The world we move in is relentlessly fast and most days resembles a high-speed elevator forcing all of us to confront challenges and emotions.
As a result, human conduct in our personal and business lives is anything but consistent and requires proper maintenance of our ethical elevators.
Failure to respond or move quickly enough can result in lost opportunities. Moving too quickly though, without purpose, and without values invites shortcuts that take us all on slippery slopes that often are irreversible.
Ethical awareness is part recognition, part curiosity, and is every bit a practiced behavior.
As this new week starts I invite you to consider some practical steps when the ethical elevators are challenged and the colors are anything but black and white:
1) Hit the pause button. Few things in life require instantaneous responses with the exception of avoiding emergency contact with another moving vehicle. We have time and should make it our ally.
2) Open up your recognition and curiosity spigots. Act like a doctor and begin your diagnosis of the situation. What am I confronting? What is happening? Who is involved? Can I put the brakes on and defer action?
3) Who can I consult with that I trust? All too often humans think they can work out what they worked in. Acting independently and solo we invite circumstances in that rapidly become more flammable. An extra set of lenses can help with our blind spots.
4) Think big as there is always a larger picture than what we imagine and understand. Contemplate consequences and what an endgame might look like. When ethical elevators are speeding, our ability to respond and ascertain slows the cables down.
My friends, please remember this: respect, consideration, and courtesy matter a lot. Treat others fairly, decently, and equally.
Build your moral compasses carefully and always monitor them daily.
You know the battle cry: do your best each day. No one can ask more or less from any of us.
All the best/blessings, Mark
