While so many individuals, organizations, and areas continue to cope with the damaging impact of the world-wide "Financial Crisis," in the past few weeks, events have also re-focused our attention on another devastating one - the "Character Crisis." This crisis is one that, unlike the financial one, touches virtually all of us worldwide. Let’s take a look at how.
The ‘character’ issue is one that has become larger in scope and with increasingly costly consequences across all areas of our lives—personal, social, economic, political, legal, religious, and even academic. Whereas leaders in these various sectors were once admired and respected, they are now viewed by people with suspicion and doubt regarding both their motives and actions.
In previous blogs I discussed ‘character’ and ‘trust’ as the essence of genuinely 
respected leaders and one of the most uncommonly found among effective ones. So why am I writing about it again here? Because we tend to think that it is a problem that describes others, not ourselves—right? Well, unfortunately, while it is natural for us to think that way, it cannot be validated by either behavioral research or known life experiences.
Research studies have shown that when either under stress, pressure or faced with difficult choices where either the ‘right choice’ is not clear or the cost to one’s self or others we identify with is significant (whether a person, group, company, or nation), 90% to 95% of all people do NOT make the choice expected of a person of high ethical character. So, how probable is it that you are in the 5% (high stress, high complexity situations) to 10% (moderate stress, complexity situations) versus thinking you are when the reality is that you are more like the mass of other people? By the way, the reality is that most people are also well-intentioned (by their group’s norms) but make poor choices.
As I reflect on nearly 50 years in the work world as I write today, it is worth noting that while there have always been ‘character’ issues during that time (and throughout human history), what is different today for so many is that in the past it was considered unacceptable with significant adverse consequences for violators (ranging from total rejection to capital punishment). By contrast, today it is expected, tolerated, and/or minimized as a guiding principle/requirement. I continue to observe, hear, and/or asked to help in addressing such situations on an all-too regular basis.
This isn’t a pretty picture with a very happy ending for us, whether at individual, group, organization or macro-levels. When realizing this years ago, it was the primary reason why my own reflection and exploration of research led me to conclude that the most practical, immediate, and lasting solution to the ‘Character Crisis’ was to build and sustain ‘character alignment’ by establishing a culture (See my co-authored book, MANAGING BY VALUES: Becoming A ‘Fortunate 500’ Organization) based first and foremost on an ethical guiding value principle focused on the well-being of others, not self-interest(s)!
Your comments and emails are always welcome; you can email me at drmichaeloconnor@lifeassociatesinc.com.
