Ethics' Upside: An Appreciation of Morality and Principles
In a recent development, an associate at a company faced a challenging situation while working on a major project. The associate, aware of their inability to meet the project's deadline due to a lack of technical expertise, chose to prioritise quality work and honesty over rushing the job.
This decision, driven by ethical qualities such as honesty, trust, accountability, and integrity, presented an opportunity for the company to demonstrate ethical leadership and build a foundation for professional growth. The associate's actions, while potentially impacting their jobs and career, were met with understanding and support from the management.
The scenario, part of an e-Factor!® series, revealed that every situation has an element of ethics, and the response is a choice between focusing on positives or negatives. In this case, the associate's honesty was seen as a positive, offering a chance for training, mentoring, or coaching to bring their expertise up to the required standard.
The associate's concern for job quality, meeting deadlines, and customer service was evident, as they gave enough time for alternatives to be considered for completing the project. The management, recognising the value of the associate's honesty, had an opportunity to offer training, support, and mentoring, thereby reinforcing the company's commitment to ethical culture.
The organization, in this instance, needed to balance customer deadlines and commitments with the priority of quality work. Other teammates could be asked to provide assistance, training, or guidance in this situation. Contacting the client for an extension to the due date could also be a potential solution.
The stakeholders in this scenario were the associate, the self, the organization, and the client, each with different interests and requirements. The associate, concerned about the consequences to their job and career for being honest, demonstrated a level of trust in the management and the company culture that allowed them to be open about the issue.
The corporate culture has an opportunity to use this situation to build trust and accountability, key components of an ethical culture. Studies show that such a focus offers business benefits such as increased market value, higher productivity rates, more employee engagement, and lower turnover.
In a world where ethics in business are often overlooked, with whistleblowers being viewed negatively, this scenario serves as a reminder of the importance of ethical leadership. The internet can provide key technical training and resources for the associate, further supporting the company's commitment to their professional development.
In conclusion, this situation presents a positive example of ethical leadership and its impact on business. By prioritising honesty, trust, accountability, and integrity, the associate and the management have the potential to foster a culture that values these qualities, leading to long-term benefits for the company and its employees.
