Right and wrong

Socrates used to say that “nobody does wrong willingly.”

He simply meant that when people do wrong, they think they are right. If they thought otherwise, they wouldn’t do it.

And so it goes with those who engage in wrongdoing in the workplace. They think they are right. Because it’s funny. Because the company owes it to them. Because their family needs the money. Whatever the reason, they feel justified.

This is why it is so important for management and leadership to understand why people engage in wrongdoing at work. No amount of policies and controls will stop people who believes they are right. We must convince them that they are wrong.

And we must be right about that.