You can be an unethical rule follower.
Why does ethics training suck? Because nobody is inspired by being told what NOT to do. For one to two hours the message is basically the same across most organizations. We hear things like:
● Don’t do _____ or you're going to get in trouble.
● Don’t do _____ or you could get fired.
● Don’t do _____ or your department will get in trouble.
● Don’t do _____ or your department could get fined.
● Don’t do _____ or you’ll end up in the headlines.
● Don’t do _____ or you’ll disappoint your mom, kids, or spouse.
● Don’t be like ______, he/she’s in jail right now.
“Woohooo! Sign me up for some more of that! I love being threatened on the job. That makes me show up at work motivated!”
What if we approached this important topic in a different way? Instead of saying “Don’t do this!” or “Don’t do that!” What if we said, “This is what we DO. This is who we are and that is why we make good ethical choices.”
We should focus on exercising character more than just avoiding punishment.
We followed the ideas of Aristotle when we developed our definition of character. Actually, Aristostle used the word “Ethos”, which is where we get the word ethics. It is often translated as Character as well.
Andersons’ 12 Words (or less) Definition of Character:
“Your habitual way of operating. How you are is who you are.”
You are what your habits show you to be. You develop your habits one choice at a time. Each time you make a choice, it makes it easier to make that same choice again. Each time you choose a particular behavior you take another step closer to making that behavior a habit. And your habits, the good ones and the bad ones, form your character.
The approach I am suggesting does not eliminate reviewing the laws, rules, or regulations. But just following the law, rules and regulations does not make someone an ethical person. You can be an unethical rule follower. We need to have a higher bar for our character than just staying out of trouble.
The once a year, yearly review of all the ways you can get in trouble if you don’t follow the rules has not moved the needle in our society. There is more cheating in schools, colleges and graduate programs than ever. And despite the increased emphasis on ethics policies and training, the headlines show that in businesses, government agencies, and even non-profits, those efforts are obviously not making an impact. About all they have done is protect larger organizations from legal repercussions. If the organization can prove somebody took the class, the organization is covered. It can just be a CYA (Cover Your A**) program.
Yet each year, somebody finds new ways to act unethically, and a new law, rule, or regulation has to be drafted. Then we are told, “Hey! Here is something else that will get you in trouble.” This guy made a poor choice, so now we had to write this, and bring you back this year. We will review all the previous rules from last year's training. Plus the new ones based on the most recent bad choices of people in our industry.”
Let’s proactively focus on who people want to be versus reactively focusing on how to not end up in jail just like “Johnny”. Let’s start from the position of emphasizing character. When we exercise the Six Habits of Character - Courage, Humility, Integrity, Selflessness, Duty, and Positivity - we will not only avoid being like “Johnny” we will also become better leaders, spouses, friends and parents. We will become Leaders of Character.
Question:
● Which Habits of Character can play a role in a poor ethical choice?
● When have you seen somebody fail ethically even when a rule wasn’t broken?
Here is a quick assessment that will take you 5 minutes to figure it out. Nobody will ever see your results but you.
Warning: If you are not going to be honest with yourself this is a worthless assessment.
To take the assessment use the QR code above or go to www.MYCHARACTERTEST.com
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