During a recent talk for business leaders I made this comment: “You may have heard about sports ethics, workplace ethics, management ethics and business ethics. Here’s the truth; it’s just ethics!” I make it a point to keep ramming home the fact that if you really see yourself as an ethical person, you shouldn’t act a certain way in one area of your life and then different in other areas of your life. So if you are acting differently on the job than you do in your personal life, what’s up with that?
Let's face facts; you get more instructions with a new microwave than you do with a new job. The job itself might be easier than the "pop quizzes of character" you are going face at some time in your professional life. That’s where I think most businesses fall short. We usually do a good job of training the person “how to” do the job but focus very little if any on what I call the “pop quizzes” of character. You know what I mean…the times when employees are talking about others behind their backs, when they know there is theft going on and they don’t do or say anything, when they know the accounting practices are not honest, when there is unethical behavior by employees both in and out of the business that is the talk around the water cooler and so forth. This is the moment that “how to” training in job skills will not solve the dilemma at hand. This is the moment that most employees what "what they should do" to either confront this behavior or save their sanity in being around this atmosphere! Unfortunately, it also cements the fast track to ultimate failure within the business.
How you deal with each of the issues that come up every day in your business life as well as your personal life are really a reflection of your character. Each choice you make will be the brushstrokes of your ethical portrait. That being said...what’s your portrait look like?
Once I started to answer this question, it changed my life. Coming to terms with ethics can really improve your life. It forces you to step back and question what is your “plan” for your own character and reputation. The reason I emphasize the word plan is that you’ve heard of game plans, emergency plans, lesson plans and business plans. But what about character plans? Think about this, you can have a high grade point average, be really intelligent, be really skilled, have lots of money and material possessions, status and power and have horrible character. Do you agree? A person of good character doesn’t just “talk the ethics talk” they “walk the ethics walk.”
If anyone tells you that ethics is easy or simple, they’re either a fool or high! Ethics, many times, is easier said than done. That's why my trademarked "Strategies For Saving Your Sanity" coupled with "It's All About Character" programs are in such high demand in the business world. We all want to be thought of as trustworthy, respectful, responsible and a person of integrity. But these are just words. Words are just there. Character is putting the words “in action.” As I think about this, my website www.itsallaboutcharacter.com is really missing the phrase “in action” in the URL address in order to make it complete. It’s what you do in these times of crises that matters most. It is what you do that paints a picture of “your character.”
So, if we all want to be to be thought of as being ethical, where do we start? A starting point is asking yourself; “How do I want to be remembered?” How about as a worker? As a friend? As a spouse? As a parent? And even as a son or daughter? Do I want to be remembered as trustworthy? How come? How about being remembered as respectful, responsible and a person of integrity? How would my fellow employees say I’m doing in these areas right now? Would they say that my behaviors promote a positive reflection of our company? Would they want my choices taught to others?
(You might want to check out my talks I do for employees and management throughout the country. Pass them along to the people in your business that bring in speakers, coacdhes and consultants. They will thank for the heads up on these puppies. Not only are they high energy and motivational but they do get you to think—and that’s the first place to start if you want to influence the people in your business.) Click her for more information…
http://www.itsallaboutcharacter.com/talks/business/Business_Character[1].pdf
http://www.itsallaboutcharacter.com/talks/business/Business_Sanity[1].pdf
