Management Insight: A lot of what’s said about dealing with a bad dad applies to a bad boss.

by Michael Josephson on June 16, 2013

WHAT IF YOU HAD A BAD DAD? (See other “real” observations on the most important relationships in your life and a treasure of other quotes and posts at www.whatwillmatter.com). Some dad’s are/were genuinely great – worthy of praise and gratitude. Others were or are outright jerks or villains. Most fall somewhere between these extremes. How well you did in the dad lottery is something you had no influence on. [click to continue…]

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MANAGEMENT INSIGHT: “People don’t always remember what to say or what you do but they always remember how you made them feel.” Maya Angelou

June 15, 2013 Uncategorized

After an interaction with you are your employees more or less empowered  and engaged? Do they feel good about the conversation or are they just glad its over? A good manager finds the words and tone to encourage and inspire. Most simply criticize or give instructions.

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MANAGEMENT INSIGHT: An assertion I made in a presentation to ethics and compliance professionals at a conference held by the Society of corporate Compliance and Ethics:

June 10, 2013 Business Ethics

“Someone with the authority to reduce unacceptable risks already knows about but accepts or looks the other way at conduct that should be eliminated. Those people ought to do or lose their jobs.”  Looking the other way simply

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ETHICS INSIGHT: THE NATURE OF TRUST

June 9, 2013 Beyond Compliance

Trust is built like a tower of stones, one stone at a time.  But when a trusted person lies or breaks a promise it doesn’t just diminish the tower by removing stones from the top, it demolishes it by removing stones from the bottom. Once a person has betrayed a trust, even in a small [...]

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Business Ethics Insight: As former U.S. Supreme Court Justice Potter Stewart once said, “There is a big difference between what one has a right to do and what is right to do.”

June 5, 2013 Business Ethics

The notion that if an act is permissible it is ipso facto proper is a common self delusional misconception but a nonstarter in the world of journalists, ethicists and discerning citizens. – Michael Josephson

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Ethics and Compliance Programs Don’t Work!

June 5, 2013 Beyond Compliance

If that assertion jars or offends you, can you prove otherwise? Okay, I realize if I want to constructively impact the movement to increase the ethical behavior of corporations and government agencies, I realize it’s not a good idea to trash all the good work done by a growing army of foot soldiers whose job [...]

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A Leadership Challenge: Putting More Ethics Into Your Compliance Program

June 5, 2013 Beyond Compliance

Though much greater attention has been paid in recent years to the “ethics” side of organizations’ compliance and ethics offices, the simple fact is that very few have truly recognized the inherent limitations of a compliance program that is not visibly and pervasively anchored in ethical principles like integrity, fairness and responsibility. Consequently, beyond providing [...]

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How Organizations Undermine Their Ethics/Compliance Programs With a Cynical Lie.

June 5, 2013 Beyond Compliance

Most organizations require employees to sign a statement (often annually) that they have read and understand the organizations Code or Standards of Conduct. In fact, as everyone knows, almost no one has ever read

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BUSINESS ETHICS INSIGHT: There are two ways to approach business: 1) focus creativity on how much you can give for a dollar or 2) focus creativity on how much of the dollar you can retain for yourself. Sustainable success is more likely to come to those adopting the first approach. -Michael Josephson

May 28, 2013 Business Ethics
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QUOTES & OBSERVATIONS: It’s easy to find people who understand costs; the challenge is to find people who understand values. -Michael Josephson

May 28, 2013 Quotes, Observations
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MANAGEMENT INSIGHT: Good managers make intelligent exceptions to rules despite claims that they are unfair. Good leaders make exceptions to rules in a way that that convinces everyone how fair they are. -Michael Josephson

May 28, 2013 Insights
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QUOTES & OBSERVATIONS: In the business world, everyone is paid in two coins: cash and experience. Take the experience first; the cash will come later. -Harold Geneen

May 28, 2013 Quotes, Observations
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QUOTES & OBSERVATIONS: Formula for success: do what you do better than anyone else; then do what you do even better; then do more of it. -Michael Josephson

May 28, 2013 Quotes, Observations
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MANAGEMENT INSIGHT: Letting your customers set your standards is a dangerous game, because the race to the bottom is pretty easy to win. Setting your own standards–and living up to them–is a better way to profit. Not to mention a better way to make your day worth all the effort you put into it. -Seth Godin

May 28, 2013 Insights
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LEADERSHIP INSIGHT: Writers and bloggers (including me) often stress the difference between what it means to be a leader and a boss or even a leader and a manager. The fact is, however, that anyone with the positional authority and the responsibility to achieve certain results has to have a broad array of personal relationship skills and strategies.

May 25, 2013 Insights

Just as good golfers know how to use an array of clubs to get them to the hole, good leaders know how to use an array of relationship styles and strategies to get them to their goal.  But what makes the  good golfer and  good leader great  is knowing which club to use. – Michael [...]

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Boss vs. Leader: A boss directs from behind; a leader is in front. (click to see image)

May 24, 2013 Insights
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Thumbnail image for LEADERSHIP INSIGHT: A leader’s role is to raise people’s aspirations for what they can become and to release their energies so they will try to get there. -David R. Gergen

LEADERSHIP INSIGHT: A leader’s role is to raise people’s aspirations for what they can become and to release their energies so they will try to get there. -David R. Gergen

May 2, 2013 Insights
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Thumbnail image for MANAGEMENT INSIGHT: The quality of a man’s life is in direct proportion to his commitment to excellence, regardless of his chosen field of endeavor. -Vince Lombardi

MANAGEMENT INSIGHT: The quality of a man’s life is in direct proportion to his commitment to excellence, regardless of his chosen field of endeavor. -Vince Lombardi

April 23, 2013 Insights
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Michael Josephson interviewed in Compliance & Ethics Professional magazine

March 14, 2013 Beyond Compliance

Just released: an extensive interview with Michael Josephson in the most recent issue of Compliance & Ethics Professional. The magazine, published by the Minneapolis-based Society of Corporate Compliance & Ethics, looks at how corporate ethics programs address a variety of workplace issues. Michael outlines the Josephson Institute’s “beyond compliance” approach and discusses his background and unique [...]

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Leadership Insight: Guard your integrity. It’s the foundation of your character and reputation.

March 11, 2013 Beyond Compliance

The temptations to smooth out your life by looking the other way, lying just a little and making false excuses, are plentiful and powerful but the damage they do to your integrity may be permanent. Just as teenagers sometimes jeopardize their opportunity for a good life by a short-term decision to have a good time, [...]

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