An Ethical Dilemma

While I was writing my new ethics for Minnesota insurance course, I came across some very interesting statistics, cases and questions. Some of the books asked many questions, but didn't provide very many answers. That is because ethics is such a personal issue.

Where do ethics come from? It is a study, a philosophy, a methodology, something as simple as right vs. wrong. However, I have found that right vs.wrong isn't all that simple. When we are young, our family influences our version of what is right. Then we get out into the world, start making friends and get some conflicting information. And then we enter the realm of the working class and get even more conflicting information. It appears that "right" is on a sliding scale depending on many factors.

How do you determine what is the right action to take? Some people take action based on a gut reactions and what feels good. Some choose the path of least resistance. Others actually take the time to evaluate the pros and cons of their actions before deciding. When given the opportunity, I like the last tactic best. Negotiations go so much more smoothly when we can come up with win/win situations instead of win/lose. However, it is the most time consuming, possibly the most costly (initially) and sometimes it is the hardest thing to do.

Doing the "right" thing isn't always easy. Sometimes it takes courage to stand up and admit an error, correct a mistake or take the high road. There may be initial costs involved in doing the right thing. However, one look at situations such as Enron, the current BP oil spill, the various executives that are now going to jail - should tell you that taking the initial right steps in the first place would have been much less costly in the second place. Some of the costs come in forms of money while others come in the form of personal freedoms and integrity.

So, how do we do the right thing? Find your core values and stick to them! What were the lessons you learned early on? Take a deep breath, consider the pros and the cons, and then do what is right for those involved. Who knows, you might avert a world disaster.