EXECUTIVE CONDUCT
What went wrong? And, when?
That seems to be about as far as initial questioning goes when it comes to talk about the gross misconduct of some business leaders. Often, I get the feeliing that some persons are deciding - ahead of discussion or
any attempt at fact-finding - that it all happened long ago and has, in fact, been that way all along.
These self-appointed critics seem to have no idea of what, if anything ... “went wrong.”
Such criticism is so unfair to all the decent, upstanding executives who have meant so much to our national well-being for so many years. This sort of broad brush accusation strikes me as a kindred one also going
the rounds at this moment - branding all preists as pedophiles just because a relatively few of them have fallen into such a state of depravity.
In truth, there can be little doubt but that the church, industry ,commerce as well as some other fields of human endeavor, have been, and are, rather lax in looking after the moral nature of their groups. Has that
not been made evident in recent years when you consider how the subject of “ morality” has repeatedly become an issue in our political campaigns at all levels? We have been living in an era in which, for some time, it would seem,
moral values have been vilified and any attempts at sublimation have been made deserving of ridicule and a basis for laughter and scorn.
Much of this, perhaps, is rooted in the manner in which our eduational system “raises”or “trains” either young men or women to become executives. Far too often the system is structured on the concept that “it is
not what you know, but who you know, that is important.”
Academic achievment is, from early years allowed to be secondary to social connections and on getting in with the “right” crowd, and upon one’s ability to pave fine avenues toward the goals of success by
belonging to the proper Greek-lettered groups. Some executives simply inherit their leadership roles. It seems to be assumed that since Father was a fine executive, Junior will be a good one as well, regardess of what training he may
or may not have to his credit. In recent decades, I have seen yet another group take over executive suites, usually for a short period of time of time and seldom to the advantage of the company being “executed” - those who have
been “successuful” in some other - often in totally unrelated fields ... sports, acting, political office holders, - name your own favorite, but the field has been pretty well worked over by this time.
Seldom do we see the dedicated, intent, mission-minded leader of men and women in the executive seats these days. Some are there simply because they started the business and it has never occurred to them
that someone else with better insight and less personal involvement might make a better go of it.
Our present education system, wonderful though it may be in so many ways, causes every student to think he or she will grow up to have a “position” rather than a “job”, be a “boss” rather than be “bossed”.
Everyone is assured of becoming an “execuitve” but none are prepared to be “workers”. Each simply “falls into” that which they become.
We can expect a few misfits along the line, both near the bottom and at the top, and the greatest of these misfits will be at the top where more is expected of them.
A.L.M. September, 28, 2002 [c 605wds]
