Integrity in business is a quality that is highly under-rated by executives these days. Many executives are so "pushed and pulled" by a not so hidden force called the "profit motive" that they often find themselves compromising something that without which they could lose all credibility and trust from those they are trying to retain business from. Isn't it ironic that something (i.e. the profit motive) that is supposed to help guide businesses into the black often drives them blindly into the red? Why is this? Well it's because often executives who run such businesses put profits above their own personal and business integrity. This treacherous mistake can easily lead one to ruin as has been witnessed in some recent scandals i.e. Enron, World Com, Arthur Anderson and others less publicly known. As an Executive Coach, Psychiatrist and Specialist trained in the underlying emotional issues that lead to ethical dilemmas, I have witnessed that the main causes of such ethical tragedies stem from an executive's low self esteem. Yes, you heard it correctly, "low self esteem". Seems ironic doesn't it as many of us may consider some of the stalwarts of the business world who run these huge companies as the heros of our age. In fact, when one scratches the surface of these CEO's one finds a very different kettle of fish. A key sign of this low self esteem is as follows. Just reflect on the gruelling pace that these executives keep, some working almost constantly and neglecting health, relational needs, family commitments and other personal needs and desires. Only someone with low self esteem, or a low self regard would do something like this to themselves. Those among us who think that such a pace is normal, acceptable and necessary are likely to question my judgement on this. That's fine. All I ask of those individuals is to notice how they feel about themselves. I might suggest that if they are sacrificing "life and limb" just to survive then that probably doesn't make for a very happy existence. Does it? So how happy are you really? How happy are these executives. Such a grueling pace and out right disregard for personal needs and desires is a clear sign of low self esteem. Often executives are so unaware of how badly they feel or how empty they feel emotionally because they are too afraid to feel such feelings. The fear is that feeling such feelings might cause them to collapse or to seriously start doubting themselves. Of course this fear is quite terrifying as it portends, at least in their minds, possible decompensation at every level. Yet it is this same fear that is forcing such executives to drive themselves harder, to take chances that are riskier to themselves and to their organizations and thereby causing them to come closer to the brink of collapse anyway. Sounds like a "no-win situation" doesn't it? Well the truth is that there is a way out of this vortex. If any of this is resonating with you and you are sufficiently concerned about how trapped you feel in all of this then feel free to visit the web site below. Before its too late. |
