A Bit of Optimism Ethical Fading with Lenny Wong
Aug 31, 2020
Lenny Wong, an expert on ethical fading with 20 years of military experience, discusses how good cultures can slip into unethical practices. He dives into how individuals rationalize dishonest behaviors, even in corporate and military settings. Wong highlights the dangers of bureaucracy, where anonymity softens ethical scrutiny. He advocates for compassion in addressing hypocrisy, promoting environments that encourage honesty and mentorship. Finally, he emphasizes the need for integrity and transparency in organizations to combat ethical fading.
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Ethical Fading Defined
- Ethical fading occurs when groups make unethical decisions while believing they're ethical.
- Outsiders easily recognize the flawed ethics, but those involved remain oblivious.
Timesheet Fudging
- Simon Sinek shares a personal story of fudging timesheets.
- His boss noticed the consistent entries but signed them anyway, demonstrating ethical fading.
Euphemisms and Deception
- Euphemisms create distance from unethical actions, enabling self-deception.
- "Enhanced interrogation" instead of "torture" exemplifies this linguistic manipulation.
