Happy New Year!
One of Harcourts’ 4 values is “Doing the right thing”, and we use that as a line in the sand, a clear pointer and guide to the behaviour we must always engage in, in any position we are in or role we play.
Doing the right thing is about making a choice. We all know instinctively what the right thing is to do from an integrity perspective, in any and every situation we find ourselves in, where there is the opportunity to do the wrong thing.
It has been interesting watching the cricket test series between Australia and India. This whole question of doing the right thing has been highlighted by Andrew Symonds’ frank admission that in the second test he was definitely out, but because the umpire didn’t give him out, he didn’t walk. His justification was it’s “swings and roundabouts” and evens itself out in the long run.
Others have argued it’s professional sport, there’s alot at stake and so it’s entirely justified. There are many other players of course who believe that if you know for certain that you are out, you should walk. Adam Gilchrist, the Australian wicket keeper has done just that on a number of occasions.
I believe it is very simple. If you know you are out, you walk – no ifs, no buts. If you don’t, you’re cheating, plain and simple. Doing the right thing means just that, do the right thing. If you are given too much change by a shopkeeper, you give it back. You don’t keep it, that’s stealing.
Our elite sport’s people are role models and must understand the impact their behaviour has, especially on the young. The message that’s cheating is OK, if you get away with it, is just not right!
It’s the same in business. Our top business people, the leaders in any business are equally role models and must also understand that their behaviour is seen, is copied and does set the standard in that organisation, business or industry.
But above all else, doing the right thing is just that, the right thing to do. If you don’t have your integrity, you have nothing.
There’s a good solid rant to start 2008! I’m looking forward to a great year ahead, plenty of rants and of course plenty of discussion and feedback.
