What is the price of your integrity?
We live in a world where everyone seems to have lost integrity. Atleast that is what we get to hear from all around us. What is this integrity and what is ethical behavior? Oxford dictionary defines integrity as the quality of being honest and having strong moral principles. According to me integrity is the quality of an individual to act ethically in line with the accepted norms of the society when no one is watching.
To put it in layman’s terms, integrity is being true to one’s own value system and hence automatically confirming to the norms of the society.
Is integrity a value? Or is it something more than that? Classical definition says that integrity is a value. But does it limit itself to being a value? Can it be told that learning the definition of integrity or attending trainings on integrity makes you a person with integrity? For me integrity is more than a value. It is not a single value. It is a combination of a lot of things. For me integrity is a result and not the path. And since it is a result, the actions that we take, the pressure that we face and the circumstances that we are in all lead to the result which is integrity. This also means that each one of us has a break point where we will be ready to compromise.
This break point is different for different people and gets decided by a host of factors, some of which are mentioned below. These circumstances, pressures and actions that we take ultimately decides whether we would behave ethically or not.
1) Values taught at home:
Research shows that the value system of a child is formed by the time he reaches the age of 5. The famous psychologist Lawrence Kohlberg, in his Theory of Stages of Moral Development, stated that the first level of moral development is that of obedience and punishment. This then further gets developed through different stages till he reaches the level of universal ethical principles. Or in other words, from the stage of an action and its associated consequences, the person moves to a stage of universal awareness and informed choices. A child is typically in the first stage of development. However, as the child grows up he learns to make informed choices. And he gains this information from his surroundings and primarily parents. He learns to move from the stage of doing an action to prevent punishment to a stage where he makes decisions based on what he sees and observes others do, in the child’s case, mainly parents.
Values taught at home do not mean the words spoken by parents. More important is the actions of parents. Our children are far more intelligent than we think. Every act of the parents gets registered in them. If any parent has a misperception that he can fool his child, it is that they are fooled themselves. Our actions, at the witness of our children lay long lasting impressions on them. Small acts that lack integrity, which we may think as inconsequential may leave deep impressions in them. For example, a father how promises his child to take him out and does not, may have a child who promises his teacher that he will do his homework but won’t. He may even be an expert in cooking up excuses for not doing it, like his father does. Our children learn from us.
Children who are raised in families, where values of honesty, truthfulness and so on get practiced everyday tend to develop more of these qualities. Punishing a child for a behavior that is even exhibited by the parents will not have any impact on the child. Now I know why many developed countries have strong laws against punishing the child (sic). But punishing a child for an act which not only his parents disapprove of, but also that they do not do, will leave a lasting impression on the child.
2) Pressure from loved ones:
If the pressure put on an individual is to live a life of integrity, then the world would have been a different place. The greatest need of a human being, after meeting his need of food, shelter and clothing, is to love and to be loved. In other words, it is the need to be accepted by those whom he loves. Sadly the ones he loves, holds him to a ransom when they measure his love, through his performance and results. A school boy is told that he must repay the love of his parents by being the first in class. There is a point where we are ready to let go our value system and succumb to that pressure. I call it the break point. Like the case of a boy who is ready to cheat in his exams, as he wants to live upto the expectations of his parents to top his class. The parents may have taught and shown through their lives exemplary values, but he is ready to give it up, due to the pressures. The only other option that he may have is to take away his life, tragically as to is the case with many youngsters these days.
This continues even as we grow up. It’s only that the stakeholders change. The expectations from wife, husband, and children and so on may lead to the break point
3) Societal Pressure
A society is defined as the community of people living in a particular region and having shared customs, laws, and organizations. Within each society every individual has interactions with different individuals and groups within the society. This means that we may be part of different groups at any point of time. Some of them can be your groups at work, community groups, and society / lifestyle groups and so on. Each of these groups can put pressure. The term peer pressure that gets used very often is closely related to this. One often wonders why CEO's cheat. They have achieved almost everything anyone could have possibly achieved. They have money, power, position and everything you can ever think of. One may say it is raw greed. But is not greed related to this pressure? Everyone wants to score a point over their peers. In business it can be termed as ambition, to be better than the rest. But in layman's terms it is nothing but pure greed. In fact, from our school days, we are taught this. To better the rest, to leave the competition behind. And there comes a point where this pressure forces us towards the break point
This societal pressure also includes pressure that gets from the perceived definitions of success. Media and the present day education system have a lot to do with this. When I was in school, my definition of being successful was wearing a suit and a tie and owning a big car. Even today's media portrays success this way. If these would have continued to be my definitions of success, then there would come a point where I would break up and compromise to achieve those signs of success.
4) Strengths and Weaknesses
Every individual is gifted with his own sets of strengths and weaknesses. This is true in all areas of life. Education, intellect and even values. There may be some values that we are strong at and some that we are not. These strengths and weaknesses may also determine your tipping point. I guess the biggest weakness of us is to accept the fact that we may not be strong in all values. It is sort of demeaning to say that I am not strong in values. Atleast we all like to be known as men and women of incorruptible values.
For most men, the typical weaknesses are the 3 W's. Wealth, wine and women. I know this is like painting the whole canvas black. Each one of us has a set of weakness and strengths. The break point of weaknesses will be way lower than the strengths. For some IPL players, it was Rs 60 lakhs. What is yours?
Bribe giving and taking culture (Applicable for only some countries)
Looking at all the scams that have been in the news, especially the ones in India got me thinking. Why would anyone want to give a bribe if I have an option of doing business without it? Look at the 2G scam. (For more read http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2G_spectrum_scam). The accused are all players with prominence in the field of telecommunications if not in India, globally. Why would such organizations bribe? Is it that these organizations are filled with men and women who have reached their tipping point? The thought is hilarious isn't it? An organization filled with men and women who are crazy as they have reached their tipping point. It’s too simple an explanation to the point of being illogical. If this is not the case what else? I guess the reason is that in some countries you cannot do business without giving bribes. Especially in sectors where government permission is required to open up a business.
Aristotle defined politics as “A polis is not an association for residents on a common site, or for the sake of preventing mutual injustice and easing exchange. The end and purpose of a polis is the good life, and the imitations of social life are means to that end”. According to him a politician is someone who has the moral right and the character to lead the society towards this good life. Considering this definition of a politician, how many of today's politicians have the right to be in politics? One may think this is an epidemic in the developing countries, but looking at some of the developed countries and their unholy alliances with gun makers, prostitutes’ shows that the cancer of corruption is everywhere. In countries where bribe taking and giving is almost a culture, surviving as a business without being party to it is almost impossible. Organizations that operate in such countries are definitely not made of employees who have reached their tipping point, but it’s such a case of survival. Let me make myself very clear. I do not support giving bribes or taking it. I personally do not do both. And let me tell you that, from experience, in the country that I live in, it’s a very very tough thing to do.
Fig: Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs [Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maslow's_hierarchy_of_needs]
Proposed by Maslow in 1943, this theory classifies needs into 5 main categories starting from physiological to self actualization. According to him these needs are in the form of a pyramid, with the most fundamental needs like breathing, food water etc at the bottom and the need for self actualization at the top
Linking propensity to violate ethical standards and act unethically with the hierarchy shows that the lower the need that is not met, greater the chances to move towards break point. For example a person may act unethically if he does not have food to eat, than the need to own a car.
But does it mean that those who do not have food to eat steal would steal more that the ones that does not own a car? If that is the case, many of the thefts, robberies, scams that we see would have no possible explanations. If Maslow’s hierarchy is looked at in isolation, the hypothesis holds true. Given that all the other possible causes that leads one to the break point given above remains constant and equal for an individual then the probability to steal for food is more that the probability to steal to buy a car. For example, consider two individuals whose value systems are exactly the same, pressure exerted from the family is exactly the same, the pressure from society is exactly the same, strengths and weaknesses are also exactly the same. One of this individual does not have food to eat. The other has all the bottom 2 needs of Maslow’s hierarchy met (food, shelter, security etc). His need is that of a car for social acceptance. In such a case where all other reasons for break point is same for the 2 parties considered, the chances are that the person whose need for food to act without integrity is more that the one whose need is for a car.
Hence, all of the reasons mentioned above cannot be treated in isolation. Each one of these points can add up and lead to the point of break down and compromise. The difficulty here is that all of the above reasons for break point are not measurable and hence we do not know how it adds up. But looking around one can surely say that the effect is atleast a sum if not multiplier or exponential.
This is exactly the reason why we see so many cases where people compromise and choose to give up on integrity. The pressure is from multiple quarters these days when compared to the past. This can surely be attributed to the sudden increase in unethical behavior over the last few decades. It is the pressure from all quarters along with your weaknesses. Even weaknesses add up. A little of money and immorality may suffice for one, rather than a ton of money for another. This is why this epidemic runs across. From children to scientists to businesses to sports.
What can I do?
I think that the least a person can do is to accept that everyone including oneself can be corruptible. It is just a question of what will make you corrupt and how much will make you corrupt. I think this realization itself is humbling. This in itself will make one to be aware. It is indeed a depressing to know and accept that I have a break point.
Understanding your strengths and weaknesses in terms of values is important. It is humanely impossible to be strong in all values. For example a person who is strong in honesty as a value, may not be strong in transparency as a value. He may have a weakness for wealth. This is a fact that is difficult for us to accept. We all like to be known as people with good values. Accepting that we may not be strong in all values may not be a very easy thing to do.
Having a clear view on your goals and dreams for life is also important. One must spend enough time on what my aims and dreams in life are. These dreams and goals will prove to be an anchor that will prevent you from sailing after the expectations set in from others
What can businesses do?
1) Accept that there is a break point for everyone:
Organizations must accept that everyone including their CEO has a break up point. Hence organizations must have 2 thumb rules always in mind
a) Natural state of human beings is to act with integrity
b) Every human being, whose natural state is to act with integrity, has a tipping point, where he will behave and act unethically
Hence, it is the prerogative of organizations to have policies and processes to prevent, monitor and address unethical behavior that is applicable for everyone. In fact these must be policies that has no exceptions and applicable to all, from the CEO to all below.
2) Evaluate values at the time of hiring
Research shows that 80% of employee turnover is due to bad hiring decisions and a poor hiring decision for a candidate earning $ 100,000 per year could cost, on an average $ 250,000 [Source: Harward Business Review http://resources.dice.com/report/the-cost-of-bad-hiring-decisions/]. It is only logical so say that hiring an employee whose values are not in place is like handing over the key to the thief. The more senior the position is the riskier it gets. It is important that the recruiters look for any signs of unethical behavior even before the candidate gets hired. Getting proper feedback from previous employers on the values, background checks etc can help. Organizations must be willing to give away with a potential good resource, if his values are not found to be in place
3) Mechanism to report, address and track ethical violations:
Organizations must have sound processes in place which enables its employees to report ethical violations. Some of the characteristics of good reporting system includes
Facility to report without fear of retaliation
Facility to report without revealing identity
Certainty of impartial investigation and closure
Organizations must have clear systems and processes that keeps track of these reportings and must have a database of those employees in the susceptible category
4) Certainty of punishment
The biggest deterrent to a crime is not the severity of the punishment but the certainty of punishment. Organizations must ensure that disciplinary action is taken without any exceptions for all ethical violations. This not only helps in reforming the concerned party but also is a serious deterrent for the rest. Most organizations make the grave mistake of showing exceptions when employees in the leadership team is involved. This is highly dangerous and will cause unethical behavior to spread like cancer in the organization.
5) Pressure cooker management
Today's world of business is like a pressure cooker. This pressure as explained in the above pages can be a primary course for unethical behavior. Hence it is important that the leaders of organizations realize this and promote a tension free atmosphere in office. Having a good, understanding and positive leaders can eliminate unethical behavior.
6) Work Life Balance
Organizations must ensure that its employees have a good work life balance. The earlier school of thought told that the whole responsibility of ensuring good work life balance lies with the employee. But I feel that it is for the employer’s interest that good work life balance is maintained. The employee must not be in a situation that in addition to his pressure from work, he has pressure from home which when added with his weaknesses will rocket him to his break up point.
Epilogue
The reasons mentioned above are only some. A complex human mind, when multiplied with a complex world will give rise to umpteen other reasons as to why human beings behave unethically. In fact, this is the reason why it is almost impossible to predict human behavior accurately. This article is just an attempt to lay down some reasons that I feel are major contributors to acts that lack integrity
