Overcoming Temptation

True professionals rarely need to deviate from technical limits, policy or procedure for mission essential purposes, but there are certain conditions that can lead individuals to breakdowns of discipline. In one short, undisciplined step, these situational factors — known as violation producing conditions (VPCs) — can lead an individual to nullify all margins of safety for themselves and those around them, while putting the mission at risk. By increasing our awareness of VPCs, we can protect our people against a sudden loss of judgment.

In this short column, we will discuss the three of the most common and dangerous VPCs. We begin with unlikely detection — the often false perception that a violation is unlikely to be detected by anyone in authority.

Unlikely Detection
It has been said that true character only comes to light when no one is watching. Yet, there is little doubt that the ability to get away with it because “no one will ever know” is tempting to even the most disciplined among us. The fallacy of this argument is that the most important person in the equation—you—will always know you took a shortcut. Therein lies the problem.

Here are a couple of things to think about:

If we use detection as a decision criterion, we already know we are doing something wrong, or at least unacceptable in the eyes of others. If we proceed with an action we know others disapprove of, we are at risk of developing an attraction to the forbidden fruit of non-compliance—the feeling that we are somehow superior to others who are rule-bound. This is extremely dangerous ground.

In the long run, the world has a way of catching up with those of us who think we can evade detection. Either we cut corners until something very bad happens, or we simply fail to reach our potential due to sloppy habits of personal discipline. What happens in Vegas—never really stays there.

Poor Planning
Lack of adequate planning time or depth resulting in “free styling” during execution.

Thorough planning is one of the most recognizable traits of a high achiever, even though it’s seldom fun or glamorous. It occurs behind the scenes. There are many reasons people give for not planning: “I don’t have enough time,” “I don’t really need it,” “It won’t work for me,” “It’s too constraining,” “My work is too unpredictable,” “I’m a creative type,” etc. According to many performance experts¹, these reasons are merely excuses and rationalizations.

The real reason people don’t plan is usually one of the following:

• They don’t understand the value. People get into bad practices because they don’t know any better. Planning improves performance – period.
• They desire immediate gratification. People who want to get their payoff now will find it difficult to escape their practice of poor planning. Planning pays off later – procrastination does so now.
• They don’t know how. Planning is a learned skill; there are good ways to do it, and there are bad ways to do it. Learn how to do it right and make it a permanent life skill.
• They haven’t eliminated obstacles to effective planning. Other conflicts may be blocking or undoing the effectiveness of your planning efforts.

The best way to escape the practice of poor planning is to make the time, learn how to plan effectively, and to do it consistently until it becomes a habit.

Leadership Gap
Leaders who personally practice or are known to condone procedural non-compliance.

Leadership must be ethical at all levels of an organization—but it seldom is. Any organization that has a leader who practices non-compliance will eventually foster a subculture of non-compliance. This evildoer does not necessarily have to be the top dog, but can be anyone in a position of authority who is known by subordinates, peers, and supervisors to be less than fully compliant in their day-to-day activities.

Here are a few things to consider about ethical leadership’s role in compliance:

• You cannot be one thing and demand another from your people. The old adage of “do what I say and not what I do” never works for long.
• It is important for leaders at all levels to communicate how they successfully deal with the temptations to deviate in their own daily affairs.
• The recent rash of ethical failures in global business has demonstrated that crime doesn’t pay (unless you qualify for a government bailout) and eventually an organization that is non-complaint at the top is prone to failure.

Compliance is more than supervision and quality assurance—it is leading by example.

Poor Role Models
Violations and compromised standards within an organization can often be traced to a single individual who “gets away with it” and therefore encourages others to copy their example.

Role modeling is the strongest form of informal leadership. Yet, it cuts both ways. In our 21st century Western society, we often find ourselves admiring those who brand themselves as rule busting mavericks. Innovation is good, but following those who try to make a name for themselves by flaunting the law, policy or procedural norms is a fool’s errand. We get nowhere fast. The only thing dumber than being a groupie for a rule breaker is to lead others into the same trap by being the poor role model they choose to follow.

Here are some guidelines for staying aware of this tendency:

• Be aware of the tendency to follow charismatic non-compliers. They seem to be everywhere these days. Remember, charisma often cloaks incompetence.
• Be aware of your actions in private and in public and act as if someone you care about and who admires you might be watching at all times.
• Identify your problem areas and work on them in public. Go out of your way to recognize an error you made in front of someone else.
• Be an inspiration. Whether you’re a parent, pilot, doctor, teacher, coach, athlete, artist, or anything else, do what you do best – and do it well each time. People you have never met and never will meet are watching you perform. It is up to you to meet their expectations and show them the right way through example.
• If you are a bad role model, eventually it will hurt those around you. Turn your life around, and you will be turning around more than one life.²

1. For an excellent overview of poor planning as a “worst practice,” log onto Time Thoughts at www.timethoughts.com
2. www.wikihow.com/Be-a-Good-Role-Model