Understanding and Addressing Unethical Behavior
Red diamonds are known as the most expensive and the rarest diamond color in the world. It is Communication Intelligence’s hope that the quotes shared in this section of the magazine will be rare “finds” that will be highly valued.
“People in any profession and in any role face opportunities to act unethically. However, as one climbs the ladder, there are fewer people disagreeing with you and offering checks on your behavior
“In general, people want to please authority figures, even if that means ignoring their own ethical standards and their supervisor’s bad behavior.”
Sarah Cabral
Senior scholar in business ethics
Markkula Center for Applied Ethics at Santa Clara University
“In part, this phenomenon is due to a cognitive bias called obedience to authority. Obedience to authority causes people to accept or even encourage the unethical behavior of their supervisors, which is why people granted authority and power are often more vulnerable to behaving poorly.”
Sarah Cabral
Senior scholar in business ethics
Markkula Center for Applied Ethics at Santa Clara University
“The second relevant cognitive bias is the overconfidence bias.
“Often, individuals who have been successful in organizations and promoted to leadership positions develop overconfidence and downplay the role that others’ support or luck played in their rise to power.
“Irrational overconfidence prevents leaders from having a realistic view of their performance and moral judgment.”
Sarah Cabral
Senior scholar in business ethics
Markkula Center for Applied Ethics at Santa Clara University
“Workplace bullies who get promoted usually have a high degree of social and political skill, such that they can charm those above them and manipulate coworkers to assist them in achieving measurable goals.
“In regards to assessments, it is difficult to come up with a test for ethical behavior, because most tests can be gamed.
Sarah Cabral
Senior scholar in business ethics
Markkula Center for Applied Ethics at Santa Clara University
“The hope is that promoting from within would give a hiring committee a better viewpoint with which to judge the character of an applicant, but if an internal candidate has successfully won over a supervisor or board then questions regarding the character of an applicant may be obsolete.
“Assessing a candidate for self-control is understandably more difficult to do when hiring from the outside. If the leader is the person who started the organization, then there was never a selection process.
“Regardless of how they got there, all leaders are susceptible to the effects of obedience to authority and overconfidence biases. Therefore, good governance will play a significant role in curbing reckless behavior and removing leaders when necessary.”
Sarah Cabral
Senior scholar in business ethics
Markkula Center for Applied Ethics at Santa Clara University
“The board should consider how compensation packages can unintentionally promote overconfidence and unethical behavior.
“Leaders should be anonymously evaluated by subordinates on self-control, civility and respect for others.”
Sarah Cabral
Senior scholar in business ethics
Markkula Center for Applied Ethics at Santa Clara University
“Ultimately, organizations that want to promote ethical behavior at all levels of the organization, including leadership, ought to address ethics systematically rather than trying to change an individual’s behavior.”
Sarah Cabral
Senior scholar in business ethics
Markkula Center for Applied Ethics at Santa Clara University
