Most of us have told the ‘white lie’ at some point during the work day. But, few have had that lie come back to haunt us like the cases of Enron or the IRS have. I must admit that seeming these situations in the news do make me stop and think about what promises I make to my clients and to my bosses on a typical workday. Are the ‘white lies’ really worth it should they come back around on another day?
The value we place on Ethics in leadership seems to have lost some of its value in today’s market. At least what we see in our leadership and how they value ethics has changed. I know that there have always been ‘behind the door’ deals being made, but chances are we just never knew about them. Now, with the changes in technology and the means to track our every move, it is very hard to keep that door closes to these deals. So, has our leadership today lost or changed its value or do we just have more transparency with it today?
In either case, leadership today seems to feel invincible to the repercussions that are the fall out of their behind the door deals or white lies. I think this speaks volumes in that they do not value ethics and do not fear anything will happen to them personally or to their businesses (hence the case with Enron and the IRS). To me ethics are what help set the leadership apart. If you have ethics, you have the drive to care and determination to figure out the right way to make good things happen. Yet, in today’s world it seems as though it is the complete opposite. There are many who will work hard together to crumble those who are the few do-gooders left.