You wouldn’t believe the absurdity. Not too long ago, I was in a ballroom full of people, who were all there to practice creating solutions to ethical problems, using a case study.
For clarification, “ethical problems” involve lying, cheating, and stealing. Ethical problems are the undoing of most leaders these days; just read the daily news. In my experience, most of us struggle using ethics to solve problems, because we just don’t have the strength to have the conversation with our friends, with our boss, with our clients, to come around to doing the right thing.
In this case study, we were sales executives who had just submitted a proposal on a piece of business that would have meant a lot of revenue for our company. Then, the Boss comes in, and says, “Hey, we just learned about some new competition. We need you to cut your price, and your delivery time, in half and resubmit the proposal. We need to win! In six months down the road, we’ll be deep into it, and we can renegotiate and charge the difference. The client really won’t have a choice, and everybody does that anyway.”
Well after a full hour, none of these people in the ballroom to come to a single, satisfying ethical solution to that clearly ethical problem. No one had the strength, the language, nor the process to properly challenge the Boss’s orders and create a win-win solution. They didn’t have the metrics necessary for success, to have the strength to come up with a “Wow!” solution that involves truth, that is right and good.
Instead of complaining about weak leaders in our church, our government, or let alone in business, I’m involved with the Authentic Leadership Foundation, to build strong leaders among our youth and adults. We need leaders of character to make difficult decisions, and do great things. We do this by showing leaders interested in growth how to be as certain about the language the process and the metrics of leadership, as they are certain that 7 + 3 = 10.
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Join us for a compelling discussion with Gabe Moreno, President of Bishop Dunne Catholic School and an esteemed partner of the Authentic Leadership Foundation. Gain valuable perspectives on leadership, education, and inspiring others to fulfill their potential.
Read MoreThe Authentic Leadership Foundation is excited to announce that five-time MLB All-Star and Kansas City Royals Hall of Famer Mike Sweeney will be the keynote speaker at our Bring Out the Greatness 2024! event on December 9. Known for his integrity and dedication both on and off the field, Sweeney embodies authentic leadership, mentoring young athletes as a special assistant to the Royals’ GM and inspiring others through his work with the San Diego Saints and the Mike and Shara Sweeney Family Foundation. Join us for an evening of inspiration as Mike shares his insights on leading with humility, integrity, and purpose, helping all of us bring out our own greatness.
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