Do You Have The Courage To Do The Right Thing?
Posted by Mitch Mitchell on Jun 1, 2012
Last week I wrote a post titled It's Okay NOT To Be A Leader. In that post, I mentioned that even if you decide not to be a leader, it doesn't mean that you do everything the leader tells you to do just because you've decided to be a follower. This is a follow up on that point.
I hate to own up to this but I've seen many instances where someone in a leadership position has told someone else to do something that was unethical. And those people did it, knowing it wasn't the right thing to do. For my part, I haven't always ratted those people out, which can be tough for a consultant, unless I knew it was illegal; I wasn't having that kind of thing on my watch. Otherwise, I never got in the middle of a manager - employee relationship because I knew I was there only a short time and that the employee might suffer more once I was gone.
However, in health care, there are laws against what's called fraud. For some of those laws, it doesn't matter whether the person is in a leadership position or not, or whether they did something they were told to do or not. Those people will end up being prosecuted for the act, no matter what, and that can involve jail time or fines or both.
Believe it or not, the same kind of thing happens in the military. Whereas the military isn't a democracy, there are times when soldiers are expected to know when a direct order is a violation of a military principle. For instance, a soldier might be told to kill an unarmed civilian, and if that soldier does it that's what they're supposed to do. But if that same soldier it told to kill a child or rape a woman and does it, that soldier is supposed to know that's wrong and will be convicted of it, even if following orders.
See, there are no absolutes in following what a manager might tell you to do except the one that says you have to weigh your conscience along with what's right and do what needs to be done. You must have the courage to do the right thing at all times, even if you lose your job while doing it. If it's the right thing to do, the ethical thing to do, then that's what you need to do.
Fear can cause people to follow orders without thinking, and if you feel that's what you have to do to survive, then so be it. But know that, just like ignorance, it doesn't absolve you from the law. Think about that the next time you're told to do something you know isn't right.
Mitch,
I love this post! Too many people blindly followed what they’re told to do thinking that they’ll be covered if something goes horribly wrong. Unfortunately for many, that’s not the case.
There’s a whole ton of grey in life, but there’s a lot of black and white, too. Some things are just clearly wrong, no matter how people look at it or try to justify it. All of us as individuals, regardless of whether or not we view ourselves as leaders, have an obligation to do what’s right. Many get scared of the consequences for taking a stand, but in reality there’s actually a lot more protections for those who do what’s right and are punished than there are for those who try the “I was following orders” defense.
I’ve been in that situation on more than one occasion. In each instance, I made the right decision and did what was right and proper, regardless of the potential to be an outcast or shunned for doing so. And, it certainly wasn’t the easiest path. In at least two situations I could have easily not done anything and nobody would have been able to prove that I had any knowledge of the actions. But the right move was to protect the agency I work for and my direct boss by saying something, so I did.
I truly believe it’s instances like these that truly define who we are as individuals, and there’s a few categories. The good who do what’s right no matter what; the bad who will whatever they please whenever they please; and the middle. The middle will do what’s right if there’s a chance they can be implicated or caught, but will stand idly by if they can get away with it. Unfortunately, this is the largest category because it’s also the easiest path to take. It’s easy to say something if I can get into trouble because nobody should expect me to take a hit for their misdeeds. But, it’s also easy to NOT say anything when nobody will know about it so that you don’t make any waves or call any attention to yourself. Alas, I think that’s just human nature at work.
This is a great article, my friend, and I think you’ve truly hit the nail on the head!
Have a great weekend and I’ll chat with you soon.
~Barry
Hi Barry,
As I wrote, the closest I’ve ever been in this situation is seeing some things going on that weren’t really my business as a consultant. But the one time it came my way I put the CFO on notice that he was going to have to sign something saying I’d told him it was illegal and he decided to do it anyway, and he backed off. I think if Arthur Anderson had done that they’d still be in business today.
I figure there’s a different between doing right because it makes you feel good and doing right because it’s legal, and as an independent consultant I find myself weighing that one every once in awhile. Overall though, my morals are my morals, and that’s pretty much that. 😉
Hi Mitch,
I work at a large health care provider. One of our core ethic principals is compliance. We have compliance training every year, and there is a designated week when compliance issues are discussed throughout the company. If we see anything that is noncompliant, we are to report it. If we don’t, and it’s found out later on that we knew about it, then we are subject to disciplinary action, which could include termination. We should always do the right thing, no matter what the consequence will be.
Great stuff Jamella, and as someone with a health care background that included being the compliance officer for a few years, I know what you’re talking about. Still, one of the things someone might have to deal with is the person they respond to telling them to do something else. Being a whistleblower isn’t always easy for everyone, but that’s when courage really comes to the forefront.
Personally I would never do anything I was 100% aware of was wrong. But I am convinced that there are a lot of people who do things they do not want to do because they are afraid of losing their jobs.
It is so bad that managers ask their staff to do things they know is wrong.
True Jane, and in a tough economic environment you’ll probably see more people letting things go because they’re worried about their jobs. But I also remember people that worked for some major companies where, when the company imploded, those people found that they couldn’t get jobs because they were associated with those companies and people weren’t sure if they were a part of the problems or not. If you’re going to suffer guilt by association you might as well step forward, right? 🙂
Yes if you work for a company who makes unethical things and it is discovered it can probably be quite difficult to get a new job.
It must really be a tough situation to be in.
It can be Jane, but at least people can live with themselves if they did the right thing. And in America, you’re not only protected by the whistleblower law, but you can profit from it as well.
I loved this post. A very nice article. full of information. We should always do the right thing, no matter what the consequence will be.
Thanks Randall; that’s my belief, and always has been.
Doing the right thing is one of the best thing to do in order to have peace and harmonious life. We should always remember that Our actions is our responsibility.
Thanks for your thoughts Brenda; can’t argue with them.
This is a good point, Mitch and I have also seen this many times, not only for followers, but for leaders that can’t say no to company owner. I have been also in this situation. I personally have never been a follower and usually I am always the rebel.
Carl, I can’t say I’ve always been a rebel, but I like to think I have a good sense of right and wrong. I also have a good sense of when to shut up. lol
About that last one, I don’t think that I have learn that and I doubt that I will ever be able to do it, just can’t bare when something is wrong.
Carl, sometimes that’s the one that determines success or failure, as well as life or death. 🙂
I find a lot of people justify their unethical, and immoral behaviors on what others tell them to do. A manager telling you to do something doesn’t justify it; as fear compelling you to do something to justify another terrible thing typically is not an excuse. I’ve always been an advocate for morality and being a free thinker; I hope more people take your advice.
Thanks Anne. I know it can be tough in many situations, but I’ve always found that standing up for oneself and doing the right thing when no one expects it from you works best.