Value and Ethics, In Ethics Theres Always Black or White

Do you remember that “get to know you game” Scruples? I believe it first appeared in the early 90′s or late 80′s. In case some of you don’t recall it, the game works this way. Four to eight friends pick six ‘Scruples question’ cards and six ‘response’ cards. A person can only answer three ways to the questions asked: Yes, No or Depends. The question cards ask a variety of questions dealing with morals and ethics (as if these are two completely different concepts). Questions like:

“The person in front of you in line accidentally drops a $100 bill. You pick it up. They have no idea they’ve dropped it and it appears they have several $100 bills in their billfold and you are certain nobody else saw the dropped money. Do you keep it or tell the person?”

The object of the game is to predict how a person will answer. If you chose a “YES” response card, for example, then you would direct the question to a participating player who you think will answer YES. If they answer as you predicted, you get to unload one of your response cards, a good thing because the first player out of response cards wins.

OK, so now that you know how to play Scruples, what did I learn? I learned that people, for the most part, don’t like to live in black and white. Seventy percent of the time people would say, DEPENDS. “It depended if I knew the person, if I knew they were a jerk I’d keep their money! If I didn’t know them I’d report it.”

It would concern me that people could justify why it was ok to do the wrong thing … STEAL! Everyone knows the right thing to do is to report the dropped bill, yet somehow the human mind can justify why, in some cases, it’s ok to keep it! It’s disenchanting to say the least. After all, if we had dropped the $100 bill I’m confident there would be no ‘depends’ involved.

I understand that there can be areas of grey in life, but I also believe that people who live with black and white perceptions of things are more grounded. Whether we agree or disagree with them, they appear confident and unruffled when questioned on their beliefs. I love those people. It takes guts to stand up and say, “”THIS IS WRONG!”" Business ethics tie right into today’s Wisdom.

In working with successful entrepreneurs, I’ve discovered there’s an authenticity that’s admirable. They say what they do and do what they say. Their convictions are carried outside the office to their everyday lives. Their convictions are their value system that is inherent in their organizations, and when an organization shares good values, consistency is created and when consistency is created brands come alive. Are you passionate about your convictions? Do you have the guts to step up and say, “That’s not right,” even if a deal benefits you? Remember, a good deal is made when both parties benefit equally in the end result.

Joe Kiedinger is Brander in Chief of Prophit Marketing, a unique and vision-driven marketing organization that helps small to medium-sized business succeed by adhereing to the Prophit Marketing System. The Prophit Marketing System is a process based approach that combines corporate culture with strategy and finally advertising. The emphasis starts with leadership and flows from there. Joe’s message has been heard by many through his unique Prophit Marketing Road Show, an entertaining informative presentation that leaves audiences with an action plan for success. Joe also authors Wisdom on Wednesday, a weekly email newlsetter which will enlighten and challenge you to get the most out of your marketing efforts. Visit this site to learn more about the Prophit Marketing system or click here to subscribe to Joe’s weekly email newsletter.

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Tags: moral, ethics, business, philosophy, values