Page 368 - The Case Lab Book
P. 368
Blackthorn
summarised his
philosophy that
‘a business without
values is a
business at risk.’
Moreover he saw
company values as
having a pragmatic
place in the
business world
precisely because
of society’s fudge like fluidity.
For Blackthorn leadership was not simply power over others. True leadership in his
view, was an emotional relationship based on trust, the product of which was to create
power in those he lead.
Few organizations have the luxury of time to figure out what the right response should
be to an ethical crisis, particularly if the crisis is public rather than private. When a crisis
occurs in the public eye, the aggressive competitiveness of a multiplicity of 24-hour
media outlets makes it imperative that the manager’s first response be the right one.
Furthermore, whistleblowing is inevitable – secrets will out.
