Are you ready to report?

Seneca recommended that we practice poverty in case we became poor.

Soldiers sweat in times of peace so they bleed less in times of war.

Likewise, employees should practice reporting wrongdoing before there is anything to report. The ethical leader should gather her team and periodically ask: “If you noticed [blank], how would you report it?” This is easy to do. Just look at this morning’s headlines to identify some corporate wrongdoing to discuss with your team.

As Mary Gentile described in her book Giving Voice to Values, people who observe wrongdoing know what to do but they struggle with the how. Who should I report this wrongdoing to? When? What should I say? Should I go alone or bring someone with me? It can all be confusing and paralyzing.

A well-trained soldier does not paralyze on the battlefield.