Doing What Is Right
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As
we grow up, we are taught the difference between right and wrong. Even
in the absence of effective parenting, a growing problem in this day and
age, children look to schools, their religious institutions, their clubs
and peers, and the media for answers. Teachers are typically
overburdened, attendance at church has diminished to approximately 40%
of the populace, the media is more inclined to promote sex and violence
as opposed to morality, and there is a steady resurgence of juvenile
gang related problems in recent years. It's not until we are older, and
more mature, when the difference is made clear to us. Even then, it
remains fuzzy to some of us.
I'm not here to preach dogma, only to try and
articulate how we learn the differences between the two. Perhaps the
most influential philosophy in this regards is "The Golden Rule" whereby
we are admonished to "Do unto others as you would have others do unto
you." This is a fundamental part of modern human rights and a
philosophy embraced by all religions. Yet, it is something we have moved
away from in recent times as people have become more self-centered due
to socioeconomic influences; e.g., greed and competition.
In the corporate world, for example, there is more of
an inclination to establish "Win-Lose" relationships as opposed to
"Win-Win," as professed by the late quality assurance consultant W.
Edwards Deming. Under "Win-Lose," in order for one party to succeed,
another party must fail. Deming challenged this rationale and questioned
what is wrong with establishing "Win-Win" relationships whereby both
parties succeed. He often cited the story of the project to make NYLON,
the well known synthetic polymer, which was developed by two groups
working in cooperation, one from New York (NY) and another from London
(LON), hence the name. Joining forces, was simply the right thing to do.
Pursuant to Deming's work, I have learned that the
only type of business deal to enter into is a situation where both
parties benefit, not just one. If one party prospers at the expense of
the other, it is simply not worth it. Consequently, integrity and trust
are key elements for "Win-Win," two important socialization skills that
seem to be diminishing. There is nothing wrong with tough negotiations,
but when a deal is struck, you must have confidence that the other party
if going to uphold their end of the bargain.
Doing the right thing is not always easy; in fact, it
can be rather painful which is one reason why some people avoid it and
take the most expeditious way out. For example, people would rather find
a loophole than pay a creditor what is rightfully due them. Doing what
is right isn't always profitable either, as we discovered when we made
the decision to move our business from Cincinnati, Ohio to the Tampa Bay
area of Florida. At the time, we had several employees and when we
finally made the decision to move the company, we offered them two
choices, either we would help them find a new job locally or pay their
relocation expenses to Florida. Keep in mind, we were not required to do
either, but felt it was the right thing to do. Economically, it would
have been cheaper to terminate everyone and recruit new personnel in
Florida, but this was not the route we took. From this perspective,
doing "right" means accommodating others, not just yourself.
Doing what is right requires moral fiber which comes
from learned behavior. In the absence of parenting and formal teachings,
it is learned through the social mores of the people we come in contact
with, regardless if they are positive or negative role models. In other
words, in order to adapt to a social group, be it a vicious gang or a
Cub Scout pack, we will gravitate towards and emulate those we perceive
as confident leaders or those with particular talents we admire, hence
the need for positive role models. This also means the media has a moral
responsibility to our culture. If they depict unsavory characters with
questionable moral integrity in a favorable light, the actions of these
characters will be envied and emulated. Yes, life can definitely imitate
art.
So, is doing the right thing "right" for you? That
depends on your perceptions and priorities. Understand this though,
doing what is right is more than just adhering to the legal laws of the
land. It's also a matter of adhering to the moral values you have
personally adopted. Now for the big question, how does your morality
compare to what society expects; is it better, worse, or nothing more
than the status quo? Hopefully, it is better. Doing "right" requires
perseverance and an intolerance for what is "wrong." Bottom line, can
you look yourself in the mirror with any regrets?
Keep the Faith!
Note: All trademarks both marked and unmarked belong to
their respective companies.
About the Author
Tim Bryce is the Managing Director of
M. Bryce & Associates
(MBA) of Palm Harbor, Florida and has over 30 years of experience in the
management consulting field. He can be reached at timb001@phmainstreet.com
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Article Published/Sorted/Amended on Scopulus 2010-03-22 08:59:23 in Personal Articles
