Defining Moments - by Joseph L Badaracco (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

When Business and Personal Values Collide

"Defining moments" occur when managers face business decisions that trigger conflicts with their personal values. These moments test a person's commitment to those values and ultimately shape their character. But these are also the decisions that can make or break a career. Is there a thoughtful, yet pragmatic, way to make the right choice?

Bestselling author Joseph Badaracco shows how to approach these dilemmas using three case examples that, when taken together, represent the escalating responsibilities and personal tests managers face as they advance in their careers. The first story presents a young manager whose choice will affect him only as an individual; the second, a department head whose decision will influence his organization; the third, a corporate executive whose actions will have much larger, societal ramifications. To guide the decision-making process, the book draws on the insights of four philosophers--Aristotle, Machiavelli, Nietzsche, and James--who offer distinctly practical, rather than theoretical, advice. Defining Moments is the ultimate manager's guide for resolving issues of conflicting responsibility in practical ways.

Review Quotes

PRAISE for Defining Moments:

"Offers wisdom not only for managers, as the title implies, but for anyone facing . . . tough choices in life." -- Wall Street Journal

"Well-crafted and interactive . . . provides questions, reflections, and even a basic philosophy course." -- USA TODAY

"A surprisingly practical framework for confronting ethical problems." -- BusinessWeek

"Defining Moments offers valuable insight for practitioners on how to manage real-world situations and react appropriately on a day-to-day basis." -- Choice

About the Author

Joseph L. Badaracco is the John Shad Professor of Business Ethics at Harvard Business School, where he has taught courses on leadership, strategy, corporate responsibility, and management in the school's MBA and executive programs. His books on these subjects include the New York Times bestseller, Leading Quietly, and his latest book, Managing in the Gray.