Tangled-up in an ethical bind? Here’s an escape strategy!
You know those scenes in movies where the protagonist has to make a decision and all of a sudden, a little angel and devil appear on their shoulders and have a debate about what the character should do? Well, as literal and campy as it may be, sometimes I think that is one of the best ways to show the battle that goes on inside of our heads from time to time, especially when it comes to business decisions.
On the one hand, we want to keep everything we do on the up and up, but on the other, sometimes we think it might be OK to bend our morals just a little to get the upper hand when it comes to taking care of business. Here are just a few reminders of why dishonesty and “bending the rules” just a little bit never pays off in the long run.
It’s a slippery slope. When you are faced with ethical dilemmas and you make a compromise on your morals, you will find it easier and easier to do so in the future. It’s best not to start compromising on what you believe to be right in the first place. Will it result in a few losses? Probably. But holding true to your ethical core is much more important.
Compromise will catch up to you. When you do start bending a little off of the most ethical thing to do, in some form or another, that dishonesty will likely catch up to you in the future. Whether you get a talking to from your superiors or you get fired for your actions, there are always repercussions for dishonest actions.
Think about the future. Next time your head is having an argument between the angel and devil on your shoulder, stop and think about how this will affect your decisions down the road. Will you have to continue to tell white lies and at what point will they stop becoming harmless?
Consider the lessons you’re teaching others. What are you teaching the future generations when you show them that the best way to get ahead is by lying and manipulating the system in order to get ahead? Is this what you want to leave behind as a legacy? More than likely it’s not, so teach your employees that honesty is always the best policy.
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