Tokens

Invest on your problem to stop it from being a problem.

During the course of a “Leadership Seminar” that I conducted for Eastern Visayas and Cebu-based business people, a young woman from a family owned corporation asked what could be done with dishonesty or lack of integrity among employees? The lady was clearly frustrated by the fact that none of the usual solutions was working for her company.

I simply said: “Invest on Integrity.”

Most executives and business owners actually believe that they already are, when in fact they are not, because they are investing on “security,” “controls,” “accounting and inventory” or “disciplinary action” but not on people and the value of “Integrity” and “Honesty” in their lives and workplace. They don’t teach it, explain it, celebrate it, reward it and most of all, executives and owners don’t remind themselves what they would be losing and what they are saving because of employees with integrity and honesty.

We have enough rules and punishments to deal with dishonesty and lack of integrity that could fill Congress and the Senate, but to this day we continue to discover dishonesty as well as theft by some of its members. PNoy has ridden on the horse of integrity and anti-corruption, but many of his men are now the subject of cases or accusations of dishonesty or lack of integrity.

On the other hand, how serious or rewarding are our current policies or actions concerning people with “Integrity”? How well do we reward and acknowledge people who are truly honest at home, in the work place, or in government? For starters we don’t have a national award for Honesty or Integrity. (If there is one, you’re being too quiet about it!) Yet, we reward and award titles and recognition to some people who are guilty of tax evasion, violate labor laws and principals, or publicly flaunt their infidelity or adultery.

Do you have an honest to goodness reward system at home that is not merely a set of rules and appropriate punishments about honesty? Is the meaning of “Integrity” clear to the children and especially the adults in your house? Do we regularly give lessons, use learning opportunities and celebrate honesty with everyone at home or is it only applied to “Kids”? Do we celebrate honesty and integrity openly and in a vocal or big way? Or haven’t we all been taking it for granted and assumed it as a “given” that we expect from others?

When ordinary people return lost wallets, phones etc. we treat it as a “news event.” Cab drivers go out of their way to give back a left item and they lose time and income lining up at TV or radio stations but all they get is maybe a few bucks for soft drinks that won’t even cover their gasoline, parking and down time! Sure they get to be on radio, maybe even TV but after a while that gets old and expensive on the part of the do-gooder. 

In many companies, they get tokens.

Just the word “Token” explains why programs fail. A token “Letter of Appreciation,” a token cash gift or Gift Certificate presented at a token event will ultimately lead to making the entire value system and idea a “token” activity. In time people in the company gives the value of honesty and integrity “token” importance. Shrewd and practical executives who prioritize profit above all think they are hitting two birds with one stone by giving token recognition and rewards in order to protect company property and interests, but honesty and integrity is a long distance journey that cannot be reached on “half a tank of gas” and the value of the reward determines the worth of the value system we aspire for.

Executives and business owners complain about lack of integrity in reporting & information, no honesty in time keeping, attendance, outputs, expenses and privileges because we all assume these to be a given. We have our expectations but we don’t invest in knowing what our people expect in the work place. Cheating is not just about morals. It might be an executive who places unreasonable expectations on reports, unscheduled meetings, but employees can’t say a peep because they also live in fear of their boss or losing their job or being penalized.

Many maids and helpers won’t admit breaking or destroying something in the kitchen, sala or laundry because their employers generally express anger, curse them, fine or deduct them etc. In my home it is an ongoing battle to train them to tell me immediately as well as to train myself to keep my reactions in check and showing people that honesty is more important. In most cases I simply say: No Big. It’s a struggle but I sleep better. It is a worthwhile investment to help your people to speak their mind, to be honest and find a common ground.

In my circle of people, we always remind employees: I would rather you ask me, than you steal it. There is also the phrase: “A thief may steal out of need but the liar, he might also be a thief.” If you preach these you must prove yourself to have the same amount of integrity and honesty. Give the help, present the reward and most importantly show that you have it in your character and not just in your words to be honest and have integrity. So start the week by developing your own Rewards Program:

Honest to the company award – Honest to Customers award – Honest dealings award – Honest in telling the Boss what he needs to know – Honest Husband award – Honest Wife award – Honest son/daughter award – Integrity w/office time award – Integrity On-time integrity award; Honesty and Integrity in Diet Award! These are just some possible awards, but the most important is you NEVER, NEVER, use the word “Token.”

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