Business and Ethics! Do they go together? – Part 3
Friday, December 11th, 2009The previous two newsletters have been on this somewhat subjective issue of business and ethics, trying to answer the question – "do they go together?" Interestingly enough, I had no sooner published the newsletters on the web site, than I was tested in my own resolve to ‘do things right!’
On Tuesday this week, we were robbed! In broad daylight, in the suburbs! It was quite obviously a professional ‘hit’, since the thieves knew exactly what to do, and when and how to do it; and exactly what they were looking for. This was no incident of people stealing because they were hungry. This was just another way of doing some pre-Christmas shopping, and at my expense! No clothes or food were stolen (that we’ve noticed yet) apart from a new pair of hiking shoes – only high value items. The thieves were very neat, not trashing the place, but clearly also looking for money and weapons as well. Unfortunately for us, we keep some emergency cash with our passports, so when the cash was taken, so were our passports. The thought of having to go through the Home Affairs process – again (I’ve only just had my passport renewed) – is probably the greatest insult to injury; and on that alone, the thieves should be sentenced to life in prison with hard labour!
At the same time, I am eternally grateful that my wife was not at home when it happened; otherwise this story would no doubt have been very different.
However, I digress! We are insured so the goods stolen can be replaced. I was concerned though, that the burglar alarm had not been activated when my wife went out at midday, and that the insurer would not pay out on the policy. I wasn’t sure whether the insurance policy had an alarm clause. So, suddenly I was faced with a huge challenge because the sum involved was significant!
Certain well-meaning friends suggested that I don’t mention the fact that it hadn’t been activated; and some even suggested that I consider claiming for goods that either hadn’t been stolen, or over claiming on those that had! After all, they said, everyone does it! (Heard this somewhere before?). And besides, they added, the insurance companies rip us off anyway – you pay for years and years and never claim, and then when you do have a claim, they just try to get out of it.
Well, – the temptation was out there! In my face!
On the one hand, much of what they said was probably true – and I have only claimed once on my householders insurance in over 30 years of marriage. On the other hand, though, what I had just written in the past few weeks, reared up in front of me (thank God!), and I knew that I couldn’t possibly fabricate anything when I submitted my claim, and maintain any form of creibility!
The outcome of all this? Well, it turns out that my policy did not have an alarm clause, and the insurer (through my broker of many years) has already paid out in full, and on the basis that the claim seemed more than reasonable.
On the one hand, amazing service in this day and age, – and on the other, serving to prove my belief that if we do things right, ultimately, we will win out!
It reminded me of a poem written by someone (whose name I can’t remember, so hopefully will forgive me for publishing it without permission!), and it’s very relevant to this theme:
The Man in the Glass
When you get what you want in your struggle for self
And the world makes you King for a day,
Just go to a mirror and look at yourself
And see what that man has to say.
For it isn’t your father or mother or wife
Whose judgment upon you must pass;
The fellow whose verdict counts most in your life
Is the one staring back from the glass.
Some people may think you a straight-shootin’ chum
And call you a wonderful guy
But the man in the glass says you’re only a bum
If you can’t look him straight in the eye.
He’s the fellow to please, never mind all the rest
For he’s with you clear up to the end
And you’ve passed your most dangerous, difficult test
If the man in the glass is your friend.
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 heartaches and tears
If you’ve cheated the man in the glass.
Let me end this with the following ethics check, courtesy of Norman Vincent Peale and Ken Blanchard, from their little book, "The Power of Ethical management".
May I suggest then, especially if this series on ethics and business has challenged you (as it has me just in writing it), that you print the following questions out, frame them, and hang the frame up somewhere conspicuous, so that it slaps you in the face every time you get tempted to push the ethical envelope in business?
- Is it legal? Will I be violating either civil law or company policy?
- Is it balanced? Is it fair to all concerned in the short term as well as the long term? Does it promote win-win relationships?
- How will it make me feel about myself? Will it make me feel proud? Would I feel good if my decision was published in a newspaper? Would I feel good if my family knew about it?
I would also like to take this opportunity to wish all my subscribers and clients a very blessed holiday season, and a prosperous and meaningful new year.
