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Moral Intelligence: Enhancing Business Performance and Leadership Success (Paperback) (Wharton School Publishing Paperbacks) | 
 enlarge | Authors: Doug Lennick, Fred Kiel
Publisher: Wharton School Publishing
Category: Book
List Price: $16.99
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Avg. Customer Rating:  21 reviews
Sales Rank: 40373
Media: Paperback
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 336
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.6
Dimensions (in): 8.7 x 5.9 x 0.9
ISBN: 0132349868
Dewey Decimal Number: 658
EAN: 9780132349864
ASIN: 0132349868
Publication Date: August 2, 2007
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Product Description
"The authors offer a timely, important, and practical personal guidance system that anyone in the business world would do well to adopt. The world of business would be vastly improved if Moral Intelligence became required reading." --Daniel Goleman, Author of Emotional Intelligence "Lennick and Kiel are consulting masters who guide us the way they live--with moral intelligence. They prove that you don't have to sacrifice your soul to lead productively." --Richard J. Leider, Founder, The Inventure Group and bestselling Author of Repacking Your Bags and The Power of Purpose "We live in an increasingly competitive and global world. Increasingly, 'the end justifies the means.' This often results in the loss of our moral compass. Lennick and Kiel show usthat the truly great business leaders never sacrifice moral integrity for financial goals and that maintaining the highest ethical standards is not only the 'right' thing to do, it produces the best companies and the best results."--Paul Fribourg, CEO of Conti-Group Companies and Chairman, Lauder Institute,Wharton Business School "Moral Intelligence demonstrates compellingly that doing what is right morally and doing what is right for your business are inseparable. Lennick and Kiel cite numerous business cases where the moral decision was also the smartest strategic decision. Importantly, they provide practical advice and exercises to help readers assess and strengthen their own moral competence and effectiveness as leaders. For CEOs and other decision makers, Moral Intelligence makes good business sense." --Dick Harrington, CEO of The Thomson Corporation "It should be obvious by now--our private enterprise system needs to revisit its role in our society. The questions are:What changes are in order and how can they be achieved? Moral Intelligence addresses these questions and provides tools to implement the answers." --Irvine O. Hockaday, Jr., President/CEO--Hallmark Cards, Inc. (Ret.) "Moral Intelligence is the foundation of moral authority, which alone enables formal authority to work--sustainable over time.This conscience-challenging book drills deep into both the science and the practical how-tos in building universal principle-centered values into our lives and cultures. A motivating and inspiring read!" --Dr. Stephen R. Covey, Author, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People and The 8th Habit: From Effectiveness to Greatness "Moral Intelligence is excellent reading for new entrants to the business world as well as experienced managers. I found numerous examples that were right on point with actual events that I have experienced in over 40 years of managing. It was also helpful to have the topics presented in the context of current events that hold the readers' interest. This book should be on the reading list of every student regardless of their career choice." --Larry Pinnt, Chairman, Cascade Natural Gas "At a time when capitalism faces questions of legitimacy brought on by poor leadership behaviors, this book provides a healthy way of thinking of the internal compass that can avoid corporate atrocities."--Mike McGavick, CEO & Chairman of Safeco Corporation "This book identifies the traits which identify value-oriented corporate leaders and provides a practical primer to a business person to identify and emulate these critical traits. It is essential reading for anyone who believes that this is the way the world is going." --Mike Phillips, Chairman, Russell Investment Group "In their new book, Doug Lennick and Fred Kiel bring to the business world a much needed moral guidance system. Given the worldwide erosion of trust in American business, the authors' user-friendly tools and concepts arrive not a moment too soon." --Keith Reinhard, Chairman, DDB Worldwide and President, Business for Diplomatic Action Visit: www.moralcompass.com This new, paperback version contains a new Epilogue with updated information on many of the companies and case studies discussed in the original hardback version. There is a powerful correlation between strong moral principles and business success.In this book, two globally respected leadership experts illuminate that connection, define the specific competencies that comprise "moral intelligence," and show exactly how to promote it throughout your organization. Drawing on extensive original research, Doug Lennick and Fred Kiel demonstrate how the best performing companies have leaders with a strong moral compass and the ability to follow it--even in a world that may reward bad behavior in the short run. Lennick and Kiel identify and help you build the moral skills leaders need most, including integrity, responsibility, compassion, and forgiveness. They offer realistic guidance on being a moral leader in both large organizations and entrepreneurial ventures: guidance reflecting decades of experience coaching executives at the very highest levels. Moral Intelligence also introduces the breakthrough Moral Competency Inventory (MCI): an indispensable metric to assess where you and your organization stand right now. In recent years, companies have discovered the value of Emotional Intelligence (EI).But EI isn't enough: only leaders with strong moral intelligence can build the trust and commitment that are the foundation of truly great businesses. Be one of those leaders, lead one of those companies, with Moral Intelligence. Foreword xxi Introduction xxix PART ONE: MORAL INTELLIGENCE Chapter 1: Good Business 3 Chapter 2: Born to Be Moral 19 Chapter 3: Your Moral Compass 37 Chapter 4: Staying True to Your Moral Compass 63 PART TWO: DEVELOPING MORAL SKILLS Chapter 5: Integrity 79 Chapter 6: Responsibility 93 Chapter 7: Compassion and Forgiveness 105 Chapter 8: Emotions 115 PART THREE: MORAL LEADERSHIP Chapter 9: The Moral Leader 141 Chapter 10: Leading Large Organizations 157 Chapter 11: Moral Intelligence for the Entrepreneur 185 Epilogue: Becoming a Global Moral Leader 207 Epilogue: Update on Moral Intelligence's Cast of Characters 215 Appendix A: Strengthening Your Moral Skills 239 Appendix B: Moral Competency Inventory (MCI) 251 Appendix C: Scoring the MCI 259 Appendix D: Interpreting Your MCI Scores 265 Index 273
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| Customer Reviews: Read 16 more reviews...
 good experience February 13, 2008
bought this book for a class at nearly half of what my bookstore was selling it for. i've read parts of it, and it's not bad, as far as ethics textbooks go. the purchasing process was simple. no problems at all.
Check The Compass October 21, 2006
2 out of 3 found this review helpful
Based upon the current corporate and political climate in the USA,
many probably agree that books like these are important and
necessary. But is society any different today in certain respects
than it was say, 2000 years ago? Humans are human. Always have
been, always will be.
As for a "moral compass" discussed in this book, we can simply
look at the actions of individuals, corporations, and governments
dating back before Roman times, to today. The concept and discussion
of morality and ethics go back thousands of years. Yet it is of
course, no less important today. Currently, ethical concepts are
taught and discussed in business, MBA, and law programs. These
programs have to most dishonest students of all departments
at universities in the USA, in study after study. Some of
these students will become influential members of our society
in the future.
It must be noted that many parts of the world at times completely
lack a "moral compass." Corruption, dishonesty, and out-right theft
are the basic functional foundations in many nations of the world.
The United States has its flaws, but is way ahead of hundreds of
other nations when it comes to business moral and ethics.
(Admittedly, due in part by the existence of laws and regulations).
Yet a lack of this morality has a deleterious economic impact upon
many countries of the world. Another point that is central to the
concept of business morality is: thinking long-term. Not the myopic,
short-term business horizon where someone cheats or cuts corners to
gain a small amount in the short term, but loses potentially much
greater gains over the long term. South East Asia is notorious for
this short-sighted thinking and behaviour at all levels of society
and business.
This mentality can change. It will take time, education, awareness,
and the realization of the positives. Once those in business realize
the benefits of being honest and ethical, they often (but not always)
change their business practices. This is simply, Common Sense.
Author Doug Lennick and Fred Kiel categorize this book into three
portions: Overview, Developing Moral Skills, and Moral Leadership.
In addition there are four concepts noted for moral leadership:
Integrity, Responsibility, Compassion, and Forgiveness.
Several real-life examples are presented in this book.
Citing the innateness morality is mostly, idealism. Doing something
"because it's the right thing to do" does seem a bit idealistic. This
OK. But we must recognize it for what it is.
It takes an ethical upbringing *and* laws and regulations to keep
people and organizations in line.
History tells us the answer. Humans are humans. And no, I'm not a
Hobbesian. :)
 Do The Right Thing Because It Is The Right Thing: Long-winded, Short on Substance July 11, 2006
6 out of 8 found this review helpful
"Moral Intelligence: Enhancing Business Performance and Leadership Success" by Doug Lennick has a simple premise. Once you get that premise, the rest is about internalizing it, and living it out when the moral challenge presents itself.
Accepting the premise of the book is easy: Do the right thing because it is the right thing, and enjoy business benefits in the process. -- The premise is the entire book. There. I have blown in 17 words what takes the author 256 pages to say. Sorry about that.
If your sales manager gives you this book, you can flip through it, remember a few anecdotes, and you'll be set.
That's my primary difficulty with the book. I did not disagree with the premise, or feel that his anecdotes were inconsistent. It takes a very deep message and handles it lightly, without as much substance as such a book should have.
Very heavy on business anecdotes, it reads well, but has the tired tone of every business book on the planet, as if the writer went out of his way to quote as many people as possible, rather than looking into the questions more. Unfortunately, it is especially heavy in the financial planners/services sales people. Not much diversity of markets, business areas, or position.
There are a few charts gussying up "Moral Intelligence" but no substantive grids that will help the reader understand the way morality looks in real life. A few statistics are dripped in here and there, but it always boils down to "Do the right thing."
While no one expects a business ethics book to speak on the level of Aristotle or Augustine, it is reasonable that the author would present some grounding for morals. While he claims that relativism has been injurious to society in general, and to the workplace specifically, Lennick presents more of a generic understanding of morality. Touting a specific belief might get him into trouble, of course, yet by not doing so, he comes off bland and without a standard.
Somehow, in all the quotes from upper middle managers, Lennick misses William Pollard, former CEO of ServiceMaster. In fact, there is no discussion of ServiceMaster entirely. ServiceMaster, a massive Fortune 500 company, has been until recently, very outspoken that it was called such because of a Christian belief system, short for "Service for the Master." A look into how this philosophy works, and how ServiceMaster struggled to do the right thing, would have been instructive. Blown opportunity.
Lennick mentions the obvious criminals, like Ken Lay. He misses other law breakers, like PTL's Jim Bakker, and, in describing Lay's problems, provides nothing that has not been on the news. What Lennick could have done is outline the subtlties of business morality, and how we fall into breaking our own moral code.
There is little here that doesn't begin, "Joe was an Assistant VP of FinancialMegaCorp, and noticed something askew with the month's figures. He realized his friend and colleague, Rick, had absconded with thousands of dollars. Should Joe talk to Rick, or gather evidence to bring to the firm's legal team?"
Equally weak is the "Moral Competency Inventory" which has potential to reveal our true moral responses. With questions like, "When I agree to do something, I always follow through," I wonder if I just took a Cosmo quiz.
Wharton School Publishing dropped the ball on this one, diminishing the school's great reputation for a strong program. While an education there is still top notch, putting their stamp of approval on this one was not on par. There is nothing bold here, except that the book was published in the first place.
Anthony Trendl
editor, HungarianBookstore.com
Superb May 24, 2006
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
In business or financial circles, morality and ethics has frequently been thought of as weakness, as something that while noble will not assist in the generation of profits. Further, those who practice it can easily be taken advantage of by competitors. A business run by moral agents will not be able to survive the vicissitudes of the marketplace. It takes cunning and an instinct for the jugular, so the argument goes, to create and maintain a successful business. Another view is that a businessperson who claims to be moral or ethical is either posing as such in order to take advantage of someone or some situation. In this view, morality and ethics are then tools of manipulation and power, a view that is, ironically, not far from that of those political philosophers, such as Karl Marx, who criticize capitalism vociferously.
Until recently, business ethics, if taught at all, was presented from a pragmatic viewpoint. One is to practice or adhere to certain ethical principles only because regulations or circumstances dictate that not doing so would place one in legal jeopardy. Business ethics then becomes a collection of rules, to be followed only because it is part of the "process." These rules can be extensive, even contradictory, but their importance only arises because of legal constraints. They are usually viewed as more of an irritant, not as part of a natural process or necessity.
That morality is part of being human, much as eating, sleeping, and sex, is something that has not really been believed in scientific circles up until the last ten years or so, thanks to research in neuroscience. It is now believed by some researchers in neuroscience that some parts of the human neural system not only support moral reasoning but also have evolved to ensure its efficacy. This book draws on some of this research, and presents a conception of business morality that is very practical as well as efficacious in everyday business life. The authors are the first to admit that their ideas need further scientific and practical validation. The evidence they present is anecdotal, but it is a good start, for it gives an alternative to many of the stale platitudes that govern much of the contemporary thinking on moral systems.
As is of course readily apparent from the title, the central idea behind the authors' approach, and one that is very resonant in other approaches to morality based on neuroscience, is that of `moral intelligence.' They define this as a mental capacity that allows the determination of how "universal human principles" are to be applied to "values, goals, and actions." They do not really elaborate on what it means for principles to be "universal", but from the reading of the book one can deduce that these are the neuronal patterns that take place in every human being. They therefore appear as beliefs about human conduct that every culture in the entire world seems to hold. In fact in the foreword of the book, this is summarized in the notion that every human is "hard wired" to be moral. The reader should not however view this as a deterministic notion, since humans can often "stray from the path." They do not debate the notion of free will in the book, and this makes the book even more palatable to read, since such musings are better left to the philosophers.
The authors discuss various research that supports their notion of moral intelligence, and include many anecdotal stories that illustrate its practice in everyday life and in leadership roles in business. The emphasize that moral intelligence is a distinctive branch of intelligence, and that individuals who possess it in abundance will have a large measure of integrity, will take responsibility for their actions, will be compassionate, and be willing to exercise forgiveness. The authors point out that having these virtues will not of course imply perfection. The morally intelligent individual will make mistakes, but her `moral compass' will steer her to proper moral north.
This book is again, one of the few that have been written that attempt to put morality on both a sound scientific foundation and a practical one. It is honest in its claims and the authors express humility and respect for the reader between its covers. There is no attempt to intimidate the reader into ascribing to their ideas. They are intellectually honest without being condescending. The reader will finish the book with a deeper respect for the role of moral intelligence in business and everyday life, and be more convinced of its efficacy and power.
 Good Concept, Treatment OK February 12, 2006
4 out of 4 found this review helpful
Having read a number of books brought to us by Wharton Publishing, this one was a bit disappointing. Wharton has high standards for its business books, requiring them to be relevant, timely, empirically based, conceptually sound, and implementable in real decision settings. While this book does meet those criteria, I felt the concentration on the moral intelligence topic was diluted by what I perceived to be over-attention to emotional intelligence. I didn't feel the strength and focus I anticipated, particularly given my high expectations of Wharton books.
The book is organized into three parts: an overview, Developing Moral Skills, and Moral Leadership. We begin with an overview of Moral Intelligence with a look at being born to be moral and what the authors describe as one's moral compass. They introduce the four principles that are vital for moral leadership: integrity, responsibility, compassion, and forgiveness. In the second section of the book, each of these principles is addressed in a separate chapter-with an additional chapter on emotions. The section on moral leadership introduces the Moral Leader, talks about leading large organizations and entrepreneurial ventures, and becoming a global moral leader. The first appendix, Strengthening Your Moral Skills, offers advice on the how-to of developing the skills. This is important enough that it probably could have been a chapter, rather than an appendix. Appendices B, C, and D present the Moral Competency Inventory, its scoring and interpretation.
As I read this book, my attention was distracted by what I believe was over-use of one of the authors' previous employers as a setting to discuss various applications and observations about moral leadership. The text needed more balance with stories from other corporate environments. Anecdotal presentations are heavily used in the book-John said this, Mary did that. The use of first and last names with the parenthetical notation that the name is a pseudomym became annoying, causing me to wonder how many real people with moral intelligence were known by the authors-or even available to use as role models.
The theme of the book is welcome and valid. There is a lot of good material in these pages and you'll gain something from the reading. Perhaps this book will open the door for more work to be done in this important, value-based field.
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