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When it comes to ethics, the grass is sometimes greener
By Lauren | May 14, 2009
When I work with organizations to develop their codes of ethics, I frequently encourage them to look beyond their specific fields to see what other professions and industries are doing. They sometimes push back, arguing that their particular areas of expertise are so specialized and technical that no one else could possibly write rules that would have any relevance to them.
And that, you see, is the point.
It can be all too easy for people working in sophisticated, specialized fields to forget that the outside world won’t judge them by the norms of their industry. As an example, lawyers are required to “vigorously represent” their clients’ interests, and can get in trouble if they aren’t energetic enough about carrying out that responsibility. But if you look at the legal profession’s reputation, it’s clear that a lawyer’s “vigorous representation” can come off as sleazy, arrogant or obnoxious when examined in the court of public opinion.
Don’t get me wrong - most lawyers are very ethical and do a great job of representing their clients. But the fact that a few bad actors have been able to do so much to damage the reputation of a respected profession is worth noting. Yes, your code of ethics needs to be relevant to your industry and should set achievable standards for practitioners. Just remember, though, if your organization starts to get too insulated: one person’s passionate advocate may just be another person’s shark.
Topics: Business Ethics, Legal Ethics, Professional Ethics, ethics |
June 1st, 2009 at 11:01 am
[...] presents When it comes to ethics, the grass is sometimes greener posted at The Business Ethics Blog, saying, “It’s good to remember that one’s [...]
June 3rd, 2009 at 5:54 pm
In a specific industry it’s always better to keep an open mind to other policies and ways of conducting business.