Good Character for Tough Times

I'm posting old Members' Library Home Page articles here to serve as an archive. This one was first published July 27, 2009, at http://members.characterfirst.com.

John Burnett

Why is it when times get tough, the training budget is the first to get cut?

Tom Hill notes that our character, good or bad, is often revealed by our response to difficult situations. I would say the current economic crisis is a "difficult situation."

In his article, Are Ethics Too Expensive?, G. Jeffrey MacDonald states, “Hard-hit firms are cutting training. But hard times are when workers need it most.” MacDonald sites numerous ethics experts, statistical evidence, and even a government agency that supports his concerns.

Companies do not have to sacrifice their emphasis on ethics because of finances. Ethics training does not have to be expensive. Character training is an excellent, inexpensive way to support your ethics emphasis even during tough times.

Many Character First! organizations utilize the monthly bulletins as a spring board for discussing character and ethical decisions. MacDonald also discovered the value of integrating ethics discussions into routine staff meetings with an added benefit: making managers more active players in the formation of ethical cultures.

Economic downturns are tough on everyone but especially on relationships. Are you taking advantage of this opportunity to help your people be successful with character qualities such as diligence, thoroughness, truthfulness, responsibility, and self-control? As character is emphasized and modeled in the workplace, relationships are restored, customers are satisfied, and work is done with excellence. The result is better morale, greater productivity, and a high ethical standard.

Really emphasizing character is important at all times, but we don’t recommend deemphasizing during tough times.

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John Burnett is Business Director the Character Training Institute.