Between the Resignations and the Recalls… Is Anyone Safe Anymore?

Maybe its just me, the last few weeks have been filled with one clip after another of ethical and morale violations, professional suicide acts, and “better late than never- in most cases” “we’re sorry our product is faulty (and threatening people’s lives) and we tried to cover it up for a little while”.

I admit I’m more sensitive than most, perhaps the better word is skeptical. I’ve been in risk communication and businesses or arenas that address it for more than 15 years. I see bad news following poor decision-making all the time. The bad news typically comes out long after the closed-door meetings, the whispers, the threat of lawsuit…. And the headlines. Sad but true.

Are you protected? As a consumer? As a producer?

Have you long since evaluated your own practices, policies, language, and behavior? Do you know where you might be a walking time bomb or violation waiting to happen? Have you just been lucky?

Have you tried to temper (or lets be honest with one another, cover up) a bad situation that you should have handled different in hindsight?

When I work with people I sometimes encourage them to imagine their greatest critic on their shoulder (like the angel and devil in the cartoons). It might be your mother, your boss, your board, you daughter. Imagine someone watching and listening to you throughout the day. Would they be proud of your conduct? Would they be pleased with your performance and interactions? If not, you need to ask yourself why and how you can adjust to be more in line with an acceptable code of conduct.

Tickle-fights are not appropriate with co-workers or staff. Signing or joking about intimate body parts is not acceptable water-cooler chat. Knowing that your product puts others at risk, even if 5% of the population and continuing to produce it without warning is just plain bad practice – and it will cost you big time. Doing a favor for a friend who just needs you to place a call, look the other way or just sign this…. Well, they really aren’t a friend anyhow. Or, maybe you’ll find out when you lose your job and you need a loan to pay your bills- ask them. Heck, maybe they’ll even come visit you in jail when you land there. Jeff Foxworthy says that’s the sign of a true friend. Well, no let me get it right, Jeff says that person would be sitting in jail with you… on a cot smoking a cigarette…. (Yeah, shamelessly I do know this one)

Pull up that Girl Scout or Boy Scout motto. Do the right thing. Time and time again. Do the right thing. For your health and ours. (and so we can get back to serious news like “milk-a-holic Lyndsey”)

The Ethics Train… It’s Gone

Years ago, I published a paper on white-collar crime, specifically savings and loan fraud. I discussed the culture that fosters such behavior- makes it seem natural, normal and only a “little lie”. After all, many people feel they are owed more than they make, or they swear they had intentions on paying it back… the excuses go on and on.

How firm do you stand on ethics? Do you believe there are levels to lying... white ones and big ones and such? Would you want your politicians lying... wait, let me rephrase that… is it acceptable that a politician lies? What about a police officer? Your banker?

What do you lie about?

Here’s another question: Is it okay for employees to take materials from the office if they need them at home. Well, perhaps, if they have a home office where they conduct the same business as you expect them to do in the main office. If not, well then they could be seen as abusing office resources for personal use. Does it make a difference if I’m talking about a box of pens or a laptop? Now, does it make a difference it I tell you that this is a government employee? How about if they use the laptop to look at inappropriate material? Has the situation escalated enough for you yet?

These things happen every day. Many environments cultivate unethical practices better than they do their own businesses. Is yours one?

Inventory your ethics and that of your employees today. Get a reign on ethics… or it will bite you one day. And, some of the bites are harder than you might first surmise.

Know When to Revamp the Process and Know When to Quit

I just wrote one of the lengthiest blogs of my history and blogger experienced a problem and couldn't save it! Yikes. And, it was a rant too. What a shame.

My blog today was highlighting a medical experience I had recently that was appalling. Appalling from a customer (patient) standpoint. I highlighted the importance of delivering outstanding service- everyone on your team must do this to be viewed favorably and valued. If you can't deliver great service, or are working with a team that cannot, I encourage you to move on. Move on could mean finding a new team. Or, it could mean finding a new profession.

I don't have the time, unfortunately, to recreate that blog. Perhaps I'll do so another week.

March is National Ethics Awareness Month. Check your ethics.

Sorry for the blog malfunction.
Lisa

To Pantyhose or Not to Pantyhose?

Do you remember the chaos incited by the young women who wore flip flops to the White House? Well, there is an equal yet more career damning discussing underway- and has been underway for some time via whispers in the office. Should professional women have to wear pantyhose in the office? (The "have to" isn't meant to denote a written rule mind you.)

The issue has a number of strong opponents and proponents. One class you might not realize is that of our senior women in the workplace. Many of whom couldn't fathom a more unladylike issue pertaining to attire. (Well, they could really. But for the sake of this argument lets remain focused.)

Generational differences between working women can cause havoc in the workplace. Especially, if one of the seniors happens to be in charge of your performance evaluation- or have the ear of the person who is.

Dress, language, vehicle of correspondence (email versus formal letters- and don't mention mobile device "overuse or abuse"!) and aggressiveness (sometimes called assertiveness) are some of the areas where our senior and younger generations conflict.

The answer to wearing pantyhose in your workplace is ultimately up to you. I encourage you to (1) know yourself (2) know your boss/es (3) know your customers (4) recognize the workplace climate do's and don'ts (and consequences for not following them) and (5) talk with fellow employees about the issue (youth and seniors alike) to get their feedback.

The larger issue at hand here is opening the lines of communication between our senior and youth colleagues. Develop mentor programs that pair them up and foster healthy dialogue about workplace issues. Its like a good marriage, it may be spiked with a little conflict here and there but its all in how you handle the conflict that matters. Respect has to be a two-way street for it to work well.

For your information (FYI)- as a coach, business owner and confident woman, I choose to go pantyhose-free during the warm months. And, I never wear them with pants. In fact, I wear more pants in the colder months to avoid the circulation-denying, rubber band-ed-ness, itchy issue all together. ;)