How would you describe the state of ethics in business today? Wonderful? Rock solid? No, I think most people are disgusted with it. They are sick of dishonesty and unethical dealings.

Of course the ethical problems we're seeing aren't limited to just the business world. The public was horrified by the recently revealed abuses that occurred in the Catholic Church and how the incidents were covered up. Many were surprised by reports that Pulitzer prize-winning history professor Stephen Ambrose had plagiarized passages from historian Thomas Childers for his book The Wild Blue.

The Ethical Dilemma

Our disgust is now turning to discussion. People want to know: Why is ethics in such a terrible state? Although there are many possible responses to that question, it has been suggested that when people make unethical choices, they do so for one of three reasons:

1. We do what's most convenient.

An ethical dilemma can be defined as an undesirable or unpleasant choice relating to a moral principle or practice.

2. We do what we must to win.

Many people believe that embracing ethics would limit their options, their opportunities, their very ability to succeed in business.

3. We rationalize our choices with relativism.

Many people choose to deal with such no-win situations by deciding what's right in the moment, according to their circumstances. This is an idea that gained legitimacy in the early 1960's following the publishing of a book called Situation Ethics, by Dr. Jospeh Flectcher.

The result is ethical chaos. Everyone has his own standards, which change from situation to situation. And that stance is encouraged. A course entitled "The Ethics of Corporate Management," offered at the University of Michigan, says in its description, "This course is not concerned with the personal moral issues of honesty and truthfulness. It assumed that the students at this university have already formed their own standards on these issues."

So whatever anyone wants to use as the standard is okay. Making matters worse is people's natural inclination to be easy on themselves, judging themselves according to their good intentions - while holding others to a higher standard and judging them by their worst actions. Where once our decisions were based on ethics, now ethics are based on our decisions.

It's good to know that there is a desire for change regarding ethics in our culture. The bad news is that most people don't know how to make that transition.

Some Current MarketPlace Solutions

If you look at what's happening in the marketplace, you'll see that even though we desire honesty and plain dealing, we're still not winning the battle of ethics. Take a look at how people in our culture are currently trying to address the problem. They ...

1. Outsource Ethics Instruction 2. Perform an Ethical Flea Dip (Think of washing a dog!) 3. Rely on the Law.

One of problems is that ethics is never a business issue or a social issue or a political issue. It is always a personal issue. People say they want integrity. But at the same time, ironically, studies indicate that the majority of people don't always act with the kind of integrity they request from others.

The same person who cheats on his taxes or steals office supplies wants honesty and integrity from the corporation whose stock he buys, the politicians he votes for, and the client he deals with in his own business.

Companies that are dedicated to doing the right thing, have a written commitment to social responsibility, and act on it consistently are more profitable than those who don't.

Let's go back to basics. How do you know what's right? How do you navigate even the most difficult of pressure-filled situations? Where can you find a standard that will work in every situation - a guide that will help you to sleep well at night, prosper in business, improve your marriage, and have confidence that you're doing all you can every time? My next article I believe will be the best answer to those questions.

Kevin McNabb Chairman www.global-online-networking.com

Author is dedicated to helping people worldwide find financial freedom and prosperity. http://www.global-online-networking.com This article is available for reprint, with the resource box intact. You can make money with this article by adding PPC ads to this article, so that you will generate revenue from the click-thru's. Please see additional articles from Kevin McNabb at http://global-online-networking.blogspot.com/

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