles and dies." - Albert Camus Recently there has been discussion among consultants, business owners and CEOs about the search for soul in the workplace. While most agree that religion is not an appropriate topic to approach … [Read more...] about Finding True Meaning at Work