"Think beyond ourselves in all of the scope and complexity that 'beyond ourselves' represents."
- 7 Lenses, page 7
"Movement toward leadership for the greater good is the expected level of ethics in a global society."- 7 Lenses, page 25
Fisher Thornton writes: “When we use all 7 Lenses together we see a kaleidoscopic view of ethical leadership that honors its inherent complexity.”
She moves through the 7 Lenses to show that there is an ever-increasing level of responsibility and impact:
The idea is to work all seven lenses concurrently, from making money through to concern for the greater good. If you just focus on Lens One, which is profit, or Lens Two, which is avoiding penalties by complying with laws and regulations, then money is where your morality will be, or you will be grounded in the punishment threshold of worrying about the need to comply. Instead, lead with Lens Seven, and focus on benefitting society and future generations. At the same time, always consider and integrate Lens Six, which is respecting life and nature; Lens Five, helping those in need; Lens Four, respecting others; and Lens Three, aligning your thoughts, words, and deeds.
"Bring out the best in people, organizations, and communities, with principles that are broad enough to provide a framework for leading ethically in any context."- 7 Lenses, page 31
Fisher Thornton introduces 14 Guiding Principles of Ethical Leadership to help incorporate the 7 Lenses into day-to-day decisions and actions:
Lead With a Moral Compass
Lead in Ways That Bring Out the Best in Others
Lead With Positive Intent and Impact
Lead for the Greater Good
The first step starts with you – leading with a moral compass – which means consistency between what you feel, say, and do, and aligning your actions with your core values. As Stephen M.R. Covey states: “People who are congruent act in harmony with their deepest values and beliefs…The voice they listen and respond to is the quiet voice of conscience.” A foundation of moral and ethical awareness, and the continued development of personal competence, will earn the respect of others. From here, you will emerge as a strong leader, bringing out the best in others, moving forward with positive intent and impact, which can help shape the world for future generations.
"Move from thinking about leadership as ‘transactional’ to thinking about leadership for the ‘greater good’."- 7 Lenses, page 119
To show the expected evolution of leadership, Fisher Thornton talks about six connected trends shaping the future of ethical leadership:
Broadening scope is about moving beyond the local mindset to the global mindset. There is an increased visibility of products and services around the world, which means we should provide customers with positive experiences fueled by strong ethics and leadership. At the same time, we are all unique and all connected, making human rights and respect a critical component of every interaction. Companies should always be thinking about the business impacts on the environment and how they contribute to society. Ethics should be communicated clearly through an ethics code, incorporating consistent messaging through a moral compass. We need to be thinking as global citizens, collaborating across boundaries, which means constantly retooling to stay ethically competent.
Throughout 7 Lenses, Fisher Thornton invites leaders to think beyond themselves, and communicate openly about ethical responsibility and how to take action in our connected, interdependent world. Ultimately, the 7 Lenses and 14 Guiding Principles are meant to be transformative, and to release positive energy into the workplace, creating great places to work. It is part of a powerful and necessary movement, Fisher Thornton concludes, making us better leaders and people.
FOR MORE THAN THREE DECADESRobert D. Smith (TheRobertD) has managed and overseen the career of Andy Andrews, a three-time New York Times best-selling author and in-demand speaker.
