Comments on: Employees: Do What is Right, or What is Common?

By: Robert Killen

Robert Killen — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 15:21:14 +0000

I'd like to present a different approach to doing “what's right.”

As a couple others have already said, doing what's right for your clients in a challenged environment can, at times, put you at odds with what is necessary for your employer. Facing that reality forced me to leave one career and to move into another, but on one seemingly inane condition: that I be allowed to work for something meaningfully less than what I am due.

Here's why. Agreeing to accept less allows me to direct the difference – between what I have rightfully earned and what I need – to a non-profit determined by my client. This way I can do “what's right” for everyone. My employer gets the business, non-profits get the cash, my clients get to market their “support” and I get the best of all – (1) knowing that everything I do is contributing to the welfare of the communities I serve and (2) a VERY compelling marketing stance.

Some might call me a Bad Capitalist but these times require new thinking to make meaningful change. Cheers!

By: Minoo

Minoo — Sun, 31 May 2009 21:10:42 +0000

Nice article by Scott Griffin.

By: RJ

RJ — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 16:29:34 +0000

A extremely topical post given the current environment. Frankly, individuals all have a choice when deciding how to act and I share the view given by a number of other comment writers – that the choice should only ever be to do the right thing. What is important however is to ensure that when you make the decision to act according to your belief of what is right, you do so having educated yourself on the full context of every option. Very few situations in the workplace are black and white and so stepping back to gain an objective view is critical. Equally, discussion with others in your workplace is essential. Unilateral decisions rarely are the 'right thing to do'. To guarantee career success, you need to ensure that where you wish to steer away from the common, you do so after rigorous investigation of what is truly the right thing to do. Failure here and you could find that your choices are, regardless of your intention, the wrong thing after all.

By: GossipSecretaries

GossipSecretaries — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 18:32:18 +0000

Doing what is right – that is what is important. That builds trust, confidence and credibility between you and your clients. More importantly your clients will always appreciate when you do what is right, rather than what is common.

By: Scott C Griffin

Scott C Griffin — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 19:47:14 +0000

Thank you for providing a valid point to my case. I was once left in a no-win situation trying to resolve a customer's issue. Granted that it wasn't “our issue” it still left the customer in a spot, and I felt uncomfortable being in the middle. After a couple of phone calls, I was able to get to the bottom of the issue and forwarded this issue to the customer – to which they could resolve immediately. It was from there that I could continue to assist the user and finish my work.

It is my belief that out-of-the-box thinking is how one gets 'exceeds expectations' on your annual reviews! But it goes beyond that – it's about quality of work.

By: Jamie Favreau

Jamie Favreau — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 04:08:23 +0000

I have done what is right for the organization and probably got in trouble or was very disliked for it. I guess I went against what my boss said after researching and then figuring out how to enact it. I was trying to get Missionfish for our chapter.

The reason why my boss said NO was a reason to ask the Home office. I decided to do this and was NOT ignored but I know it was another thorn in my side. This is a fundraising tool and can help your organization by using Ebay.

I did what was right and thought outside of the box. Was this bad? The people in NY didn't mind.

By: Scott C Griffin

Scott C Griffin — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 22:34:25 +0000

I have to agree with you Jenny. However I have seen the opposite first hand. If the employees are under pressure and to produce “numbers” then that is what management will get! If management's goal is X number than employees will see that as a goal to reach dispite any quality.

It is like running a factory where management demands 1000 widgets. The employees produce 1000 widgets. That doesn't include the rejects. But hey, they produced 1000 widgets after all – which was management's goal!

By: facebook-1407967489

facebook-1407967489 — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 19:24:22 +0000

Goal number one is to ensure you have happy customers!! Happy customers means your manager is going to be happy with your abilities and project completions. A happy manager means happy management, and so on…

For me it is easy…I have to see my customers everyday. I service internal customers. If I complete work that is sub-par and the customer is not happy, it is quickly escalated!

By: Jenny Fredrickson

Jenny Fredrickson — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 16:44:56 +0000

Personally, not at all. Frankly, no matter what is going on in the economy or your work place there is no real excuse for a slap shot job. In fact, with slow times at work you should be increasing your service. It's about setting a standard for yourself and keeping it AND when at all possible exceeding it. I always feel obligated to do what is “right” otherwise I am not only selling my client short buy myself as well. The last thing you need in a time like this is a reputation for doing poor and very untimely work.

By: Topics about Go-greener » Blog Archive » Employees: Do What is Right, or What Is Common?

Wed, 22 Apr 2009 12:07:05 +0000

[...] Liberal Conspiracy placed an interesting blog post on Employees: Do What is Right, or What Is Common?Here’s a brief overviewSo, I ask you: “Has the current economy made us start to skip doing what is right and just do what is common?” Share your opinions below. [...]