In The End, It's
All You Have
I have been on the road for about a month now conducting the Leadership Team Challenge Workshop – a "boot camp" for effective leadership. While driving, my mind wandered back to a conversation I recently had with a friend who had walked away from his position as an HR director of a property. It was distressing to hear him explain how much of an advocate he had been for the workers of this organization and how difficult it was to hand them back over to the powers that be. The organization my friend worked for was not only unfamiliar with the basics of their professional and legal obligations, they also created a hostile working environment for many of their employees.
This organization apparently felt that it was above the law. He said management had asked that critical papers be destroyed and information be falsified to protect the organization from possible legal action. This is why my friend left. I got a sense that it had become a grind every day to make sure that workers rights were not being violated. The fight was for a just cause and my friend, who I consider to be one of the most professional individuals I know, stayed long after many others would have left. When told to perform illegal actions he decided he had to step down. This was due to his loyalty to something even greater than those he served. It was his dedication to his personal code of ethics.
Many people never seriously evaluate their own personal code of ethics. Do you know the definition of the word ethics? It is simply the rules or standards governing the conduct of a person or the members of a profession.
Having a high personal code of ethics is vital to success in today's business world. Here is a brief poem that addresses personal ethics. I often recite it during my leadership workshops:
THE MIRROR
When you get what you want in your struggle for self, and the world makes you king or queen for a day, just go to the mirror and look at yourself, and see what the reflection has to say!
It isn't your father, or mother, or spouse, whose judgment you must pass, the person whose verdict counts most in your life, is the one staring back in the glass.
Some people may say you're a straight shootin' chum, and call you a wonderful gal or guy, but the reflection in the glass says your only a bum, if you can't look yourself in the eye.
The person in the glass is the one to please, never mind all the rest. If the person in the glass is your friend, and at ease, then you've passed the most dangerous, difficult test.
You may fool the whole world down the pathway of life and get pats on your back as you pass, but your final reward will be heartache and tears if you've cheated the man or woman in the glass.
You may often choose which rules to bend, just remember the person in the glass is with you clear to the end.
It is easy to do the right thing when things are going well. It is much more difficult when you find yourself in a situation were there is significant personal cost for standing up for what is right.
If you would like to contribute an idea for an up-coming article or want more information about the customer service, leadership & teambuilding services I provide through Peter Scott's Competitive Edge please visit the web site at www.PsCompetitiveEdge.com.
Until next time,
Continue to strive for excellence!
Peter Scott
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