Ethics 101: What Every Leader Needs to Know
Ethics 101: What Every Leader Needs to Know
By: John C. Maxwell
Ethical standards in business are important for every leader to know and understand. The book Ethics 101: What Every Leader Needs to Know by: John C. Maxwell discusses ethics in the world today. When people make unethical choices, the reason they do because of three main pitfalls. People do what is most convenient to them, people tend to do what they must do to win, and people rationalize their choices with relativism. In this summary, Maxwell’s definition of business ethics will be framed, examples of ethical standards and guidelines, the meaning and contrast of ethical thinking and ethical behavior, and how to avoid these major pitfalls to live an ethical life. The author’s definition of ethics is very basic and straightforward. “There’s no such thing as business ethics – there’s only ethics. People try to use one set of ethics for their professional life, another for their spiritual life, and still another at home with their family. That gets them in trouble. Ethics is ethics. If you desire to be ethical, you live it by one standard across the board.” (Maxwell, 1) Maxwell names this one standard as “The Golden Rule.” An ultimate goal to be used to guide and to help people find the way to live and work ethically and in doing so, achieve greater success in their lives. To begin the path to “The Golden Rule” each individual must look at how they chose to live their lives in any aspect of their life. To start this thought, think about the way you as an individual want to be treated. People want to feel valued. “There isn’t a person in the world who doesn’t want to be valued by others.” (Maxwell, 29) Secondly, people want to feel that they are appreciated. To start this effort, let people know they are appreciated by thanking them for all of
their efforts at every possible moment. Thirdly, people want to be trusted by others. “To be trusted is a greater compliment than to be loved.” (Maxwell, 32)
By: John C. Maxwell
Ethical standards in business are important for every leader to know and understand. The book Ethics 101: What Every Leader Needs to Know by: John C. Maxwell discusses ethics in the world today. When people make unethical choices, the reason they do because of three main pitfalls. People do what is most convenient to them, people tend to do what they must do to win, and people rationalize their choices with relativism. In this summary, Maxwell’s definition of business ethics will be framed, examples of ethical standards and guidelines, the meaning and contrast of ethical thinking and ethical behavior, and how to avoid these major pitfalls to live an ethical life. The author’s definition of ethics is very basic and straightforward. “There’s no such thing as business ethics – there’s only ethics. People try to use one set of ethics for their professional life, another for their spiritual life, and still another at home with their family. That gets them in trouble. Ethics is ethics. If you desire to be ethical, you live it by one standard across the board.” (Maxwell, 1) Maxwell names this one standard as “The Golden Rule.” An ultimate goal to be used to guide and to help people find the way to live and work ethically and in doing so, achieve greater success in their lives. To begin the path to “The Golden Rule” each individual must look at how they chose to live their lives in any aspect of their life. To start this thought, think about the way you as an individual want to be treated. People want to feel valued. “There isn’t a person in the world who doesn’t want to be valued by others.” (Maxwell, 29) Secondly, people want to feel that they are appreciated. To start this effort, let people know they are appreciated by thanking them for all of
their efforts at every possible moment. Thirdly, people want to be trusted by others. “To be trusted is a greater compliment than to be loved.” (Maxwell, 32)