In government, for example, Attorney General Janet Reno stands out for her principle-centered leadership. Reno isn't afraid to take tough stands and live with the consequences. As the first woman to hold the Attorney General's office, she's trailblazing new paths for women. But beyond the politics of gender, her ability to lead with integrity brings a strength of character to the role that hasn't been seen since Bobby Kennedy held the office. When Reno became Attorney General, she announced that her decisions would be guided by one question: What's the right thing to do?
Given the intricacies and manipulations built into the legal system, isn't that value-centered vision what you'd want from someone in that role? Reno doesn't pussyfoot around issues or talk out of both sides of her mouth. She says what she believes and stands by those beliefs, even when things don't turn out as she hoped. During the Waco incident, in which several FBI agents and many followers (including children) of Branch Davidian cult leader David Koresh, were killed, Reno stood her ground when facing a scandal-hungry media and announced, "The buck stops with me."
More than anything, our workforce needs people with ethics to live those beliefs at work.
Defend Your Rights
Ethics isn't a set of moral positions; it's a process. It's a way of living in the world with integrity and self-respect. That means standing up for yourself when your rights have been violated and "doing the right thing" even when there's pressure to back down.
In the movie Philadelphia, Tom Hanks plays a corporate lawyer named Andrew Beckett who is fired from his senior associate's position, ostensibly for incompetence. In fact, however, Beckett is certain he was dismissed because he's gay and dying of AIDS. For Beckett, the ensuing lawsuit is as much a matter of principle as personal integrity. As his dying act, the once-successful attorney wants to restore his reputation and clear his name of any wrongdoing.
In a poignant scene, he asks his family's support for a law suit that will bring a great deal of public scrutiny and embarrassment to them. His mother shows her wholehearted support by saying: "I didn't raise my kids to sit in the back of the bus. You get in there and fight for your rights."
His mother's blessing notwithstanding, Beckett has a hard time finding an attorney willing to go against his powerful former bosses and defend his rights. As the movie unfolds, it also becomes a story of growing respect between Beckett and his homophobic lawyer, played by Denzel Washington. Gradually, Washington's character learns to see beyond his stereotypes and view his client as a whole, real person.
Meanwhile, Tom Hanks' character holds other people accountable for their actions - in this case, lawyers who have broken the law.
There are real-life heroes who exemplify this spirit as well. If you're old enough to remember baseball great Hank Aaron, you might also remember the year he began inching toward Babe Ruth's home-run record (which he eventually broke). That year, Aaron also started receiving hate mail from die-hard Ruth fans who didn't appreciate that a black ballplayer was about to shatter their hero's records. The racist slurs surprised and disturbed him, but he never lessened his performance or his pursuit.
"It never slowed me down," Aaron told one interviewer. "It only made me stronger."
Standing up for yourself and your beliefs takes strength and courage. But doing otherwise will take a serious toll on your self-esteem and reputation.
A laid-off investment banker in Chicago discovered that his former colleagues were disparaging him to prospective employers by speculating about nonexistent "performance problems." Rather than play victim, he took steps to safeguard his reputation and future. The banker called the firm's office manager and explained the legal and ethical dilemmas that his former co-workers' "loose tongues" and "false pride" were creating.
Although he never directly threatened a lawsuit, his tone and comments implied the possibility. His strategy of straight forward communication effectively put an end to the gossip that was damaging his career prospects. The office manager quickly sent off a memo making it clear that the big-mouthed offenders would be held accountable for their off-the-record communications.
Yes, there can be consequences when acting so aggressively. But standing by passively brings consequences of its own. What's the point of keeping your job, and later being sent to jail? Or keeping your job and losing your license to practice your profession? Or keeping your job and losing your soul? Or even losing your job because you kept your mouth shut but the company got caught anyway?
