Right and Wrong in the Eye of the Beholder

Not so long ago we had a clear and consistent value system. Today we ebb and flow based on the situation and those involved. What's OK for one business executive may not be ethical in another executive's eyes.

That makes for an interesting playing field, doesn't it?

How can we stay in our own ethics and yet hope to compete when others can change the rules based on their own personal opinions? For example, when one company sees predatory pricing as 'just part of the game' and another views it as ' not acceptable' - who gets the advantage? What about when your competitor is willing to throw nasty accusations at you, but you're not willing to step into the fray by attacking them publicly in return? How can we possibly win in those conditions?

Do we stretch our own ethics to remain competitive?

I hope not! My friends call me a PollyAnna, but I still believe in the innate goodness of humanity. I also believe that customers see through the folks who are twisting ethics to make their own gains. I certainly sense them, and based on the social media discussions all around us - I'd say a lot of professionals are calling a spade a spade when it comes to business ethics. I believe that customers are just as insightful - and many are saying enough is enough!

Customers recognize vendors with questionable integrity.

It may take a while (and heaven knows that patience is on my list of things to acquire) but I believe that businesses and people who thrive thanks to questionable ethics will be found out. Just look at our recent economic history - and the backlash against Wall Street from the American public. As my mom used to say, "What goes around comes around." What better place for that to be true than in business!

So why do some people push the envelope of integrity?

I was chatting with a friend about an ethical issue he's having out on the social nets. Someone is representing their thoughts and their writing as coming from him. Who knows why. My friend had to publicly declare what was going on so folks would know the truth. My friends' comment about it was right on - and made me sad.

"Some people just don't know right from wrong."

It seems true at face value. Just look at the world around us. From major sports figures and performance drugs, to businesses cheating on their financial reports to our own democratic process. Everywhere we turn it seems that someone is stretching integrity - or ignoring it completely. What does that say about us, our businesses, our whole way of believing and thinking?

Somewhere, deep down inside, we all know the fundamentals of right and wrong.

When the bankers played their financial games - they knew deep down inside that they were in the wrong. They just didn't listen to that knowing. They followed their darker instincts, along with the herd of others who were doing the same. But just because someone else is doing it doesn't make it right. Anything but.

It's time to listen to what we know - and act upon it!

We know right from wrong. Our core small voice tells us whenever we step beyond the boundaries of honesty and fairness. When we push the line on ethics - we know it full well. Our conscious is screaming at us all the way across that line.

Can it be that easy to find the ethical path of integrity? I think it can be. Just listen to the voice deep inside us - to the core truth that lives in us all. We can all hear it. We can stand up and be counted for integrity in business. Put the reality on the table when we see questionable business ethics. Be gracious, but be firm.

If we all stand for the right - hopefully we can change the eyes of all beholders.