Helping people to find an ethical way

Category: Editorial

Richard Winfield - editor In the week that the British prisons were forecast to overflow, I heard that one of my ex business advisers had been found guilty on nine counts of fraud and theft. This is the second occasion in which I have had advisors who have later been imprisoned for fraud.

What strikes me is that in each case the individual concerned had great talent and gave me great gifts in terms of learning or support. So, there is a great question. Why is it that someone with talent chooses to behave dishonestly? Do they not understand ethics? Do they not believe in their own talent? Do they think it does not matter? Do they think that others are dishonest, so why not them too?

On a smaller scale, petty theft and 'fiddling' is widespread. What does this say about organisations' culture, practices and expectations?

As professionals, our integrity is our most valuable possession. If we lose that, we can no longer practice effectively. As professionals in the people development world it is our role to help people discover and achieve their potential, and part of this is not only to role model ethical behaviour but to help/guide others to discover a framework within which they can fulfil their potential in an honourable manner.

I understand that it costs £36,000 a year to keep someone in a British prison. Part of the purpose is to protect the public, part of it is to punish, but the main purpose of this major investment is surely to rehabilitate the offender. Our prisons fail to do this. When we observe who many of the prisoners are, they are badly educated with low self esteem. Without discounting their guilt, we can perhaps accept that they have been failed in the past. Here is a challenge for society to do something to put things right, and in the private sector there are several initiatives that are highly successful.

There are many people in organisations today who are unfulfilled, unstretched and treated with little respect. I believe that managers have a responsibility to create a culture in which work enriches the lives of employees. Coaching is powerful means of challenging an individual's or team's self esteem and raising their aspirations so that they can achieve more – and have the personal pride and integrity that will ensure that they do so honestly.

I have been delighted by the response to my appeal for support at the ICF conference, but there are still more opportunities. Please read the appeal below and if you would like to take a role in building the Brefi Network, please contact me. This week's Coach of the Week, Sushila Patel has been an active member of the Network and has now joined our video support team.

Please note that the next Brefi Network Gathering is next week. So, sign up now.

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Richard Winfield is founder of Brefi Group.

He coaches directors and boards in transition:

new and potential directors, effective boards,

mergers and acquisitions, corporate retreats,

change programmes.