Summary: There is an oft-quoted statement from the 19th century moralist and historian Lord Acton that says, “Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely.” He was writing to a Bishop Mandell Creighton in the year 1887. The quotation goes on to say, “Great men are almost always bad men." It is clear that the egregious acts of dishonesty executed by people who hold the most senior roles in their firm have destroyed careers and in many cases have destroyed entire organizations in their aftermath. Unethical behavior is caused by the combination of several forces and by understanding these elements, organizations can take steps to prevent them. In this presentation, Dr. Jack Zenger discusses these forces and gives ways that companies can ensure strong ethics in their leadership. Read the "Ethics in Leadership - The 8 Rules to Prevent Misuse of Corporate Power" on Forbes.
