Seven-year-old Ransom Duel noticed his classmate choking after eating a bite of a Nutella sandwich. Ransom picked up the jar, read “hazelnuts,” and knowing that his friend has an allergy to nuts, ran to get his teacher who brought an epi-pen and saved the friend’s life.
When asked about it afterwards, Ransom said, “I just did the right thing. I didn’t think, ‘Oh I’m gonna be a hero.’”
What can we learn from Ransom about business ethics?
First, do the right thing regardless.
At first, you might think, “What else would Ransom do?”
Nothing.
He could have done nothing as his friend grew sicker by the second.
The opposite of doing the right thing isn’t necessarily doing the wrong thing. Doing nothing is just as damaging to your business operations. Apathy drains profits. Lack of engagement lessens productivity. The more employees there are, the easier it is for you to say, “Somebody else will do it.”
Take personal responsibility for acting. Make it your business to do the right thing regardless.
Second, depend on someone always watching you.
Ransom didn’t realize his right-thing action would be so public.
At work, when you face an ethical decision, assume someone is watching you. Odds are good they are regardless of whether you see them or not.
If you catch yourself saying, “No one will ever know,” you’re headed down a slippery ethical slope that leads away from doing the right thing. Be assured—someone will know. At the least, you will know. Knowledge of deliberate, unethical behavior erodes your core values, maliciously rearranges your priorities, and removes power from your unique contribution to a profitable business.
Depend on someone always watching you.
Third, deal with consequences either way.
When you do the right thing regardless while fully aware that someone is watching you, you create consequences that are far easier to deal with later. Ransom’s greatest challenge was dealing with all of the attention that comes with being dubbed a “hero.”
When you do nothing or the wrong thing and hope no one sees you, your consequences are extremely difficult to explain away when they come to light. And be assured they will.
The business you work for eventually displays your unethical choices either through loss of customers, key employees, or critical supplier relationships—all of which lead to lower profits.
You deal with consequences from every decision. Choose easier outcomes to live with.
Work Positive with Ransom Duel today. Do the right thing regardless. Depend on someone always watching you. Deal with consequences either way.