Integrity
Matters
December 25, 2003
Financial
leaders should ask these questions
Question: (E-043)
Dear
Jim:
I
have read with interest your opinion on what eight "integrity-centered"
questions to ask business leaders to determine the integrity
level of their companies.
My
assumption is that our current business culture is simply
a reflection of society in general and of the times in
which we live. Is there anything we can do to make a difference?
Response:
Individuals
can have an impact. But individual actions are required
to create change.
First, you may want to answer these questions. The assumption
made is that you can address each of these areas of concern
with a gracious response, even though the position you
choose to take may be quite strong.
- When
did you last write to your congressional representative
expressing your concerns?
- What
is your response to sloppy service or behavior in a
restaurant? A hotel? On public transportation? From
a professional educator? A religious leader? Celebrities?
Do you suffer in silence or communicate disappointment
appropriately?
- Do
you practice courtesy even when confronted with rudeness?
- Will
you walk out of a movie theatre or any performance when
offended by the content or behavior?
- Do
you refuse to purchase, where practical, goods and services
that sponsor programs and activities that conflict with
your values? Including television programming?
- Is
what you profess to believe and value consistent with
how you and your close friends behave?
- Do
those who know you best understand and respect your
priorities?
- Do
you exhibit understanding and respect for the priorities
of those you know best?
Second,
assuming that you have addressed the eight questions above,
you are now in a position to cause change. Change begins
when each of us picks up the mirror and studies the reflection.
What
you do speaks louder than words. How you respond is more
important than what happened to you. What you allow to
ruin your day determines your strength. Where you spend
your energies shapes your reputation.
When
you choose to take your "stand" generally
determines the outcome.
People
have not changed a great deal since the very beginning
of time, all the way back to Adam and Eve and Cain and
Abel.
Human
beings still make mistakes. A significant number of people
are pretty good and others are rotten (at least from our
perspective). Find the good ones and accept responsibility
for change.
In
the last analysis, these 10 two-letter words summarize
what reality is, namely, to accept the responsibility
that: "If it is to be, it is up to me."
Because
it is true that integrity matters, then we must start
with ourselves and those with whom we already have relationships.
Beyond that, we are pretty much "at risk"
unless we are willing to stand up, with those of like
minds, to be counted.
