The recent news about General Motors “GM” & the Veterans Administration “VA” is yet another reminder of the need for a more accurate ethical compass. When incidents arise like these, people tend to be collectively outraged and disappointed – and it seems natural to immediately focus on the Top Leader. After all, this is where the “buck stops”, right? The logic seems to go: “If we deal with “The Top Dog”, it will all go away and things will eventually fall in line”.
It troubles me, especially in organizations of this size, to think of the numerous other people who were involved in, ‘touched’ by, or privy to, the safety issues at GM or the appointment scheduling issues at the VA. One might easily conclude that issues of this magnitude must have had fairly widespread complicity. Can we consciously place all the accountability on just one person?
I do not wish to be yet another voice of judgment, asking “Who’s accountable?” and then seeking retribution. Because accountability has become a concept focused on “the other guy”. And that removes the focus from where it all really begins – with each of us. And that’s where each of us has the ultimate control.
Here are 3 simple questions we might ask – in that moment just before we face making a decision in a challenging situation:
- Am I about to do the ‘right thing’ for the people who will be impacted?
- Would I want it to be done to me in the same set of circumstances?
- If my actions were televised and/or transmitted over the Internet, would I feel proud of myself?
I believe people in positions of power, who are directly responsible, must be held accountable for their actions. And, I also believe, if each of us, regardless of our job title, paused to honestly answer these 3 questions, individuals and their organizations would make more ethical choices and operate in a more honorable way.