The Power of Ethical Management

This review covers The Power of Ethical Management, by Kenneth Blanchard (author of The One Minute Manager) and Norman Vincent Peale (author of The Power of Positive Thinking). The book is written in the form of a parable regarding a manager who must decide if he should hire a competitor's employee, knowing that the competitor's employee has offered to bring a disc containing secrets from the competitor. The protagonist in this book must grapple with the need to succeed - especially with the pressure from his boss - versus the need to conduct himself in an ethical manner. The authors suggest that an individual follow three pronged "Ethics Check" questions to determine whether or not one' conduct is ethical: 1) Is it legal? 2) Is it balanced? 3) How will it make me feel about myself. The third prong of the question is also known as the person in the mirror test. Can you look yourself in the eyes in the mirror and be proud of your actions and your decisions? If so, this means that you have acted in an ethical fashion. The other method to assure that you are acting in an ethical fashion is to follow what the authors have entitled the Five P's of Ethical Power. The Five P's are: 1) Purpose; 2) Pride; 3) Patience; 4) Persistence; and 5) Perspective. The Five P's of Ethical Power hold true both for individuals and for organizations. In holding with the Five P's of Ethical Power, managers and leaders should learn to treat their employees as important components of the organizations success. The book covers the proper approach to evaluating employee performance, stating that managers and supervisors should coach their employees everyday so that an annual or semi-annual is not just a list of poor performance, rather an interactive process by which the employee may work to improve everyday. They authors also state the importance of building an employee's self-esteem by catching them doing things right. Too often, managers get caught up into what the authors describe as the seagull approach to management. The seagull approach manager flies in, makes a lot of noise, dumps on everyone, and then flies back out. There were some interesting thoughts on the topic of pride. The authors opine that "people with humility don't think less of themselves... they just think of themselves less often." This is an enjoyable and meaningful book. Ethical leadership is such an important and necessary component to individual and organizational success, and this book does a succinct job of showing why. 5 Stars.

This book will be used as a resource in our leadership library. Excellent, short, to the point leadership book.

Simply one of the best (if not THE best), most enjoyable, and most entertaining books on ethics, morality, character, and leadership.This short and easy to read masterpiece by two of the most influential business and spiritual thinkers of our time should be required reading for all managers and leaders in any organization - business, family, government, military, etc. The stories and situations used to teach the many commonsense (but unfortunately not common practice) lessons are real and recognizable to everyone. The power and wisdom behind the three "Ethics Check" questions and the "Five P's of Ethical Power" for individuals and organizations are priceless.If you ever wondered why some people and organizations make such a big deal about ethics, read this book and you will wonder why more people and organizations do not make ethics their top priority.

For those who feel alone in a sea of ehtical dilemnas, this book will make you feel like you are in good company and not alone. I have worked hard to earn my way up the ladder, only to be struck down by those who made it by simply getting into the good 'ol boy club.Ken Blannchard's book is the lighthouse in the fog of unethical practice and behavior. This book sheds light on the real value of ethics and that getting ahead at any cost is not the norm.Ethics in the workplace is a practical and valiant 'goal', excuse me, 'road' to travel. I was amazed at how this book described my own workplace to a "T". This book inspired me to continue to travel the ethical road I held (and still hold) in high regard.I have read many of Ken Blanchard's books and he uses the method to teach by using real world scenarios. This particular book reads fast, but the concepts stay with you.

I have found this book, while easily readable, carries a lot of weight because of its emphasis on personal value systems and how they apply to our professional life. I appreciate the storyline and can easily apply his words to my own life.