Poor leadership reward unethical behaviour by creating conditions where people will do these things. For example, exerting pressure on people, even threatening them that if they miss their numbers they'll lose their job. Yet, good leadership can reverse ethical fading.

Poor leadership can cause ethical fading

Ethical fading is where people make unethical decisions thinking they're within their ethical framework. They will rationalise why they made their decisions. "I have to put food on the table", "everyone is doing it", "it's the industry standard." For example, a pharmaceutical company that has a patent on an essential drug keeps on raising the price exponentially to meet financial targets. While it is not illegal, it is unethical. It doesn't feel right.

Ethical fading

We use language to distance ourselves from the impact of our decisions. We use and overuse euphemisms such as "companies would never spy on their customers", but we love data mining. The danger increases with the slippery slope. When somebody use unethical behaviour and gets away with it or even rewarded for it, then does it again and bigger than before. Then other people join in and before you realise, you have full unethical fading.

We use language to create distance

How do employees manage to do incredibly unethical things without feeling guilty about it? Ethical fading is so insidious, we don't always realize it's happening. + + + Simon is an unshakable optimist. He believes in a bright future and our ability to build it together. Described as “a visionary thinker with a rare intellect,” Simon has devoted his professional life to help advance a vision of the world that does not yet exist; a world in which the vast majority of people wake up every single morning inspired, feel safe wherever they are and end the day fulfilled by the work that they do. Simon is the author of multiple best-selling books including Start With Why, Leaders Eat Last, Together is Better, and The Infinite Game. + + + Website: http://simonsinek.com/ Live Online Classes: http://simonsinek.com/inspireU Podcast: http://apple.co/simonsinek Instagram: https://instagram.com/simonsinek/ Linkedin: https://linkedin.com/in/simonsinek/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/simonsinek Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/simonsinek Simon’s books: The Infinite Game: https://simonsinek.com/product/the-in... Start With Why: https://simonsinek.com/product/start-... Find Your Why: https://simonsinek.com/product/find-your-why Leaders Eat Last: https://simonsinek.com/product/leader... Together is Better: https://simonsinek.com/product/togeth... + + + #SimonSinek

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How do employees manage to do incredibly unethical things without feeling guilty about it? Ethical fading is so insidious, we don't always realize it's happening.

+ + +

Simon is an unshakable optimist. He believes in a bright future and our ability to build it together. 

Described as “a visionary thinker with a rare intellect,” Simon has devoted his professional life to help advance a vision of the world that does not yet exist; a world in which the vast majority of people wake up every single morning inspired, feel safe wherever they are and end the day fulfilled by the work that they do.

Simon is the author of multiple best-selling books including Start With Why, Leaders Eat Last, Together is Better, and The Infinite Game.

+ + +

Website: http://simonsinek.com/
Live Online Classes: http://simonsinek.com/inspireU
Podcast: http://apple.co/simonsinek
Instagram: https://instagram.com/simonsinek/
Linkedin: https://linkedin.com/in/simonsinek/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/simonsinek
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/simonsinek

Simon’s books:
The Infinite Game: https://simonsinek.com/product/the-in...
Start With Why: https://simonsinek.com/product/start-...
Find Your Why: https://simonsinek.com/product/find-your-why
Leaders Eat Last: https://simonsinek.com/product/leader...
Together is Better: https://simonsinek.com/product/togeth...

+ + +

#SimonSinek

Simon Sinek is an unshakable optimist. He believes in a bright future and our ability to build it together.

Simon has devoted his life to help advance a vision of the world that does not yet exist; a world in which the vast majority of people wake up every single morning inspired, feel safe wherever they are and return home fulfilled at the end of the day.  Every day is an opportunity to inspire someone. 

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