How do you behave ethically when there are so many pressures not to do so? Since there is no right way to do the wrong thing, how do you build up your inner strength so you can resist external pressures and consistently do what you know is right in a difficult situation?
If you see yourself or someone else weaken and fold under the pressure, is it a rationalization from a cognitive bias or cognitive dissonance?
Please join the conversation and share any non- incriminating examples of your experiences. Saving Changes...
Arpit BhardwajAssistant Manager| Expo 2020Dubai, Du, United Arab Emirates
I would like to share a story which reflects on the question you asked. During one of the major project, I was doing for a client. I was involved in system and service provider selection. I was approached by almost all vendors to tilt my procurement technical report in their favor. As I needed them to be by my side and supportive throughout the process, I did go out for drinks/ dinner but paid my own bill. I entertained their odd hourly calls but let out only what could tell everyone else bidding too.
I believe it was because I worked on the project from the start and was heavily invested in it's outcome that I couldn't see any other way but be objective in my approach and never try to think of the favors I could get because of the temporary position I was in.
Thanks,
Arpit
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1 reply by John Watson
Feb 09, 2021 4:15 PM
John Watson
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Arpit,
Thank you for joining the conversation and sharing your story, it is a great example. I have been in a similar situation , so please accept my question, as a question and point for further discussion , and is not a judgement. You have explained your position and actions well. You completely understand them and have justified them to yourself, and that is the way you see it. Do you think all of your vendors and your colleagues perceived it the same way? Perception is their reality and their truth. I was surprised of the perceptions I discovered afterwards in my situation, in spite of how I was seeing the world.
Thanks again for sharing !
Saving Changes...
Sergio Luis ConteHelping to create solutions for everyone| Worldwide based OrganizationsBuenos Aires, Argentina
First of all ethic is something to be consider into a context. For example, I know people that earned PMI PMP Certifications and they are working leading projects that create massive destruction arms. Is it ethical or not? The context must be taken into account to answer. Second, If you behave inside the context in the way all the rules said you are doing nothing non-ethical but because ethic is beyond the organizational rules (while the rules must be aligned with outside organization rules like laws sometimes that´s not) you feel you are doing something non-ethical is up to you to continue inside the organization. The point here is what will guide you and the people to follow ethical path. If they are rules then there is nothing to worry about because rules are written in a way that are not a matter of interpretation. If they are laws then things change because laws are matter of interpretation.
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1 reply by John Watson
Feb 09, 2021 4:20 PM
John Watson
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Sergio
Thank you for the points you make about the importance of context. Your point is well taken about options to continue being pressured for unethical behavior , you have choices remain or to leave that organization. I would challenge your comment about rules not being a matter interpretation
First, it is about having a set of principles and values for how you live your life and second its about checking your alignment to those regularly. For me, it has always been about staying true to the "man in the mirror"...
Kiron
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1 reply by John Watson
Feb 09, 2021 4:04 PM
John Watson
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Kiron
Thanks for your comments and continuing the conversation. . Congratulations and all the best for your new book.
I like your reference to the mirrors on several levels. One reflection is of the reality perception , and the other is the potential of self deception
When looking in the mirror, is what we see what others see? One of many examples for this is when the kitten looks n the mirror and sees the lion.
On pmi,org /about/ethics/code, there is downloadable 3x5 ethics values card. It can be used as pocket mirror to ask yourself is that how we are, and a window to look through and ask is that the behavior you are seeing from others
Saving Changes...
Thomas WalentaGlobal Project Economy ExpertHackenheim, Germany
John
as Kiron says, you need to have values and priorities and be aware of them. Based on these, you could build supportive habits, which means automatic behaviours on certain triggers. This removes some of the awkward feelings you might experience in the light of ethical issues. Also, working on your ethical development every single day, e.g. by reflecting on decisions you made, allowing time for making up your mind before you make decisions or having someone (a mentor) to discuss ethical issues.
And be aware that there are always, daily ethical conflicts, e.g. when should you be honest while being respectful, be responsible while staying fair. We can see it with Corona, in Germany the government is supported by an ethics board to balance decisions they make, medical but also societal. Without this, acceptance by citizen would be much less, it is still high here. A clear set of principles is necessary but not sufficient.
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1 reply by John Watson
Feb 09, 2021 4:02 PM
John Watson
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Thomas
Thank you for joining the discussion, I like all your points and particularly about triggers, conditioning yourself and working on your ethical development every day , and the inclusion of reflecting and having someone (mentors)to discuss ethical issues(not only) with you. Agreed a clear set of principles is necessary and will never be sufficient. Even you ?? cannot please all the people all of the time.
Saving Changes...
Peter RapinSubject Matter Expect; Project Delivery| Independent ConsultantOntario, Canada
I see ethics at two levels, Micro and Macro.
Micro is your commitments and behavior within your realm of influence - your project office, your team, how you live your personal life - your immediate community.
Macro relates the the larger community in which you belong but have little or no influence - your industry, your country, and in some cases your company.
For example, Serio references 'massive destruction arms'. Can you ethically deliver a project within the arms industry if you are a pacifist? Is the Project Manager responsible/ accountable for the ultimate application of his project deliverable? Some will say yes; some maybe; others no. Is it ethical to judge those that don't share your concerns or opinion?
Regardless of your 'macro ethics' I believe you can ethically deliver a project even if you do not support the ultimate application of the deliverable. However, I would choose the work in an industry that fits my macro ethics if at all possible as I would choose the live in a country where I generally agree with the culture.
As an example, I have successfully, and ethically, delivered land remediation projects where I did not support/agree with the proposed land usage. I was able to keep those two issues at arms length. Saving Changes...
Luis BrancoCEO| Business Insight, Consultores de Gestão, LdªCarcavelos, Lisboa, Portugal
Dear John
Interesting this topic that brought the debate
Thanks for sharing
About 15 years ago (maybe a little more) I had the opportunity to read "the 7 habits of highly effective people"
I found the author's proposal very interesting:
- The visible part, which he called personality ethics, is nothing more than our behavior
- The invisible part, which he called ethics of character, is nothing more than the principles that guide our life
It is possible, through the connection with our inner voice, to realize what are these universal principles that command our life
I strongly recommend reading this book
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1 reply by John Watson
Feb 09, 2021 4:25 PM
John Watson
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Luis
Thank you for sharing and bringing Steven Covey into the conversation. Agree with your book recommendation. A great book with timeless ideas, value and principles that remain valid and relevant since it was first published in 1989.
Below are some words from Jim Collins who wrote the forward in the 25th anniversary edition of that book that align with some of the themes from the collective comments of this discussion.
“But I think the most important aspect of The 7 Habits—what makes it not just practical, but profound—is its emphasis on building character rather than “attaining success.” There is no effectiveness without discipline, and there is no discipline without character.”
Saving Changes...
George FreemanThought Leader | Author | Architect| Florida, United States
John,
In my opinion, the strength to “behave ethically when there are so many pressures not to do so” comes from self-awareness and aspects of mindfulness. In other words, one must have the awareness and desire to interrogate their thoughts, emotions, and feelings on a matter before making decisions and/or executing actions – if they expect to land on an ethical footing consistently.
We need to recognize that our human nature predisposes us to confirm our biases. And as such, without “internal checks and balances,” one can be drawn down the path that leads to unchecked cognitive biases – the doorway to ethical concerns and lapses.
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1 reply by John Watson
Feb 09, 2021 4:23 PM
John Watson
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Well said George! To supplement the attributes you have highlighted, does courage need to be included? I like your comment about biases. Thanks for joining the conversation. Great stuff !
Thanks for this topic. Very contemporary. I think pressures are omnipresent and dealing with them does take a toll. Having a x-ray of one's own persona, our behavior and so on is important to know the gaps in yourself that need to be plugged should there be a pressure, particularly a pressure where there is a ethical let off.
Ethics, macro or micro (as per my colleagues posts earlier) are key to maintain the harmony of oneself and community.
Taking a good control of your SWOT and plugging those points upfront can be considered as a good first steps to ensure we do not yield to the pressures.
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1 reply by John Watson
Feb 09, 2021 3:55 PM
John Watson
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Thank you Deepa for joining the conversation.
Interesting you’ve include a personal X-ray and SWOT,I like the awareness assessment and find it even more useful and understood when the impacts are also tied to the attributes. Thank you, Dr.,
Diagnose, before you prescribe!
Saving Changes...
Alankar KarpeProject and program management, Speaker and mentor | WiproBangalore, India
Good question, John. Inner strength comes from your values and what you believe is true for you. That guides you to be ethical when there are pressures not to be, I think. Saving Changes...
Peter RapinSubject Matter Expect; Project Delivery| Independent ConsultantOntario, Canada
Just a quick thought: What do you do when you can't afford to have ethics? Many of us are focused on Maslows first three levels: Biological requirements, Safety and Social. Is Ethics restricted to the last two: Esteem and Self Actualization?
Should the CEO have more time to consider ethical behaviour (and act accordingly) than the single parent of three working in the warehouse?
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1 reply by John Watson
Feb 09, 2021 3:56 PM
John Watson
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Interesting comments/questions on Maslow- maybe someone else will take that on. Regarding the time to consider ethical behavior, I will refer to Thomas’s comment about preparing yourself and having someone to talk to, as I do not believe you should allow yourself to be pressured to make an ethical decision you have not given ample consideration to, unless it might be life or death situation.
