Passionate Debates in the Workplace Uncover Character …

Healthy conflict is actually a huge time saver! Those whom avoid conflict actually doom themselves to revisiting issues again and again with no resolution.You wind up revisiting over and over key issues without ever having them either resolved.

What can also happen is you may uncover the true character of others you work with – good and bad. It can be a healthy and sometimes freeing mechanism where by through discussion, defects of character (both mine and those of others ) are uncovered thereby providing real clarity. This then allows you to strategize then effectuate whatever changes need to be made moving forward. Sometimes these changes can be very difficult indeed.

While many sales professionals know that their personal revenue is tied on how much value they bring coupled with the degree of quality service they provide, there are many others ( even a few top producers in their respective industries) to whom it is all about them and how much money they can gain. The sad reality is the long-term damage this can bring to an organizations brand as a whole. Management with many organizations tend on occasion to turn a blind eye far too often even though they should realize their company’s reputation is being tainted or tarnished when these clients leave and begin to verbalize to others the negative impressions. So why do many allow such transgressions to take place? When their personal or corporate profits are impacted, some while espousing to be morally and ethically sound place their integrity away for the sake of short term personal gain. Sad but true in too many cases. Reminds me of an old song from the Alan Parsons Group and the one song “Games People Play” from their “Turn of a Friendly Card” album (circa 1980)

Here are the lyrics from “Games People Play”:

Where do we go from here now that all other children are growin’ up
And how do we spend our lives if there’s no-one to lend us a hand

I don’t wanna live here no more, I don’t wanna stay
Ain’t gonna spend the rest of my life, Quietly fading away

Games people play, You take it or you leave it
Things that they say, Honor Brite
If I promise you the Moon and the Stars, Would you believe it
Games people play in the middle of the night

Where do we go from here now that all of the children have grown up
And how do we spend our time knowin’ nobody gives us a damn

I don’t wanna live here no more, I don’t wanna stay
Ain’t gonna spend the rest of my life, Quietly fading away

Games people play, You take it or leave it
Things that they say, Just don’t make it right
If I’m tellin’ you the truth right now, do you believe it
Games people play in the middle of the night

Games people play, You take it or you leave it
Things that they say, Honor Brite
If I promise you the Moon and the Stars, Would you believe it
Games people play in the middle of the night

Games people play, You take it or leave it
Things that they say, Just don’t make it right
If I’m tellin’ you the truth right now, do you believe it
Games people play in the middle of the night

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=BZWBw_gupXE

What happens then once you have a passionate debate or two and uncover some ugly or nasty attributes that either negatively impact the team you lead or the individual you either report or answer to? This is where the real character of a man(or woman) will be tested without doubt. Are there people within your organization in possession of real integrity and courage to take the road less travelled?

Another far more uncomfortable scenario is where you are sold one bill of goods only to discover, that even after performing due diligence, is far different than you were led to believe. True leaders of integrity are sorely lacking these days. Companies and their designated managers talk about mission statements, values … outstanding customer service as nauseum but when the rubber meets the road, at the end of the day it’s about what goes in to the pocket of their jeans. It is high time people practise what they preach! Now there’s a concept; doing what you said you were going to do when you said you were going to do it. The last time I checked that is the definition of integrity. Even those whom on a Sunday will go to a church or place of worship, or profess deep convictions as to what is right … then in the workplace not take action or a stand as it might be construed as what? Perhaps the honourable and best course of action would be to at least question or evaluate the impact of these behaviours! Reminds me of the Crusades where the mission statement and the actual execution of same were a little skewed! Someone failed or ommitted from those misson statements about the rape, pillage and plunder parts on the strategic planning side of things.

Too many are driven by greed and worship only the almighty dollar. (all about me syndrome) I am of the belief there are a few real leaders (not administrators) whom make those tough and often unpopular choices to do what is right. Those that are in business to truly provide their best by caring about those they serve will ultimately be very compensated over the long term. Others bent on the quick or big score can indeed obtain short term financial success but to sustain ongoing success is doubtful.

At the end of the day how would you want to be remembered? How do you measure character? What character or moral metrics are mentioned when you come up in a conversation or don’t you care? Food for thought.

‘Nuf Said !