Business Ethics - Discretion

As an independent business owner, ethics are extremely important to me. Their importance is one of the reasons I joined the Southwest Character Council. Other reasons include accountability and the opportunity to network with like-minded individuals. One, final reason is the monthly character spotlight; every month, the Council examines a particular characteristic in detail.

This month, the characteristic is discretion. According to Webster, discretion is "the quality of being discreet." That definition is a little lackluster, unless you know the meaning of "discreet." The word "discreet" is an adjective and refers to someone who shows "good judgment in conduct and especially in speech." Ah, now we're getting somewhere.

The Southwest Character Council also focuses on the importance of being discreet in one's speech; they state that discretion "is recognizing and avoiding words, actions, and attitudes that could result in undesirable consequences." The opposite of discretion is recklessness, a lack of self-control and a refusal to guard one's tongue. The inevitable result of recklessness is obvious; we all have heard Vice-President Biden's "foot-in-the-mouth" news clips. That example is somewhat humorous, but I am sure we all have experienced times when we should have controlled our tongues better. What were the results of losing control? In some instances, it has hurt a family member. In others, it has meant the loss of reputation or, possibly, work.

The Council offers a few suggestions for instilling discretion in our lives:

1. Consider the consequences
Formulate your statements before making them. Learn to discern when to address an issue. Evaluate how your decisions and words will affect others. Proverbs 18:13 (NAS) states, "He who gives an answer before he hears, / It is folly and shame to him." What we say has an impact; remember that words, once spoken, cannot be retrieved.

2. Choose words carefully
Encourage and instruct others. Ephesians 4:29 (NAS) says, "Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear." Choose words that will produce constructive results.

3. Practice good manners
Show others respect. If you don't agree with what someone says or know that what he or she is saying is incorrect, don't argue with the person in front of your peers. Speak with the person in private. The Bible tells us to try to live at peace with all men (Romans 12:18 NAS). We can do this by observing how different groups or subcultures act and learning to respond accordingly. Remember that what we think is polite in America is not always considered polite in other countries or cultures.

4. Learn from mistakes
A discreet person learns from his or her mistakes. If you have made a mistake, seek to be restored with whomever you have wronged. When admitting your mistake, do not attack the person you have wronged; do not give excuses; and do not merely say, "I'm sorry." If reconciliation isn't possible, still evaluate and learn from your mistake. Doing so will help you to be better prepared for similar situations in the future.

5. Find good influences
The friends you choose affect your values and habits. The same is true of entertainment. 1 Corinthians 15:33 (NAS) states, "Do not be deceived: 'Bad company corrupts good morals.'" Evaluate how you are spending your time. What are you doing with it? With whom are you spending it? Choose your friends and entertainment wisely so that your life will reveal your discrection and produce positive results.

What are the results of implementing discretion? One result is honor. If you are a discreet person, your reputation begins to speak for itself. You will still need to market yourself, but the work is much easier when you are a person of discretion. People eventually will notice your character and begin to speak of your good qualities with their peers and colleagues. Proverbs 22:29 (NAS) notes, "Do you see a man skilled in his work?/ He will stand before kings; / He will not stand before obscure men." The effects of discretion may take time to appear, but the long-term results are worth the wait.