Telling the Truth- Business Ethics

We fib a little and then we lie. Its no big deal because there wasn’t any harm done. We wonder why we don’t have better environments for business ethics.

When I’m invited in by a company or organization, I promise it won’t take me long to find unaccountable and irresponsible people. They are easy to spot and generally make up clever excuses why some project wasn’t completed on time, why the accounts receivables are too high, or why some sale wasn’t made.

These people are good at pointing fingers at others rather than their own tummies!!

They rationalize and justify their behavior in rather astonishing ways. This group of people generally do not have good personal ethics. 

It is their untruthful behavior that eventually leads to poor business ethics.

Now, I have a former neighbor who moved several blocks away to a different section of our neightborhood. It is doubtful whether I have ever met a person who consistently failed to tell the truth like her.

What a puddle!! Here’s the quick story about her lack of business ethics.

Several years ago she and a companion bought a house in our neighborhood.

Occasionally, she borrowed things like kitchenware, patio furniture, and even our grill. Normally, most people would expect to have these items returned promptly after their use. Sadly, my wife and I were disappointed at her lack of courtesy and personal ethics.

In fact, she provided a host of excuses why she was late in returning the items. It was one fib after another and hardly a foundation for building solid personal or business ethics.

The relationship with her companion was not going well and he moved out after she bought his interest in the house.

Within six months, a new gentleman had moved in and both were employed at the same company.  She was let go by her employer who I happen to be good friends with. 

Small world isn’t it? Without mentioning a lot of details to me, my friend, the CEO of the company, said that he had to sever ties with the woman because his employees could not trust her and that her poor relationships with customers was undermining his business.

Apparently, her inability to tell the truth mixing in fibs and lies cost her a good job. Of course, this didn’t stop her from spinning tales to other neighbors that she left to take a better position with another firm!!

Approximately one year ago, one of my neighbors conducted a property search on our teller of tales. The search indicated that my neighbor’s house was in foreclosure.

She and her family continued living in the house. Is this the right thing to do when both adults are working and combined salaries would have easily covered the mortgage payments?

This lack of personal ethics and business ethics is troubling.

Over two months ago, a moving van pulled into their driveway on a Saturday morning and transported most of their belongings to another house. 

During this time, the woman and her husband told their relatively new neighbors next door that they were planning on selling the home for a certain price.

Interestingly, no one has seen any real estate company put a for sale sign in the yard for the past nine weeks. Last week, an inspector for the mortgage company put several foreclosure notices on the garage door and front door.

The cat has finally been let out of the bag!!

I’m not a fortune teller, but I have participated in a few rodeos during my time. Fibs and lies catch up to tellers of tales.

Good riddance I say. Unfortunately, the bank underwriting the mortgage loan is getting burned. 

Some people don’t have a conscience and this explains their lack of personal ethics. Failure to do the right things is often an intentional act. It leads people down icy slopes where business ethics are missing.

We must all act vigilantly and call these people out. Ignorance isn’t bliss in my book. 

Step up to the plate and always strive to do the right thing!!