This business life....

Like I was saying....

I've been talking with business leaders and educators this past month about genuinely ethical leadership. Like I was saying earlier, almost every university has at least one ethics course. Just seems like such a waste. I hope I'm wrong. I think all these leaders think that if they teach people "ethics" then people will be ethical. It will never work. My friend Gavin Grounds says that you can't teach ethics. What people really teach and measure is acceptable behavior. 

As long as "acceptable behavior" in an area or industry or culture has a low bar of what is acceptable then you will never achieve what the educators pontificate about. The Wall Street Journal Asia edition yesterday had an article titled "Business schools need to do better teaching values".Here is an excerpt from the article: "hundreds of Harvard Business School's 2009 and 2010 graduates took "The MBA Oath". These students promised to "serve the greater good", act ethically, and refrain from pursuing greed at other's expenses." We'll that is just dandy! I sure hope that it makes a difference and I am glad that they are at least making an attempt. The problem is that platitudes and promises don't reach the core of who we are. 

Last Friday the Atlanta Business Chronicle had an article online: "Emory Plans World Class Ethics Center". In the article they talk about how Emory University is raising up to $20 million to transform the two decade old institute into a global think tank on ethical issues. I wonder what the results of the institute have been over the last 20 years and how becoming a think tank will make a difference. I certainly hope that it does.

I guess my point here is that the issue of genuine ethical leadership is at a crisis and great institutions are searching for solutions. I maintain that we will continue to see decline until we recognize the root cause and seek to correct it. I'm going to keep working through this.

Darrell Tadley

I'm crying out!

Tonight I am in Shanghai, China. While what follows is not about my business life or even about business at all I felt compelled to post it. I was reading my favorite verse in the Bible. It is from the book of John, in chapter 1, verse 14. It says "And the Word (referring to Jesus Christ) became flesh, and dwelt among us and we beheld His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth". For the first time though, the next verse really hit me. The first part of verse 15 says "John testified about Him (Jesus Christ) and cried out...". The verse goes on to testify to who Christ is. 

What hit me was Johns example. He didn't quietly suggest who Christ is. He didn't simply live as a good example. He didn't timidly share Jesus with others. He CRIED OUT! So, I need to cry out. Jesus Christ is whom He says that He is. In John chapter 14, verse 6 Jesus said “...I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me." There is no other way to God. While this may seem restrictive it is quite the opposite. It is absolutely freeing. It relieves me of myself. I no longer need to search for man made and self gratifying religion. I am free because I believe Him. Now I have life with the Father.

So I'm crying out to you and testifying that Jesus is the only way to the Father. And He loves you more than any of us has the ability to conceive. Will you consider this? Let me know your thoughts, challenge this, test it. I would love the discussion.

Darrell Tadley

How does ethics effect your personal brand?

I had breakfast with Samuel Balachander this week in Bangalore. Bala heads EYL (Emerging Young Leaders) India. The focus of ethics in leadership is at the forefront of what he does everyday. Below is an excerpt from The current EYL Newsletter.

"Companies spend millions of dollars making their brands known in business. They want you to recognize their brand. When you think of their brand, they hope you will have positive thoughts that will influence your next purchasing decision.Every individual has a personal "brand" whether you know it or not. Your brand is defined by your conduct."... EYL Newsletter.

So, If you're to protect your "brand" you need to guard your conduct very closely. To do so you must have a basis of character that understands and values the ethics necessary to govern your conduct. How do you establish and maintain this basis of character? How do you keep from falling into traps that undermine your ethical "brand"? How do you pick yourself up when you do fall. How do you extend grace to others when they fall?

I think that we must work harder than ever to correct this crisis of ethics in leadership. We must set absolute standards and hold each other accountable to them. At the same time we must be ready to extend absolute forgiveness and grace when one of us falls. How do we do this? My personal conviction is that of a follower of Jesus Christ. He has absolute standards and overwhelming grace. My favorite verse in the Bible is from the book of John, chapter 1, verse 14 which says "And the Word (referring to Jesus Christ) became flesh, and dwelt among us and we beheld His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth". 

While Jesus is full of truth, I find it interesting that the word "grace" is placed before the word truth. As I'm struggling through this contemplation of ethical leadership I'm more convinced than ever that we somehow have lost the ability to hold our leaders and our selves to a fullness of truth. I'm also certain that while pursuing doggedly this quest for  genuinely ethical leadership that grace must reign above all. After all, that is the very essence of who Christ is.

Darrell Tadley

Still wrestling with genuinely ethical leadership...

I'm trying to get my mind around the breakdown of ethics in leadership and how all we do is throw concepts, words and philosophy at it. I'm wresting with how to get to the heart and see radical change. I'm tired of everyone just talking about it. Read the news any day and you can see that it isn't working with our leaders. 

I'm about to have coffee with friend who is the head of a multinational IT firm. While we sip our coffee and plan for a meeting in Manila tomorrow I'll layout my thoughts and questions with him. I'm looking forward to his insight, definition and strategy for developing truly ethical leadership. I hope to continue learning and connecting with others so that we can see change happen. 

Darrell Tadley

Ethical Leadership, who knows or even cares what that means?

Lately every university offers a business ethics course or two. Corporations spend millions educating their workforces and promoting ethics. Apparently it isn't working that well. Almost every week some high profile executive or political leader is caught in some illicit situation. 

So, what does Ethics in leadership mean? Can it be taught? Who defines it? How does it effect society? Does anyone even care? I'm going to be pondering this over the next few months. I'd like to hear from you. I think we are at a critical place in our society where we are already heading down a slope we don't want to go down.

Hope to hear your thoughts.

Darrell Tadley

I received a great honor today.

This morning I received a great honor. It may not seem as such, but it was for me.

I interviewed two people for a sales position in Thailand. My second interview was with a very qualified, capable and charming Thai woman. She had a very good command of English. She presented herself confidently and from the beginning of the interview drew me into the sale. She was selling herself to us. She certainly proved her capability and easily made the short list.

The great honor for me was that in her 40 years she had never interviewed for a job in English. That she had the moxie to stretch and expose herself in such a way speaks well of her and encourages me. It makes it hard for me to cower in the face of new challenges. 

I'm thankful for the experience today. I am certain that she will be a great success, whether it is with our company or another who is fortunate enough to work with her.

Darrell Tadley

Exciting to see a new client come on board.

I just left the site of new client in Bangkok. Since I was in town I stopped by while Jeff Groves, who runs one of our groups, was training about 75 of their staff via the web. Since most of our training is done remotely we rarely ever get to be there in person. Today I was fortunate. 

While Jeff was conducting the training I sat in the back of the room. He did a great job. As he trained I was on Blackberry Messenger with Waina Tadley, who is the project manager for this client. She was answering staff questions for me. As usual she saved me from falling on my face. It was really exciting to watch after the training session had ended as staff members began to help other staff members and show them "tricks" with the software that they had already learned.

So, I want to say thanks to Jeff and Waina for staying up so late in the US to train our newest client in Thailand. 

Darrell Tadley

Short post from Bangkok: partnerships

I believe partnerships are the key to success. You can't do it alone. Particularly in different cultures and timezones on the other side of the world from you. Just like in your personal life, partnerships are based on relationship. So choose them well and work hard at them. 

Today is a bit of a down day for me in Bangkok. Working from the hotel this afternoon. The rest of the week I'll be with our partner in Thailand. Looking forward to a good week and continuing to build the relationship.

Darrell Tadley

A Power Conference

One of our clients, actually one of our closest partners, held their first ever Power Conference with several hundred of their clients this past week. I'm sure their team was exhausted afterward. But they sure did a great job. Being there was inspirational for me. I watched as they met clients face-to-face for the first time and most of their staff met each other for the first time as well. Like our company, most of their employees are in locations across the US and work closely together but have never actually seen one another.

Two of the Tadley team (Jeff Groves and Waina Tadley) were with me. I was particularly proud of them. Listening to our clients as they shared their respect and excitement meeting them face to face was very gratifying. Several of the Tadley team work daily with our clients but were not able to be at the conference. It was very nice to have many of the clients ask excitedly if they where at the conference and share their disappointment that they were not able to be there. Hopefully next year will be different.

I have been reading Linchpin by Seth Godin. I have to say that I am very proud to have several linchpins leading Tadley. I hope to someday measure up to the example they set. As I sat on the flight home I could not have been more proud.

Darrell Tadley

Change everything but...

Change is difficult. Sometimes it is good and sometimes it is a necessary response to a difficult situation or market condition. During the past few months we have had to make some necessary changes. Mostly for the good. In India we had to change the most. Unfortunately it meant losing some wonderful people who were part of our team. This is the most difficult part of the "change". 

If an organization is to continue to thrive it must always be prepared to change how it operates, markets and provides support. However it must never change it's core values. It often takes difficult situation to prompt an organization to change and to reaffirm it's values.  

One of my favorite quotes is from Thomas Watson, IBM's Founder and Chairman. He said "...in order to survive and succeed, organizations and individuals must have a sound set of beliefs on which to base all policies and actions. To meet the challenges of a changing world, we must be prepared to change everything except these beliefs".

Are you prepared to change everything, except your core beliefs? Do you know and can you articulate what your core beliefs are? Does others know what they are? 

Think about it. I know that I'm thinking about it.

Darrell Tadley