Have you ever been the victim of mistaken identity?

That's the question that drives the conversation when Kelly Paxton - Pink Collar Crime Expert, Annette Taylor, and Tamsen Webster, MA, MBA join the ethics panel to Grapple with the Gray.

Here is our topic:

A recent post recounted the following story: A delivery driver was exiting an upscale Boston hotel, when the driver of a Porsche mistook him for the valet, tossed him his keys, and said, “Keep it close, I’ll only be 10 or 15 minutes!”

The delivery guy calmly caught the keys, took the car for a short joy ride, then left it in the middle of the intersection with the door wide open and the engine running.

Comments on the post celebrated the story, and several readers shared stories of their own.

In a similar situation, one mis-occupationed valet parked the car in a tow-away zone. In another case, the purported valet simply drove off, reasoning that “if you gave me your keys, now it’s my ride.”

Are any of these responses justified? How much license do we have when obnoxious individuals literally invite us to put them in their place?

We do love vigilante stories. It’s such fun to root for mavericks who restore justice when the system fails. But are we making things worse for ourselves and for society by fighting fire with fire?

Meet the panel:

Kelly Paxton is a Certified Fraud Examiner, former Private Investigator, Professional Speaker, Podcast Host, and author of Embezzlement: How to Prevent, Detect and Investigate Pink-Collar Crime.

Annette Taylor is a researcher of evolutionary psychology and biology. Her website, Cavedweller Club, offers guidance and insights on how we can better understand the way our own hardwiring influences unconscious bias and decision making.

Tamsen Webster is a keynote speaker, message strategist, and “Idea Whisperer.” She uses her proprietary Red Thread method to help audiences, organizations, and individuals build and tell their stories to promote real, transformative change.

#ethics #culture #accountability #mindset

Is exaggeration just another synonym for lying?

That the question that drives the conversation when Jennifer H. Elder, CSP, CPA, JC Glick, and ☘️Mark O'Brien join the ethics panel to Grapple with the Gray.

Here is our topic:

Speaking truth to power is one of the foundational principles of any society built on ethics and the rule of law.

Senator Mark Kelly claims that’s what he was doing when he joined five other lawmakers urging service members to refuse illegal orders from their superiors, alluding to military strikes against cartel drug runners. Writing for National Review, Andrew McCarthy argues convincingly that, while Senator Kelly is not guilty of sedition (of which he has been accused), his message was ill-advised and wrongheaded.

Without getting into the weeds of legal definitions, we might frame the issue as politicizing the military vs. weaponizing the justice system. Senator Kelly’s message threatens to disrupt military efficiency by undermining the chain of command, while charges of criminality seemingly overstate objections to the propriety of the message.

If we insist on exaggerating or otherwise misrepresenting both justification for our positions and claims against our ideological opponents, do we not make it impossible to honestly debate the issues and work toward reasoned resolutions? How have we ended up in a place where rhetoric is more valued than substance? And what can we do about it?

Meet the panel:

Jennifer Elder is a CPA and Certified Speaking Professional who helps leaders future-proof their businesses by making smart decisions and staying ethical.

JC Glick is a retired Army Ranger Lieutenant Colonel. He is a leadership, strategy, and culture advisor, as well as CEO of the Commit Foundation, an organization that helps high-performance veterans find their next adventure.

Mark O’Brien is founder and principal of O’Brien Communications Group, a B2B brand-management and marketing-communications firm — and host of The Anxious Voyage, a syndicated radio show about life’s trials and triumphs.

#ethics

#leadership

#integrity

#accountability

#culture

Does celebrity impose a higher standard of social responsibility?

That's the question that drives the conversation when Christopher Bauer, Diane Helbig, and Peter Winick join the ethics panel to Grapple with the Gray.

Here is our topic:

In recent weeks, two stories from the wide world of sports have made the headlines.

In one, the FBI announced it had conducted a "massive, nationwide takedown" of two separate and illegal poker and sports-betting schemes with ties to Mafia families. The schemes reportedly spanned years and involved illicit gains from wire fraud, money laundering, extortion and gambling.

More recently, Boston College senior Shane Hanafin was the only player to stand as the band played the alma mater after the last game of the season. He then remained on the football field for an hour. Despite a disappointing 1-10 record for the year, Shane felt compelled to linger as a demonstration of his gratitude for the opportunity to play. Fans and social media viewers alike found the story touching and inspiring.

Star players make a fortune playing their games and endorsing products. Some of them leverage their sports careers to go into politics or acting. Young children of all ages look up to them as role models.

So here’s the question: Does their notoriety impose upon them an obligation to hold themselves to a high standard of personal integrity?

When they engage in scandalous behavior, are they more guilty than the average citizen? If we’ve come to expect little in moral discipline from our elected officials, is it reasonable for us to expect anything more from celebrity athletes?

Meet the panel:

Christopher Bauer is a Speaker, Author, and Consultant on Ethics, Compliance, and Accountability.

Diane Helbig is Chief Improvement Catalyzer at Helbig Enterprises, providing guidance and training to business owners and leaders around the world.

Peter Winick works with individuals and organizations to build and grow revenue streams through their thought leadership platforms and is host of the Leveraging Thought Leadership podcast.

#ethics

#leadership

#integrity

#accountability

#culture