In 7 Lenses, Linda Fisher Thornton provides a strong framework for leading through the various ethical dilemmas people encounter in the workplace and life in general. The questions about planning one’s ethical leadership future (p. 133) prompt one to reflect on the implications of these 7 Lenses on one’s life- to proactively make decisions on how one will take next steps forward and retroactively learn from past experiences.

At Luck Companies we define Values Based Leadership as living, working, and leading in alignment with your personal core values, principles, and beliefs to in turn ignite the extraordinary potential in those around you and we see Linda referencing this same definition in terms of how ethics should be incorporated into one’s life. “Leaders who demonstrate congruence have all their roles, their internal beliefs, and their external behaviors aligned so closely that there is no difference between them” (p. 37). She goes on to discuss that demonstrating personal congruence, one of 14 Guiding Principles of Ethical Leadership, means what a leader says and does “at work reliably matches the way they act on the weekends.” Therefore, ethics is not something one can turn on for their 9-5 job; it is a way of life.

My favorite message Linda shares through the book is her optimism on how ethical leadership is and will continue to be incorporated into the world of work. She gives credit to the consumers who are, “evaluating companies on their ethics,” (p. 25) opposed to just the end product. As the consumer’s expectation of how business must be run continue to value this increased ethical leadership, leaders will continue to choose this lifestyle.

Check out Linda Fisher Thorton’s book, 7 Lenses.