In this episode of Lead to Soar, Mel, Michelle and Erika explore the ethical challenges of layoff culture and executive decision-making. Inspired by Seth Godin's Akimbo podcast, they discuss how stock options influence corporate decisions and the importance of ethical frameworks like ESG. The conversation covers the impacts of layoffs on employee trust and morale, differences in labor laws, and strategies for leaders to foster ethical practices.

Episode Highlights

Ethics in Leadership:

Importance of compliance and ethics frameworks.

Universal ethical standards in business.

Incentives and Decision Making:

Impact of executive stock options on business decisions.

Examples of strategic profit-driven decisions, like Google’s email promotions.

Layoff Culture:

Negative effects of frequent layoffs.

Labor law differences between the US and Australia.

Trust and Employee Relations:

Building trust in leadership.

The erosion of trust due to layoff culture.

Unionization and Employee Advocacy:

Unionization as a response to unethical behavior.

Importance of diverse and ethical board governance.

Practical Advice for Leaders:

Strategies for influencing ethical practices.

Importance of personal integrity and aligning actions with values.

Leadership Call to Action

Implement Ethical Frameworks: Establish and enforce clear ethics and compliance frameworks.

Foster Trust: Create an environment where employees feel valued and trusted.

Encourage Board Diversity: Advocate for diverse and accountable board members.

Promote Open Communication: Allow employees to voice concerns without fear.

Prepare for Unionization: Address underlying issues that lead to unionization.

Reflect on Leadership Values: Align your actions with personal and organizational ethical standards.

Lead to Soar is a podcast for ambitious women and the leaders who support them. Hosted by Michelle Redfern and Mel Butcher, it delivers evidence-based, practical advice on leadership, career progression, and closing the gender gap. Join the Lead to Soar Network at leadtosoar.network or get Michelle’s book The Leadership Compass at michelleredfern.com/book.

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