After watching the two videos presented by The Ethics Guy (2012) and Chuck Gallagher (2013) it was very easy to identify the grey are between black and white is troublesome for many in the workplace. Simple audience polls indicated that everyone had or known about an ethics violation in their professional careers. So then why does it happen so often?
I can only assume everyone operates under the provision of knowing right from wrong, however, sometimes it can be ambiguous. If organizational policies are not clear or if leaders do not demonstrate the ethical behaviors the organization demands then it is easy to catch yourself on the wrong side of the fence. Further, leaders who exhibit the mindset of “do as I say, not as I do” establish an environment prone to unethical practices.
This leads me to the examples in my professional career whereas leaders do not lead by shining example. I’ve seen on more than one occasion colleagues having been reprimanded for tardiness or failing to show up in the proper attire for a particular duty. The punishment may not have been torturous in nature however often that very same leader who has chastised those individuals would him/herself arrive late to work or in the improper uniform; without consequence. Leaders who mistakenly believe that their subordinates eyes are not closely fixate on them are either ignorant or arrogant. Leaders must embody the rules, policies, procedures, or requirements they impose on their subordinates.
A positive example, one where you may say he “fell on his own sword” is where a senior individual openly admitted to an unauthorized access of certain classified information. The mistake was genuine and as such caused no harm as it was identified and corrected. The individual having committed the violation self-reported the incident. One might think leaders would praise the honesty and utilize the event as a learning point. However, instead the individual received a significant amount of reprimands and suffered. The fact remains no harm was done. The individuals acted ethically by self-reporting the violation, possibly in the wake of reprimands. However, these leaders separately set the precedent and as such no future self-reported violations have been reported. I wonder why?
The Ethics Guy. (2012) You Tube Broadcast. Keynote Speech Excerpts from The Ethics Guy. Retrieved 16 July 2013 from: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eLxbHBpilJQ
Gallagher, C. (2013). You Tube Broadcast. Business Ethics Keynote Speaker - Chuck Gallagher - shares Straight Talk about Ethics!. Retrieved 16 July 2013 from: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gUJ00vNGCPE
No comments:
Post a Comment