4 Steps to Raising an Ethical Issue at Work
Whistle blower.
Are there any two words in the business lexicon that conjure such disparate feelings in people? Truth teller. Snitch. "She's telling truth to power!" "Where does he get off deciding what's right?"
Though not strictly whistle blowing, which I associate more with criminal activity, someone raising what they consider an unethical practice may be subject to just those same emotional feelings from co-workers. So raising an ethical issue can be a tricky proposition, especially if you are at the beginning of your career.
This dilemma makes Mary Gentile's HBR.org blog post A Beginner's Guide to Raising Ethical Issues at Work a must read for all of us.
The most useful advice from her is to sell an ethical issue just as you would a business issue.
"Don't make self-righteous little speeches; instead, marshal your evidence and arguments, figure out who you need to talk to, and then make a strong business case for doing the right thing."I like this approach because it takes the argument away from what is right and wrong -- which often can be a judgment call -- and moves it into the realm of what's best for the business. Moralists won't necessarily like this route, but the pragmatist in me sees a better chance for success in eradicating a bad practice.
Her other suggestions:
- Recognize that solving ethical dilemmas are a normal and predictable part of your job.
- Tackle the rationalizations such as 'everyone else does it' head-on.
- Use psychological biases of your listeners to advantage. For example, stress the short-term benefits of a fix.
Related Reading on BNET:
Using Great Literature to Teach Business Ethics
Ethics Management Myths: Learning from Them
(Dilemma image by Julia Manzerova, CC 2.0)