In Giving Voice to Values – How to Speak Your Mind When You Know What’s Right, Mary C. Gentile introduces a practical approach to ethical decision-making and leadership in the workplace. The book focuses on how individuals can effectively voice and act on their values in challenging situations. Rather than debating what is right or wrong, Gentile emphasizes preparation, rehearsal, and leveraging personal strengths to confidently navigate ethical dilemmas. She offers strategies, real-world examples, and actionable frameworks to empower individuals to advocate for their values in professional environments.

This guide refers to the 2010 McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Edition.

Summary

In Part 1, Gentile emphasizes the need for a shift in business ethics education. Rather than focusing solely on awareness of ethical dilemmas or theoretical frameworks like deontology or utilitarianism, Gentile advocates for practical action. She highlights how ethical failures are not simply the result of a few “bad apples,” but often stem from a collective inability to voice and act on values. Gentile introduces her Giving Voice to Values (GVV) framework, which equips individuals with the tools, scripts, and practice necessary to confidently enact their values in the workplace. Through preparation, practice, and role-playing, GVV aims to make ethical actions more feasible in real-world settings, and empower professionals to speak up in difficult situations. The book seeks to foster values-driven leadership by providing strategies for overcoming external pressures and rationalizations that prevent individuals from standing by their values.

In Part 2, Gentile lays the groundwork for how individuals can effectively act on their values in the workplace. She presents the concept of practicing ethical action, emphasizing the importance of developing the skills and confidence to voice values through preparation and rehearsal, similar to building muscle memory. Gentile encourages individuals to engage in a thought experiment, imagining how they would act if they were to voice their values, and crafting scripts to respond to common ethical dilemmas. She also introduces the idea of “enablers” and “disablers,” factors that either help or hinder a person’s ability to act on their values. Also, Gentile emphasizes that acting on values is not about moral superiority but about effective leadership and influencing positive change. Gentile highlights that even small acts of ethical behavior can have a ripple effect, which can help promote a more values-driven, organizational culture. She encourages practice and persistence, framing ethical action as something that becomes easier with time and effort.

In Part 3, Gentile explores strategies for handling ethical conflicts in the workplace by emphasizing the concepts of normalization, purpose, and self-alignment. Gentile argues that ethical dilemmas are a normal part of professional life and should be anticipated, as doing so can help reduce emotional stress and make it easier to act on values. She highlights how viewing ethical challenges as rare disrupts our ability to respond effectively. Gentile speaks to the importance of defining a broader professional purpose by demonstrating how framing career goals beyond immediate success empowers individuals to handle ethical challenges more easily. She discusses how people can navigate these conflicts when they view their work as contributing to larger social or organizational integrity. Additionally, Gentile emphasizes the role of self-knowledge and personal alignment in voicing values. By crafting a narrative that aligns personal strengths with ethical decisions, individuals can act more confidently and effectively.

In the last section of the book, Gentile emphasizes the development of a personal voice for expressing values in the workplace, highlighting it as a skill honed through practice, self-awareness, and understanding of organizational contexts. She discusses how individuals can adapt their communication styles to different situations, stressing that finding effective ways to articulate values is key to overcoming challenges. Gentile explores common rationalizations used to justify unethical behavior and the ways that preparing counterarguments can help navigate these situations. She also emphasizes the importance of recognizing decision-making biases, which can cloud ethical judgment. Gentile concludes her book by urging individuals to practice their responses to understand that voicing values is about finding the right narrative to express personal integrity. By building confidence and learning from both successes and failures, individuals can become more effective at standing up for their values in complex organizational environments.