one of the keys to the successful implementation of a new business. But it also can be one of the most difficult. Many people are unaware of their own ethical code and lack the information that is necessary to ensure a good ethical partner.
The problem is that one of the biggest mistakes that business executives make is to assume that the best ethical partner is the one that happens to be the company’s CEO. If you are in a relationship with someone who doesn’t understand how to operate ethically, you won’t be as successful as the CEO of your company.
As a result, many business executives have been having to deal with unethical behavior on a frequent basis. But what if you could take the pressure off and not have to deal with the bad behavior of your executive if you are having to deal with it yourself? That is exactly what happens in The Life of a CEO, a new documentary released this month by the Oscar-nominated documentary filmmaker Daniel Maslany.
Maslany’s film is based on what he calls a “briefcase of ethics.” The briefcase is simply a collection of ethics that every CEO has to agree to on a yearly basis. If you’re having to deal with unethical behavior by your executive, the idea is to force the CEO to take a stand against the unethical behavior.
In The Life Of a CEO, Maslanys film is one of a series of six documentaries that he has put together on the subject of ethics. The films will be released by PBS in the autumn, but Maslany has also released a book, The Life of a CEO: The Business Ethics of Success.
It doesn’t matter whether you’re a CEO or not, you should always take a stand against unethical behavior. It doesn’t matter whether you’re a director or a salesman. Ethics are the backbone of your business. If you work together with your team, you’re going to be successful, even if you have to put up with some unethical behavior. Maslany makes it clear that this is not a problem for people who are just starting out in their jobs.
In the book, Maslany points out the many ways that unethical behavior can be used to hurt you and your company. I had no idea that it was so bad until I read it. It makes for a very interesting read because it makes it clear that it’s not just the people who are dealing with unethical behavior, it’s also the people who are involved. When you have people who are not in your company that are involved in unethical behavior, it’s hard to deal with it.
I remember reading the book and thinking that the book went on for pages on how to avoid unethical behavior in one’s relationships with other people. The last thing I can remember is Maslany saying, “I don’t know what you need to do to avoid being an asshole about it.” It makes you realize how important it is to be a good person to the people you work with.
So, yes, business associates have to be more careful how they deal with unethical behavior. But what should you do? They can’t do anything about it, so what can you? Start by being a better person. You cannot control a person’s behavior, but you can control how you react.
