pp. 138-139
DRAWING THE LINE

We live in a world of practicalities and it’s sometimes difficult to discern the line between ethical and non-ethical behavior. You are pressed from all sides to deliver results, but there may be regulations or policies that occasionally stand in your way. If you find yourself in a predicament like this, get your facts straight and carefully analyze the situation. As you consider your possible courses of action, weigh the consequences of each. Try to sort out what the real ethical issues are and then tend to them. The starting point is clear -- don’t break laws or regulations and don’t lie, cheat or steal. Those values are the foundation of your integrity.

But there may be times when things aren’t clear, and you will need the advice of a trusted mentor, supervisor, or other experienced person. You could be exaggerating or misunderstanding something that really isn’t a problem. Maintaining openness, especially with your supervisor or management, is one of your most important tools for dealing with conflicts of interest and other ethical situations where the correct choices aren’t always clear or depend on information you don’t know. If the situation has serious legal implications, you may have to seek advice from your organization’s legal counsel. In very extreme circumstances you might even have to seek personal legal counsel outside of your organization.

From an ethical point of view, the first few years of your career are important. They give you the ethical ground truth you will use to navigate through your encounters in the work place for the rest of your career. If your organization has high ethical standards, you will be well equipped. If not, I hope you are able to recognize, as Jeff did in our case study in Chapter 5, that it’s time to change jobs.

If you still aren’t convinced that ethical behavior is the right course for you, read the best-selling book, The Integrity Advantage, by Adrian Gostick and Dana Telford (2003). It builds a convincing case -- based on the advice of business leaders -- that integrity gives you a competitive advantage in the business world. That’s right -- ethically sound conduct is good business!

Business ethics are something to be aware of and not something to be afraid of. They’re part of your integrity. That integrity will help you make sound business decisions in those difficult situations where it’s tough to draw the line. As I said before:

• Know the relevant laws, regulations, and your organization’s business ethics policies.
• Evaluate the situation.
• Discuss it with others and seek advice.
• Try to isolate what’s illegal or unethical and avoid it.
• Treat the situation with openness and honesty.
• Then decide.

To help you decide, you can always use the newspaper headline test mentioned earlier. If your actions couldn’t stand up to that test, change your approach. By conducting your business in this way, you will also gain respect, which will help you rise in the organization as a leader.