An Interview with the Salt Lake Tribune

5 Ethics Questions for the Ethics GuyMarch 17, 2009 - Salt Lake TribuneWhy isn't it true that nice guys finish last?Take a look at the headlines. Every day we learn of a prominent politician, celebrity or athlete who has been caught doing something he or she shouldn't have been. Eventually, the truth comes out, and those who took the low road are faced with bad PR, a tarnished reputation and sometimes even jail time. In the long run, acting ethically benefits us professionally and personally.Describe the fundamental principles of ethics.Do no harm. Make things better. Respect others. Be fair. Be loving. These are common to all cultures, religious traditions and civilized societies. (See, for example, the book by Jeffrey Moses, Oneness: Great Principles Shared by All Religions , New York: Ballantine Books, 2002.)Is there room for ethics during an economic downturn?Ethical conduct can't be suspended when times get tough. It's fine to cut down on visits to restaurants when money gets tight, but when you do go out, and you discover the waiter has failed to charge you for the bottle of wine, it's not right to say, "I'll just keep this to myself, because my income isn't what it used to be." Such a response amounts to theft. If it's wrong to steal when you're flush with cash, it's just as wrong to do this when you're counting every penny.How is living an ethical life in one's own best interest?At the end of the speeches, I ask, "Why should we be ethical?" You would expect that the most common answers are, "It's the right thing to do," "Society works better when everyone takes the high road," "We ought to treat others the way we'd like to be treated." But I rarely hear any of these.Rather, most people tell me the reasons they strive to be ethical is so they can -- get a good night's sleep, look themselves in the mirror or have peace of mind. These answers bothered me for years. Shouldn't ethics be viewed as an attempt to encourage people to look beyond their own needs and desires? Eventually, I discovered the best way of teaching ethics is by presenting the subject not as a bitter pill, but as a way of bringing out the best in ourselves. Yes, do the right thing because it is the right thing to do, but also because it is the case that acting ethically yields rich rewards for us professionally and personally.Why is taking time off an ethical obligation?The ethical principle of love or compassion applies not just to how we treat others, but also to how we treat ourselves. It's simply not kind to deny yourself the time to unwind, relax and recharge your batteries. Also, the ethical principle of fairness directs us to give others their due, and you can't give your clients, your company and your co-workers your best when you're running on empty. There is no shame in stepping back from time to time just to -- dare I say this in a business column -- play!