TLP205: Grandstanding: The Use and Abuse of Moral Talk

Justin Tosi is the author of the recently released book, Grandstanding: The Use and Abuse of Moral Talk. Such one-upmanship is not just annoying, but dangerous. Using the analytic tools of psychology and moral philosophy, Justin explains what drives us to behave in this way, and what we stand to lose by taking it too far.   Key Takeaways [2:50] Grandstanding is the use and abuse of moral talk for self-promotion. [5:45] As we see ourselves in such a positive light, it makes sense why we want to grandstand and let the whole world know how great we are. [9:50] The difference between morality and ethics is that ethics showcases a general baseline on how to live, what’s good for you and others around you. Morality, on the other hand, is much narrower. [14:25] No matter what you believe or the environment you are in, you will have people try to move up in status within their peer group. [20:15] Leaders don’t need an official ideology when it comes to politics. We’re here to do good work and your political views don’t necessarily impact the quality of your work. [23:10] It’s important to treat people the way they like to be treated, so politics aside, it’s also important to understand their points of view and beliefs. [25:50] We want to bring intense culture to an organization, and this is important, but when you do it, the main motivation should not be trying to impress people. [30:50] Morality is about helping other people, it’s not about helping yourself look good. [34:35] Figuring out what a good life is to you is one of the most important questions, not just in moral philosophy, but also in life. [40:45] Listener challenge: Stop grandstanding yourself!   Quotable Quotes “People want recognition for being morally good.” “Shallow agreement is your friend. You can agree on a general principle without getting into definite disputes.” “Do what’s right, do your best, and treat others as they’d like to be treated.” “How can you talk about values without slipping into this trap of trying to show other people how good you are?” “Am I trying to do good or just look good?”   Resources Mentioned Connect with Justin on Twitter:   The Leadership Podcast is Sponsored by:     Cultivate Grit. Amplify Action. Investing in yourself isn’t selfish. Click to get gritty!     Free downloads of on Delegation, Time Management, Sales, and more.