We hear a lot about the "tone at the top" these days. In discussions of business, politics or church, the character of leaders is often made public in the media. What we've come to understand is that not all leaders do as they say. Some CEOs promote a code of conduct but backdate documents to their advantage. Most political leaders criticize the behavior of other politicians and then cover up or justify their own similar behavior. Some church pastors criticize other pastors and, yet, live with sin in their own lives.
Despite ethical codes of conduct and Biblical standards of behavior, we like to do what we like to do! Oops! I included you and I with the visible ones. It's time to be honest. I know the right things to do. Sometimes, I just don't want to do them! I don't want you to know that, however, because I think I could lose the high regard I believe you have for me! If I can tell everyone what is wrong with the world then maybe I can change it, myself excluded of course. Hopefully, I will be remembered in history as a person that did good, even though I wasn't! Silly, isn't it?
Hypocritical behavior only produces temporary change. Rules made by people for the purpose of controlling or manipulating others have no lasting effects. Only the demonstration of genuine, good character can have leave a positive legacy for others. In the movie Gladiator, General Maximus said it clearly. He stirred his men to demonstrate "strength and honor" by this phrase, "What you do here today will echo throughout eternity." Then, he did what he said!
Monday, August 31, 2009
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Caring and Compassion vs. Judgment
I have to admit it. Sometimes I have little compassion for others. No, most of the time I don't! I want to, but the things in my heart get in the way. Take people that are suffering, for example, financially, physically or in other ways. Financially because they've lived beyond their means for years or physically because they've not taken care of their bodies. Or when they've lived a lie or made stupid decisions that have brought hurtful consequences. I struggle with caring and having compassion for these people. My natural tendency is to judge them, at least in my mind. How about you?
I don't know about you, but I usually end up feeling guilty about my judgments of others, about my lack of compassion. Guilt comes mostly because I do or have done the same things! Worse than being a hypocrite, I know my judgments can affect the ability of other persons to grow beyond their faults. I also know what I sow, I reap!
My mother, for example, lived in fear most of the later years of her life. Fear is high on the list of items I judged quickly and I spoke about her fear often. One day someone rebuked me for my condemning words. This person told me that change could only happen when I stopped judging her with my words. I stopped and she began to change! Not only that, I began (I said began!) to judge others less often.
For change to happen in our lives, caring and compassion must go beyond tolerance of others faults. Our actions must line up with our heart motives. Our heart motives can only change by making change a priority and by seeking divine counsel and assistance. Seeking revelation of God's words in the Holy Bible, meditating on scriptures, seeking instruction from seasoned mentors and developing relationships with other like-minded persons provide a framework for change. Whether in business or in our personal lives, our ability to care and have compassion for others is a crucial building block in developing our ethics for success!
I don't know about you, but I usually end up feeling guilty about my judgments of others, about my lack of compassion. Guilt comes mostly because I do or have done the same things! Worse than being a hypocrite, I know my judgments can affect the ability of other persons to grow beyond their faults. I also know what I sow, I reap!
My mother, for example, lived in fear most of the later years of her life. Fear is high on the list of items I judged quickly and I spoke about her fear often. One day someone rebuked me for my condemning words. This person told me that change could only happen when I stopped judging her with my words. I stopped and she began to change! Not only that, I began (I said began!) to judge others less often.
For change to happen in our lives, caring and compassion must go beyond tolerance of others faults. Our actions must line up with our heart motives. Our heart motives can only change by making change a priority and by seeking divine counsel and assistance. Seeking revelation of God's words in the Holy Bible, meditating on scriptures, seeking instruction from seasoned mentors and developing relationships with other like-minded persons provide a framework for change. Whether in business or in our personal lives, our ability to care and have compassion for others is a crucial building block in developing our ethics for success!
Saturday, August 22, 2009
Do Codes of Conduct Ensure Ethical Behavior?
With the passage of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act in 2002 came the requirement for publicly-held companies to establish and communicate a code of conduct for their businesses. Most professions, like the CPA profession, have had codes of conduct for decades. Many governmental entities and their employees are required by law to adhere to certain ethical practices. Listening to the daily news, however, may cause us to wonder if any of these codes of conduct work! In this blog and several to follow, I'll discuss this important issue.
In past blogs, I've discussed the impact of heart issues on our behavior. If the life experiences stored in our hearts lead us to unethical or even criminal behavior, a code of conduct probably won't change us. On the other hand if we are unaware of acceptable standards of behavior, the framework of such a code may help us discern right from wrong.
Perhaps a more important issue affecting the results of establishing a code of conduct are its underlying principles. Are they created by man for the benefit of man or are the principles rooted in a stronger power? In other words, are the principles based on man's standards or are they God's? Whether we believe in God or not, many business leaders have learned that principles demonstrated by the historical life of Jesus Christ are highly effective in business. A book written by a well-known business consultant, Laurie Beth Jones, entitled Jesus, CEO--Using Ancient Wisdom for Visionary Leadership, is an excellent source of study if you are interested.
In this series of blogs, I'll present components of a business code of conduct based on God's standards from the Holy Bible. Many of these principles have been incorporated in the business practices of small and large businesses; they are the foundation of ethics for success! Come follow me on this journey!
In past blogs, I've discussed the impact of heart issues on our behavior. If the life experiences stored in our hearts lead us to unethical or even criminal behavior, a code of conduct probably won't change us. On the other hand if we are unaware of acceptable standards of behavior, the framework of such a code may help us discern right from wrong.
Perhaps a more important issue affecting the results of establishing a code of conduct are its underlying principles. Are they created by man for the benefit of man or are the principles rooted in a stronger power? In other words, are the principles based on man's standards or are they God's? Whether we believe in God or not, many business leaders have learned that principles demonstrated by the historical life of Jesus Christ are highly effective in business. A book written by a well-known business consultant, Laurie Beth Jones, entitled Jesus, CEO--Using Ancient Wisdom for Visionary Leadership, is an excellent source of study if you are interested.
In this series of blogs, I'll present components of a business code of conduct based on God's standards from the Holy Bible. Many of these principles have been incorporated in the business practices of small and large businesses; they are the foundation of ethics for success! Come follow me on this journey!
Monday, August 17, 2009
Has Lying Become an Acceptable Business Practice?
While a friend was visiting from out of state, the transmission on his van began leaking. Since there was no loss of functionality, he drove the van to a new car dealership for inspection. The service consultant explained an internal seal had broken and the metal around the seal was damaged, which required replacement of an expensive part. The original repair estimate of $700 was now $2,100! Not only did the repair estimate triple, the service consultant said the part had to be shipped in and the job could not be completed for three days! Questioned about their diagnosis, it became apparent the dealership had not disassembled the transmission and could not have known that the internal seal was broken and that the part was damaged! Some might call this scenario extortion but, at best, it is lying and is not acceptable!
Spending a few minutes on the phone with the owner of a reputable transmission service, my friend was given a worst-case repair estimate of $1,100 (including a free tow to their location). Transmission service employees worked over night and into the weekend to complete the repair job, installed several parts at no charge and enabled my friend to return to his home in time for the first school day for his children! Amazingly, the owner told my friend that he could call with his credit card number when he returned home!
What a contrast: Unethical business practices versus the highest standards of integrity! The owner of the transmission service and his employee (Colorado Transmission Service in Colorado Springs) demonstrated their servant hearts and Christian values by putting my friend's needs before their own! These are ethics for success!
Spending a few minutes on the phone with the owner of a reputable transmission service, my friend was given a worst-case repair estimate of $1,100 (including a free tow to their location). Transmission service employees worked over night and into the weekend to complete the repair job, installed several parts at no charge and enabled my friend to return to his home in time for the first school day for his children! Amazingly, the owner told my friend that he could call with his credit card number when he returned home!
What a contrast: Unethical business practices versus the highest standards of integrity! The owner of the transmission service and his employee (Colorado Transmission Service in Colorado Springs) demonstrated their servant hearts and Christian values by putting my friend's needs before their own! These are ethics for success!
Thursday, August 13, 2009
The Land of the Free
If I'm not mistaken, the right to free speech was given to U.S. citizens in the constitution. This includes the right to choose when to speak, what to say and how to say it. Long before the constitution, God created mankind with a free will. Free will gives us a choice in everything we do and say.
Because we have a free will and the right to free speech, we can choose to lie or tell the truth. We can speak softly or yell loudly. We can behave with the highest integrity or with the lowest morals. We can tell others to do as we say and do the opposite ourselves. We can be honest or dishonest. Whatever we consider or do in life, the choice is ours.
To make the right choice, there must be a standard to guide us. Your beliefs may not be the same as mine so your choices will likely be different than mine unless we both use the same standard. When we are no longer free to choose a standard, we are no longer free. When we are told what we must believe or do by a government, by an employer or by a church, erosion of freedom has begun.
You may be aware that our government has asked that we inform officials of individuals that are critical of government policies and proposed legislation, particularly government-run health care. You probably also have heard certain politicians say that it is un-American to speak publicly against politicians at town hall meetings. We are witnessing the heart motives of a government administration that has created its own standards which they are attempting to force on you and me. Not only are we facing severe limitations of our freedoms by the current administration, proposed health care and other legislation is intended by its proponents to be the only standard we can choose. Standards for ethics, integrity and behavior will be set by bureaucrats. The land of the free will be no longer! Speak now or forever hold your peace!
Because we have a free will and the right to free speech, we can choose to lie or tell the truth. We can speak softly or yell loudly. We can behave with the highest integrity or with the lowest morals. We can tell others to do as we say and do the opposite ourselves. We can be honest or dishonest. Whatever we consider or do in life, the choice is ours.
To make the right choice, there must be a standard to guide us. Your beliefs may not be the same as mine so your choices will likely be different than mine unless we both use the same standard. When we are no longer free to choose a standard, we are no longer free. When we are told what we must believe or do by a government, by an employer or by a church, erosion of freedom has begun.
You may be aware that our government has asked that we inform officials of individuals that are critical of government policies and proposed legislation, particularly government-run health care. You probably also have heard certain politicians say that it is un-American to speak publicly against politicians at town hall meetings. We are witnessing the heart motives of a government administration that has created its own standards which they are attempting to force on you and me. Not only are we facing severe limitations of our freedoms by the current administration, proposed health care and other legislation is intended by its proponents to be the only standard we can choose. Standards for ethics, integrity and behavior will be set by bureaucrats. The land of the free will be no longer! Speak now or forever hold your peace!
Saturday, August 8, 2009
The Ultimate Unethical Behavior--Deception
From my study of business law years ago, I remember that contracts are only valid if both parties understand the contents of the contract. Laws have been enacted that allow unilateral cancellation of certain contracts within a number of days of signing to make sure all parties understand the effects of the contract. One of the purposes of these and other statutory protections is to prevent one party from taking advantage of another through deception.
Deception is simply defined as the act of deceiving or misleading. I suppose that act could be unintentional but in most cases there is a purpose. Years ago I purchased a vehicle from a classified ad in the newspaper. When I inspected the vehicle, the owner told me is was in good condition. After trusting his words, I found out later the engine had so many problems it needed to be misplaced! Yes, I was naive. I should have had the car checked out by a mechanic. Instead, I trusted the owner and was deceived.
You may be aware that this same situation is happening to us every day in our government. Leaders we should be able to trust are telling us how good proposed legislation will be for us as they rush to make it law before anyone, including members of congress, has time to read and understand its contents. Politicians, many of them lawyers, are voting on bills designed along party lines that they have not read in detail. With a means justifies the end attitude, the current administration is passing legislation that is more than deceptive, some of its provisions are evil!
If you don't believe me, consider just two examples. First, the Cash for Clunkers bill seems like a good deal since a lot of people get new cars. To reduce the use of fossil fuels, we're told, the older vehicles and all their parts are being destroyed. While many lower income families don't have transportation to get them to work, these "clunkers" (many of which are in decent running condition!) are being demolished. Then there is the debt on the new car. Credit got this nation into the problem we face, so more credit is going to get us out? Right. Oh, don't forget the clause in the bill that requires every computer used by dealers to file for the rebates to become government property! No deception here!
Do you have the stomach for one more example? I think most of us, regardless of political affiliation, would like to see health care for everyone. That would be good. So when we hear politicians talking about how good government-run health care will be, we trust they have our best interests at heart. In fact, we trust them so much we don't read the bill and fight to the death with anyone that is critical of its contents. One read of even a summary of the bill will reveal that the government, now our god, has the power over life and death--ours! Killing the young and the old will now be powers of bureaucrats under government-run health care! Among the many limitations of freedom in the bill, you'll also find the requirement for each of us to provide our personal banking information, along with electronic funds transfer authorization, to the highly-reliable voter registration organization, ACORN!
Here's how I see the progression: Failure to conduct the affairs of business, politics and personal lives ethically has bred unethical behavior as a norm. Most unethical behavior is supported by deception. Eventually, deception gives birth to blatant evil. Has this happened to our nation? You be the judge!
Deception is simply defined as the act of deceiving or misleading. I suppose that act could be unintentional but in most cases there is a purpose. Years ago I purchased a vehicle from a classified ad in the newspaper. When I inspected the vehicle, the owner told me is was in good condition. After trusting his words, I found out later the engine had so many problems it needed to be misplaced! Yes, I was naive. I should have had the car checked out by a mechanic. Instead, I trusted the owner and was deceived.
You may be aware that this same situation is happening to us every day in our government. Leaders we should be able to trust are telling us how good proposed legislation will be for us as they rush to make it law before anyone, including members of congress, has time to read and understand its contents. Politicians, many of them lawyers, are voting on bills designed along party lines that they have not read in detail. With a means justifies the end attitude, the current administration is passing legislation that is more than deceptive, some of its provisions are evil!
If you don't believe me, consider just two examples. First, the Cash for Clunkers bill seems like a good deal since a lot of people get new cars. To reduce the use of fossil fuels, we're told, the older vehicles and all their parts are being destroyed. While many lower income families don't have transportation to get them to work, these "clunkers" (many of which are in decent running condition!) are being demolished. Then there is the debt on the new car. Credit got this nation into the problem we face, so more credit is going to get us out? Right. Oh, don't forget the clause in the bill that requires every computer used by dealers to file for the rebates to become government property! No deception here!
Do you have the stomach for one more example? I think most of us, regardless of political affiliation, would like to see health care for everyone. That would be good. So when we hear politicians talking about how good government-run health care will be, we trust they have our best interests at heart. In fact, we trust them so much we don't read the bill and fight to the death with anyone that is critical of its contents. One read of even a summary of the bill will reveal that the government, now our god, has the power over life and death--ours! Killing the young and the old will now be powers of bureaucrats under government-run health care! Among the many limitations of freedom in the bill, you'll also find the requirement for each of us to provide our personal banking information, along with electronic funds transfer authorization, to the highly-reliable voter registration organization, ACORN!
Here's how I see the progression: Failure to conduct the affairs of business, politics and personal lives ethically has bred unethical behavior as a norm. Most unethical behavior is supported by deception. Eventually, deception gives birth to blatant evil. Has this happened to our nation? You be the judge!
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