This is a guest post by Brandt Smith.  Brandt is cofounder and senior editor of

“Character is doing the right thing when nobody’s looking.” ~J.C. Watts

“Do you have a minute?  We need to talk about Tim.” I had a sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach.  Something wasn’t right and this was definitely going to take more than a minute.

“Remember the shrinkage we’ve been battling? Tim was just caught walking out with several units.  It looks like he’s been selling them on the side for several months.”

Here’s the quandary

Tim was one of the top performers in the company.  He was hard working, good natured, and extremely good at his job.  As a result everyone loved him-especially his customers!

If I fire him we lose an employee who is a top performer.  His contribution to the company is significant and would be hard to replace.  He is close to his customers and I know we’ll lose business.

This goes beyond his sales skills.  Tim is well liked by just about everyone and if I fire him there will be an uproar.  I’ll have managers asking if I can make an exception.  His peers will be upset and their work will be disrupted.  His customers will ask why he was let go and there is a good chance they will take their business elsewhere.

If I make an exception and let it slide there will be repercussions as well.  He violated company policy, the law, and his integrity.  Remember, this wasn’t taking home some office supplies.  He is a role model and his lack of ethics could wear off on other employees. If I make an exception others will expect me to do the same for them.

What’s a guy to do?

7 keys to doing the right thing

1.  Know your core values
How can you do the right thing if you don’t know what it is?  You can’t rely on others to tell you.  You can’t always rely on the company to guide you-think Enron!

We develop our values over time.  It starts with our family, faith, and friends.  We can further develop it by reading inspirational material and meditation.  We make choices throughout our lives which shape who we are and what we believe.

Most of us know the difference between right and wrong. Black and white is easy, it’s the vast gray area in between that causes us so much trouble.  This is the area we need to explore.

2.  Take a clear look at the situation
Decisions need to be based on facts and reality.  Often there are emotions flaring and other people are pressuring you to go with the flow.  This interferes with your ability to make a rational decision.

Take a deep breath and give yourself some space.  Separate the pressure and emotion from the facts.

3.  Trust your gut
You know right from wrong.  What do you do when you are uncertain?  Listen to your conscience, that gut feeling that you can’t explain.  Often your subconscious mind sees minute details that escape your conscious (logical) mind.

4.  Do the right thing
It takes strength and courage.  This is what separates the men from the boys-or the women from the girls!  Doing the right thing is often hard.  Over time it becomes easier as you gain confidence.

Reputations are built over a lifetime of actions and decisions.  They are destroyed when we act contrary to our beliefs.  Decide what you want to be known for making sure it is congruent with your values and beliefs.

5.  Stick to your guns
People may try and get you to change your mind.  Remember, you make them uncomfortable when you have the courage to stand on your principles.  It reminds them of their own shortcomings.

Integrity is one of the key leadership traits.  If you are willing to go against the grain people may not like you but they will respect you.  They will take strength from your actions and do the same.

6.  Prepare for the consequences and expect resistance
Often doing the right thing has immediate consequences.  As uncomfortable as this is this will pass.  Having integrity is always more effective though it often takes a long term point of view to see this.

7.  Review your actions
Always take time to review the situation and learn from it.  Did you act in accordance with your beliefs?  How could you have dealt with the situation better?

This goes hand in hand with the first point.  By reviewing our actions and choices we learn more about our beliefs.  We start to understand what we value and what we are willing to sacrifice.

What about Tim?

Doing the right thing is about acting in accordance with your beliefs and values.  It is about character and integrity.  In Tim’s case this was a severe breach of trust that required serious consequences.  Anything less would not be in accordance with our values and would be a violation of our integrity.  In the end we let him go.

What would you have done?

Photo by Global Integrity