By Robert A. Olszak
When I think of ethics, the first thing that comes to mind is doing what is right without compromise, without hesitation, without second guessing, without seeking approval or guidance from someone else – it is the instinct to always do the right thing; especially when no one is looking. As I thought about this article and the words that would eventually cover this page, I recalled a very special scene from the movieCourageous.
You may recall a faithful father who had lost his job and through the divine mercy of God has found another job in a factory where he was later offered a job in management. Here is the link to that scene if you want to watch it for yourself:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cW8LBJxLPG0.
Javier Martinez was asked to report 16 crates instead of 17 as listed on the inventory sheet. The boss raises the stakes by asking Javier, “You are on my team right?” He continues to let his request wrestle inside of Javier by telling him, “You think about tonight and give me your answer in the morning.”
It was clear that Javier was in a desperate position with the need to provide for his family. He was being presented an opportunity that was rare and that without a doubt could change his life and the life of his loved ones. If there was a character with every reason to agree to the little white lie to gain something bigger, Javier was that person. The question remained, what would he have to give up in order to gain what he desired?
The next morning Javier returns to the factory owner’s office and is immediately confronted with the harsh reality of making his decision and the exchange goes as follows:
Mr. Tyson: “Are you on my team?”
Javier: “Mr. Tyson, I am very grateful to have a job here but I cannot do as you have asked.”
Mr. Tyson: “Why is that?”
Javier: “Because it wrong Sir and it would be dishonoring to my God and my family to lie on that report.”
Mr. Tyson: “Do you understand what this could do to your job here?”
Javier: “Yes Sir, I do.”
Mr. Tyson: “Javier can I shake your hand? Son you just gave me the right answer.”
What this scene demonstrates is the real life moment of truth that so many in business, politics, or in life in general face – making the tough decision to do what is right. Unfortunately, not everyone is rooted in God, possesses the values and more importantly the courage to do the “right thing.” Far too often, morals and ethics are a sliding scale that is defined by the situation.
Questions that tend to rationalize the compromising of ethics may look like this: “Who am I hurting?” or “What is the risk?” or “Who will know?” The paradigm applied to guide one’s ethics resembles the philosophy of “What’s in it for me?” Dianna Booher in her Huffington Post article wrote, “Likewise, for leaders at work. When people decide to disregard their moral compass as the official business handbook, they begin to make up the rules as they go. Anything can happen, and the situation frequently proves to be a source of conflict.”
Abigail Landsbrook writes, “True morals are a priceless thing that possesses the highest value and can never be bought or sold at any cost.” I fear that in a world focused on increasing the bottom line, focused on survival in a volatile marketplace and with increased corporate pressure to produce; leaders are sacrificing their moral and ethical compass at an unparalleled rate. If our leaders are becoming of weak character than the future of our economy and the world is general is put at great risk.
Throughout my career I have always preached the importance of integrity and have shared with every employee who has ever reported to me this very simple fact, “Integrity and character is the only thing you can give away; it can never be taken from you.”
We are in a state of crisis, we are entering an age where more and more organizations are being run by men and women of weak moral character. Integrity and ethics are negotiated every day to achieve the results desired. To those who carry influence, call themselves leaders and find themselves compromising their own values I ask, “How can you sleep at night and do you grasp the consequences of your actions?”
The responsibility of leaders are to influence and grow future leaders. I fear that our future remains at risk if our future leaders are being shaped by individuals in positions of influence with a weak ethical compass. At the end of the day is success really achieved if it comes at the hand of the self-serving leadership who willfully unravels the thread of human values, moral fiber and organizational ethics?
So as we enter a new calendar year, I challenge all leaders and companies to reinvest into teaching business ethics by being disciplined to not repeat history. Learn from the lessons embedded in the whispers and media circus surrounding the fallout of those ethical causalities that have littered the business landscape.
Here are some quotes that will serve as a reminder and inspiration to preserve ethics in the workplace:
“Corporate executives and business owners need to realize that there can be no compromise when it comes to ethics, and there are no easy shortcuts to success. Ethics need to be carefully sown into the fabric of their companies.” -- Vivek Wadhwa
“In law a man is guilty when he violates the rights of others. In ethics he is guilty if he only thinks of doing so.” -- Immanuel Kant
“Ethics is knowing the difference between what you have a right to do and what is right to do.” -- Potter Stewart
“Integrity without knowledge is weak and useless, and knowledge without integrity is dangerous and dreadful.” – Samuel Johnson
Photo by Clemson.edu
Copyright 2014 all rights reserved by Olszak Impact LLC. Robert Olszak is now a contributing writer to Balcony 7 and will continue to offer diverse content related to issues of ethics in business and leadership. To follow me visithttp://blog.balcony7.com/ or http://robertolszak.com/
