Expediency, Exigency, and Ethics

I think it is accurate to state that most of us would say that we live our lives according to an ethical standard. That standard includes such moral virtues as honesty, respect, fairness, etc. Yet, the Ethical conduct of our life is constantly under pressure to bend to the needs of Exigency and Expediency. Three ‘E’ words that make all the difference in how we live and conduct our lives. It is better to live right, and to choose right in advance of exigency than to allow expediency to prevail and push you into actions opposed to your values.

For more on this check out the short video below:

 

Apologize

There is very little that is as effective in shutting down criticism as a simple apology. Saying you are sorry, and genuinely meaning it, is a powerful tool real leaders are willing to use in their pursuit of larger goals. If you can say, “I’m sorry” and mean it, and then learn from the experience, your credibility grows, as does your influence. If, instead, you try to cover up your mistakes or blame them on others, or the circumstances, you are effectively giving away your power and weakening your credibility; you are undermining yourself even though you may think you are presenting a strong position.

For more on this check out the short video below:

Hire People Smarter Than Yourself

Hiring people who are smarter than you are seems counterintuitive. It seems like, as leader, you should know more than those you employ, about every aspect of the job. That, however, would be wrong, especially in the current age in which we live. Hiring people smarter than you will be difficult if you think you are the smartest person in the room. However, if you can get over yourself, you will soon realize there are a lot of areas where you don’t know the answers. Smart leaders hire even smarter workers who can help the organization move forward.

For more on this check out the short video below:

Posture

You might not think it but when your parents told you to “sit up straight” and “quit slouching,” they were doing you a much bigger favor than you imagined. The reason for this is that we form opinions about people in the first three seconds of meeting them. Although not usually part of a conscious process, the awareness of a person’s posture, and general overall carriage is a strong factor in our first opinions. A person with an upright and erect posture is presenting themselves as someone who has a strong sense of personal worth and confidence.

For more on this check out the short video below: