Andrew C. M. Cooper’s new book, The Ethical Imperative: Leading with Conscience to Shape the Future of Business,
offers a compelling alternative vision―one where companies champion the
collective prosperity of employees, shareholders, and communities.
More specifically, “I have two objectives for the book,” shares
Cooper.
“First, to influence new generations to view business as a
transformative force for positive change rather than an immovable obstacle to
progress.”
“Second, to influence business leaders to think conscientiously
about a corporation’s role in local communities and our broader society.”
The ambitious and distinguished millennial executive,
Cooper, leverages over twenty academic studies and fifty years of research to
challenge the status quo. He exposes the critical threat of public
disengagement from businesses and institutions, urging a departure from
outdated, profit-only models that harm corporations, consumers, and communities
alike.
Cooper explains that the American economy is at a
crossroads: as corporations prioritize profits, many have been left
behind—including millennials and their younger cohorts, who will make up most
employees in the years to come. “U.S. companies can’t survive unless they
engage with these generations to solve inequality, climate change, and the
myriad other crises we’re facing in the 21st century,” says Cooper.
His book includes three parts, as he describes:
First Part: “explores the conditions fueling a
sociological fire spreading across American society, and the urgent need for
corporate leaders to respond.”
Second Part: “outlines who the conscientious executive
is, and what qualities will be needed to address the challenges detailed in Part
1.”
Third Part: “discusses five crucial moves for a
leader to level up, and how to strengthen the qualities enumerated in Part 2
for effectively responding to the urgency of the moment described in Part 1.”
In clear, practical terms, Cooper lays out how leaders can
be more conscientious and make their organizations a force for positive change,
including:
- Have the courage to stand against decisions that do not
reflect the shared, authentic values of your organization. - Actively seek out “invisible” or overlooked stakeholders
affected by your company’s actions to understand their perspective. - Engage frequently in honest self-evaluation and be willing
to adapt. - Make it your mission to identify any isolated team members,
highlight their strengths, and encourage fellowship within the broader
team—making sure nobody’s contributions are overlooked. - Motivate your team in non-monetary ways that give them
autonomy and engender trust.
Packed with personal and engaging stories, practical tools,
and insights from someone who is determined to revolutionize corporate culture,
this book is a significant resource for business managers, executives,
entrepreneurs, and anyone aspiring to infuse their commercial endeavors with
ethical principles.
Andrew C. M. Cooper
“Leadership has always been about balancing priorities, but
with today’s dynamic pace, we need leaders with the speed of an Olympic hurdler
and the emotional intelligence of a well-trained psychotherapist,” says Cooper.
Finally, one of my favorite takeaways from the book is where
Cooper states that compassion in a leader is not a weakness. “Showing compassion
means you can recognize that your employees, your customers, and your community
are first and foremost people, flesh, and blood, with feelings, doubts,
worries, and emotions that complicate their days but make them imminently more interesting,
passionate, and capable of great things,” explains Cooper.
“Nobody wants an army of robots working for them. Humans
are built differently and are better than that. They surprise you when you
least expect it with innovations and remarkable flexibility when they are in
tune with a job, a company, and a leader.”
Thank you to the book’s publisher for sending me an advance
copy of the book.
