The Week In Ethics Blog

Marathon Runners and Lessons of Resilience

Author: Gael O'Brien

Marathon Runners and Lessons of Resilience

Tuesday, April 22, 2014

The 2014 Boston Marathon grew into a symbol. It wasn’t just a race; it was about facing down hate and destruction with community and courage. It showed how runners, spectators, individuals and families affected by the 2013 bombing at the Marathon finish line handled tragedy and came to embody and teach resilience. It is also […]

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Marathon Runners and Lessons of Resilience

The 2014 Boston Marathon grew into a symbol. It wasn’t just a race; it was about facing down hate and destruction with community and courage. It showed how runners, spectators, individuals and families affected by the 2013 bombing at the Marathon finish line handled tragedy and came to embody and teach resilience. It is also […]

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GM’s New CEO

Thursday, February 13, 2014

Update: March 27, 2014, GM CEO Mary Barra will testify before Congress next week, answering questions about consumer safety and the process (a decade before she became CEO) of how GM handled faulty ignitions without recalling cars impacted (which resulted in at least 12 deaths). NYT piece speculating about what in GM culture might have […]

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Why Purpose Matters to Leaders

Friday, January 24, 2014

Leaders who unite their teams around a purpose beyond creating profit redefine what is possible. They show a road map for how collectively each person can have a positive impact on customers, an industry, community, and society. The lens these leaders hold up allows individuals to see how they can make a difference, a key […]

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Why Purpose Matters to Leaders

Leaders who unite their teams around a purpose beyond creating profit redefine what is possible. They show a road map for how collectively each person can have a positive impact on customers, an industry, community, and society. The lens these leaders hold up allows individuals to see how they can make a difference, a key […]

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Is Ethical Leadership Contagious?

Wednesday, July 24, 2013

If you were trying to foster ethical leadership in your organization, could anything make it “contagious?” For starters, labeling it as “ethical leadership” might not take you as far as you’d like. How often do people say they are on board, “get it” and don’t need more?  While they might be willing to read about […]

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Peace, Education, Equality and Malala Yousafzai

Monday, July 15, 2013

“Let us pick up our books and pens; they are our most powerful weapons,” Malala Yousafzai told the United Nations General Assembly on July 12, 2013. Her compelling 17-minute speech advocated for peace, education and equality around the world so that schools and education can be “every child’s bright future.” What is especially remarkable about […]

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Wisdom in Action, Andrew Pochter and Martin Richard

Saturday, July 13, 2013

Our individual wisdom is what shapes our leadership and determines our humanity. It comes out of how we see, feel and interpret joys and sorrow in life and what we’ve learned from others. How we live and act on our wisdom is our legacy, a true measure of how we inspire and impact others. The […]

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Leadership Lessons at American Academy of Arts and Sciences

Tuesday, June 18, 2013

 The integrity of the leader of an honorary society for independent public policy — founded  in 1780 during the American Revolution — is  under question as a result of misrepresentations on her resume and criticisms from former employees over her bullying, micromanaging management style. While there is never a good moment for negative media attention, it is coming at a particularly awkward […]

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Words Conveying Empowering Values Falling Out of Use

Wednesday, May 22, 2013

Words matter. We know that from the impact they can have on us. And the reaction our words can have on others. Words can package the fuel that inspire us to behave in a way that brings out the best in ourselves and in others. Using words like “courage,” “decency,” “honesty,” “conscience,” “patience,” “compassion,” and […]

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Can Trees Teach Us About Ethical Behavior?

The answer is yes in ways we don’t necessarily think about which means we’re missing out. They also teach us about happiness and resiliency. Global Citizen reminds us that trees “provide all life on Earth with oxygen, combat climate change, generate food and shelter, clean the air and soil, foster vibrant ecosystems, etc…” “In fact, […]

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The Key to Thriving in Uncertain Times

This article was first published in Business Ethics Magazine on March 19, 2023. How can managers (or anyone) increase their ability to thrive amid 2023’s uncertainties and business challenges? It turns out the answer may be science-based: the result of more than eight decades of longitudinal research by the Harvard Study of Adult Development. The key […]

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Improve Work Cultures Through Friendships at Work

Years ago, when my then-company asked employees to take Gallup’s engagement survey, I was surprised by one of the questions: “I have a best friend at work.” I wondered why that mattered in a work culture. When I became a better leader because of a work friendship, I understood. However, some executives have been slow […]

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Gael’s coaching and consulting made me aware of three issues that were holding me back from personal and business growth: I reexamined my approach to problem solving, how to attract and develop peak performers in my organization in the right positions, and how to develop my leadership skills to a higher level…..”

Steve Doty
CEO, Peerless Block and Brick Company, and former Chairman
National Concrete Masonry Association