You might ask yourselves just what do personal ethics and the three wise monkeys have in common?
The answer just may be more than you think. Sometimes referred to as the three mystic apes, they are a pictorial saying of see no evil, hear no evil, and speak no evil.
In any organization or business there is a much needed place for personal ethics that embodies the soul and foundation of the culture.
Unfortunately, it is commonplace to have employees observe and hear poor conduct that is detrimental to the organization’s philosophy and operating values.
This is the catch: any kind of conduct that is detrimental and harmful to the organization must be challenged and reported.
Too often employees and particularly gatekeepers ignore wrongful conduct. This is willful blindness and the behavior is rationalized, justified, or simply ignored as no big deal.
Thus, they willingly assume the position of seeing no evil, hearing no evil, and speaking no evil.
Should any of this conduct ever be construed as illegal, a person observing this behavior could be a target of a civil or legal proceeding.
From personal experience, I have found most organizations paying little attention to personal ethics and emphasizing open/transparent cultures. They are more prone to fall back on mission statements and rely on human resources or compliance to sort out the thorny issues.
In these organizations then, there is a greater chance of poor conduct incubating even if it starts of innocently and in small ways.
I recommend all organizations identify who they are, what they stand for, and the values they are committed to upholding. It is important to continually drill this message deep into the organization so small business units can adopt their personal ethics.
At the end of day, honest and transparent organizations police themselves. Every voice and opinion matters when it comes to personal ethics and the conduct taking place.
Rather than tolerating three wise monkeys, it is far better to be three kings.
What do the kings stand for?
While open to discussion and interpretation, they commonly strive for wisdom, peace, and respect for all humans. This imagery is something we can all strive for on a daily basis.
As always, do your best each day and do the right thing.
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