Ira Chaleff's Blog, page 11

Ethical workplace: Cracking the courage code

I recommend Dr. Arthur Schwartz’s article The Ethical Workplace: Cracking the Courage Code.

Dr. Schwartz is a colleague on the board of directors of the International Leadership Association. He identifies five factors that contribute to courage in the workplace. I am particularly interested in the fifth factor that courage is contagious. It makes taking a risk all the more worthwhile as you are not only righting an immediate wrong, you are adding another strand of courage into the culture...

Paul Ryan’s Regrettable Choice

Many Republicans and Independents find themselves faced with the tension experienced by Speaker of the House, Paul Ryan on whether or not to support Donald Trump. Ryan withheld his support publicly for weeks and then caved in and gave it. Within a couple of days Trump made outrageous remarks about the Mexican heritage of a judge presiding over a case regarding the now defunct Trump University. Ryan found himself twisted like a pretzel having to deride Trumps words as “the definition of rac...

Thoughts on Creative Disobedience

I recently returned from a fantastic trip to South Africa where I was able to give a talk on Intelligent Disobedience at the University of Cape Town Graduate School of Business, experience the awesomeness of nature in Kruger National Park, tour Robben Island where Nelson Mandela was held for 18 of the 27 years he served in prison, and visit the Jewish Museum and Holocaust Memorial, which is a painful reminder of the importance of Intelligent Disobedience.

I have also been thinking a lot ab...

Watch Out For Bullies Masquerading as Leaders

When bullies get the power of the State behind them they become tyrants. History is littered with the corpses of their victims. Bullies must be stopped early and firmly. I endorse the following article by Pat McLagan (Leadership Development & Managing Change for the Changing World of Work | Speaker, Coach, Award Winner Author of The Shadow Side of Power: Lessons for Leaders)

I am concerned about this election and the image and philosophy of leadership — as well as of civilization —...

Be moral, even when it is not popular

Honored to be interviewed by the Southern Suburbs Tatler during my trip to South Africa.

Sothern Suburbs Tatler
May 19, 2016
by John Harvey

Paul Ryan’s Recent Comments

Speaker of the House Paul Ryan paints a picture of American politics to which we can all aspire. He places ideas and institutions above individual politicians and parties. He reminds us that every generation since the founding of the United States has sworn to uphold the constitution. Regardless of who is elected our next President, those who serve that administration must maintain this sacrosanct tradition, be willing to courageously follow courageous leaders, speak truth to power when those...

Paul Ryan on Upholding the Constitution

Speaker of the House Paul Ryan paints a picture of American politics to which we can all aspire. He places ideas and institutions above individual politicians and parties. He reminds us that every generation since the founding of the United States has sworn to uphold the constitution. Regardless of who is elected our next President, those who serve that administration must maintain this sacrosanct tradition, be willing to courageously follow courageous leaders, speak truth to power when th...

Giving Voice To Values

I am having the immense pleasure of reading the book Giving Voice to Values by Harvard professor Mary Gentile. The book is astonishingly complementary to Intelligent Disobedience. GVV as it is known comes from a strong research background while Intelligent Disobedience is driven by narratives from all walks and ages of life. The central conclusion of GVV is that we must provide practice opportunities for people to speak up so they are prepared to do so when important values are at stake...

Giving Voice To Values

I am having the immense pleasure of reading the book Giving Voice to Values by Harvard professor Mary Gentile. The book is astonishingly complementary to Intelligent Disobedience.

GVV as it is known comes from a strong research background while Intelligent Disobedience is driven by narratives from all walks and ages of life. The central conclusion of GVV is that we must provide practice opportunities for people to speak up so they are prepared to do so when important values are at stake.

T...

Teaching Kids To Disobey (Intelligently)

<!--- Ira's intro >--</p> <div class="row-fluid"> <div class="span1"></div> <div class="span10" style="text-align: justify;"> <p>When you place your children in the care of other adults – day care providers, teachers, coaches, religious clerics, camp counselors – you trust they will be safe but you know you can’t be totally sure. When a supposedly trusted authority figure tells a child to do something wrong it is a confusing and potentially dangerous experience</p> <p>You prepare your children to not get into cars with strangers or walk off with a stranger at the mall. How do you prepare them for the rare but complex si...</p></div></div><!--- Ira's intro >