The Tribune

Presidential and political elections in the United States and around the world have raised awareness of high levels of corruption that exists when individuals with power take advantage of systems where there are loopholes or insufficient checks and balances. Just as in politics, business leaders are often challenged in exhibiting integrity when no one is watching. From bribery, theft, abuse of employees and a slew of other serious, sometimes incriminating offenses, leaders seems too often caught with their corporate ‘pants down’.

The World Bank estimates that $1 trillion dollars gets paid every year in bribes, worldwide. There’s possibly corruption existing in every government in the world and in most businesses around the world, but what varies is how extreme, how visible, and how tolerated it is. What we do agree on is that corruption at its core is a destructive force for industry, both in government and the private sector. A very small handful seem to benefit while others are taken advantage of and abused seemingly without recourse.

Today we focus on the mindset of the individual abusing power and influence in the workplace and what we must all do to combat corruption stamping it out at the root.

Some years ago, a duo of German psychologists studying organisational corruption globally, indicated that countries encouraging tipping as a means of expressing gratitude for services rendered or bargaining on goods and services for sale, had a higher tendency to slip into dishonesty. When people believe they can get more, get it faster or simply get it done because of some means other than the established protocols or set price, human nature will opt for expediency- even to the detriment of others.

What does this look like in our context? Here we go:

· The senior leader at the passport office takes the extra $200 to process travel documents at a faster rate.

· The politician manipulates the bidding process and awards contracts through extreme and blatant nepotism-naturally getting padded on the side

· The police officer stares the violator in the face and says $100 can make this all go away

· The road traffic officer passes the inspection for the unworthy vehicle because lunch was offered and received

We could easily do this all day, because there are literally thousands of scenarios in our system where people in positions of authority are allowed to run-a-mock with privileges extended to them. Greed possesses them, low ethical standards are their hallmark and a lack of respect for decency and order seems to have taken deep root in the hearts of these individuals.

Perhaps the questions that supersedes why they do it, is how do we stop it. There is a simple answer to this very important concern in business and government. It comes in three parts:

1. Establish the standard-the order-the script by which leaders and all they lead must follow when engaging the public

2. Identify those who continuously fail to meet the standards and make an example of them and

3. Applaud and lift up those leaders and individuals who walk upright and have demonstrated great integrity in the midst of a corrupt system and world.

• NB: Ian R. Ferguson is a talent management and organisational development consultant, having completed graduate studies with regional and international universities. He has served organsations, both locally and globally, providing relevant solutions to their business growth and development issues. He may be contacted at tcconsultants@coralwave.com.