One of the top executives got up and said a few words. Near the end of his remarks, he spoke about just how important ethical behavior is to the organization.
The reason why I found his words to be shocking is this executive is one of the least ethical individuals I've ever known. He won't steal your wallet or break into your home, but when it comes to bending rules to achieve his own ends, he's Willie Sutton.
And yet I'm convinced that his remarks were not an act. He truly believes that ethics are important and that he is an ethical person.
Now a natural question is to ask, "How many of the rest of us do the same thing?" That's quite appropriate. The ethicist Michael Josephson once noted that we judge others on their worst conduct while we judge ourselves on our noblest intentions. We gloss over the shabby and zero in on our grand moments. Many of us dine out for years on such recollections.
But what about a person who seems to do that more than normal? What brought him to the point where he seems to have no self-doubt at all regarding the propriety of his actions?
My guess is he was shaped by the following:
- A sense that he is such a good person he cannot make an unethical decision. If he decides something is correct, then - presto - it's ethically sound.
- A sense that if he does stray close to or across the boundary, he is protected by the fact that "everybody else does it."
- The fact that no one has ever called him to account. He made a point of never crossing anyone who could hurt him. He was unctuous to superiors and good assignments and promotions flowed his way. When conduct works, you tend to repeat it.
He's due to retire in a few years. I wonder if he'll make another speech about ethics.
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