By Peter
G. Vajda, Ph.D
The challenge for many in their life
at work is simply this: how to be a business person and a human being at the
same time compete yet cooperate, be hard-nosed yet be ethical, keep ones nose
to the grindstone yet take time to see and acknowledge others, be professional
yet personal, make a profit yet not be greedy. You get the picture.
We don't have to look far to
discover folks whose life at work takes the low road. Business magazines,
journals, and news shows are replete with instances of individuals whose
workplace demeanor is described as rude, insensitive, disrespectful, unethical,
uncivil, egomaniacal and self-serving, greedy and dishonest. You might rub
elbows with one or more such folks on a daily basis. And, all this despite the
plethora of books, courses, seminars, workshops, policy and procedure manuals
and treatises focusing on ethics and codes of conduct.
On the other hand, there are those
whose lives at work are driven by their internal moral compass, a life at work
guided by principles that support one to behave decently, truthfully and in
integrity who take the high road even when they face major challenges, problems
and difficult choices.
What supports one to change lanes
and move from the low road to the high road is Li, and Confucius expounded
greatly on the nature and practice of Li.