By: Jonathan Lee on December 1, 2022
James O’Toole is a distinguished professor of business ethics, and his research and writings have focused on the areas of leadership, ethics, corporate culture, and philosophy. In his discussion, Speaking Truth to Power: A White Paper, Dr. O’Toole drew a couple of key insights into the ethical practice of speaking truth to power in the…
By: David Beavis on December 1, 2022
An enlightening video of Berkley Law Professor Khiara Bridges and Senator Josh Hawley emerged on the internet this summer. In this video of the senate judiciary hearing on abortion access and the law, a tense exchange between Prof. Bridges and Sen. Hawley ensued.[1] The debate centered on transgenderism and the ability of men to become…
By: Becca Hald on December 1, 2022
I am racist. Yes, I admit it. I struggle and push against my racism. I do not want to be racist, but it is there. In a recent conversation with a friend of mine, I told her that I think that anyone who claims to not be racist is racist. We all have minor or…
By: Elmarie Parker on December 1, 2022
James O’Toole is a well-known professor and long-time thought leader in the world of leadership and ethics. His background in social anthropology has prepared him well to interpret social, political, and economic change to both business and elected leaders. He has also consulted with and/or coached numerous organizational leaders and their teams through times of…
By: Troy Rappold on December 1, 2022
James O’Toole wrote, “Speaking Truth to Power: A White Paper” for the Markkula Center for Applied Ethics in October, 2015. The Markkula Center is located at Santa Clara University, a highly regarded Catholic, Jesuit University in California. Dr. O’Toole has been a prolific author during his distinguished academic career, holding academic appointments at the University…
By: Roy Gruber on December 1, 2022
In “Speaking Truth to Power: A White Paper,” James O’Toole addresses the risky dynamic of challenging leadership in the context of business and governmental structures. His premise argues for a “culture of candor” that demands leaders to hear the critique that is often difficult.[1] O’Toole offers ethical boundaries for leaders and those seeking to…
By: Nicole Richardson on December 1, 2022
“Truth will set you free”; “Speak the truth in love”; “Speak truth to power”; These three well known phrases are the foundation of the book, Transparency: How Leaders Create a Culture of Candor. Transparency is made up of three essays written by Warren Bennis, Daniel Goleman, James O’Toole. Their goal is to encourage leaders to…
By: Andy Hale on November 30, 2022
The murder of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor at the hands of police officers in 2020 was just the tip of the iceberg. In the first eight months of 2020, Police in the U.S. killed 164 Black people. [1] Moreover, Black and Brown Americans have been saying for decades that the police are prejudiced and inequitable towards…
By: Eric Basye on November 29, 2022
The author of “Speaking Truth to Power”, James O’Toole, received his Doctorate in Social Anthropology from Oxford University and spent much of his career teaching, researching, and writing in the areas of leadership, ethics, and corporate culture. While he wrote many books, in 1965, his book Vanguard Management was named “one of the best business…
By: Kayli Hillebrand on November 29, 2022
James O’Toole has been a distinguished voice in the areas of business ethics and leadership for nearly three decades. With several books under this authorship and a resume that includes several roles served in federal leadership, O’Toole not only has classical education but a wealth of experiential learning. A Social Anthropologist by training, O’Toole addresses…
By: Michael Simmons on November 29, 2022
The phrase “speaking truth to power” originated from a pamphlet, Speak Truth to Power: a Quaker Search for an Alternative to Violence, published by the American Friends Service Committee in 1955. The pamphlet promoted love over hate, and preferred peace to the rising tensions of the Cold War.[1] James O’Toole adapts this phrases and ethos for organizational…
By: Audrey Robinson on November 29, 2022
Quick Summary of Shelby Smith’s Shame The civil rights movement of the 1960s was inspired by “classic” Jeffersonian liberalism, which sought freedom for the individual above all else.[1] However, since that time, whites, fearful of being labeled racist, have created a plethora of social programs and identity politics, all of which have crippled the individual…
By: Jean de Dieu Ndahiriwe on November 29, 2022
Steele’s book Shame: How America’s Past Sins Have Polarized Our Country is well-written and thought-provoking; it has brought me to reflect on many issues in our global community today. As a person born right in the war zone, I continue to wonder about the role of those of faith in the political arena, but as…
By: Alana Hayes on November 28, 2022
Introduction What is an undefended leader? An undefended leader is someone who has put in the work as well as has experience so that their gut reaction to any situation they are faced with is the correct response. The leader should act as a guide in their known to individuals that do not know the…
By: Jenny Steinbrenner Hale on November 27, 2022
The term “smithing” indicates a process whereby a material is shaped, molded, formed, and improved over time. This is exactly the idea behind Eve Poole’s book entitled, Leadersmithing, Revealing the Trade Secrets of Leadership. In her opinion, strong leaders are shaped, molded, formed and improved over time, growing into their potential as stronger and more…
By: Mary Kamau on November 27, 2022
As I read two books, “Maps of Meaning” and “The Psychological Significance of The Biblical Stories” by Jordan B Peterson, a psychologist, I must admit that I was conflicted. I found myself in a defensive posture and wondering whether Peterson was equating Jesus, the Creator of all things to a mythological hero.[1][2] Time, travel, and…
By: Laura Fleetwood on November 27, 2022
Imagine my dismay when I sat down to write this blog post and realized I read the wrong book for the week’s assignment. I was prepared to write about Tempered Resilience by Tod Boslinger only to discover I actually needed to read Leadersmithing by Eve Poole. After a few choice words and a very late night, I…
By: Audrey Robinson on November 27, 2022
Bounded Rationality: A Precursor to Systems 1 and 2 Herbert Simon, an economist, and political scientist coined the phrase “bounded rationality” in 1947 in his work The Administrative Behavior. He was interested in decision-making and questioned the concept of perfect rationality that had dominated common and scientific knowledge.[1] Simon redefined human rationality and, at the…
By: Alana Hayes on November 26, 2022
Kahneman set out to “Continue to improve the ability to identify & understand errors of judgement & choice in others & eventually in ourselves by providing a richer & more precise language to discuss them.” (1) That ultimately led to him wining a Nobel peace prize in economics. The first Nobel Peace prize organization started…
By: Michael O'Neill on November 26, 2022
We are living in a time of “leadership bankruptcy,” therefore, there has never been a greater opportunity for leaders to step up and claim their position.[1] Bankruptcy is an unfortunate reality for many corporations and the responsibility frequently rests in the hands of leadership. Leadership can “make-or-break” an organization and I would argue that it…
