INTHEBLACK September 2024 special edition - Flipbook - Page 14
E T H I C A L I N T E L L I GE NC E
ETHICAL INTELLIGENCE
INTHEBLACK, Brendan O’Connell: Ethical intelligence
Click to launch video in a new window
“There is an implication that the
first question we should ask
before we do anything is ‘is it
legal?’ Well, that is the first
question, but it’s not the last
question, because there are
plenty of things that are legal
to do that are unethical or
ethically questionable.”
BRUCE WEINSTEIN, ETHICIST
Keith Mercurio
speaks on ethical
influence
14 INTHEBLACK September 2024 SPECIAL EDITION
The challenge is in applying them and reinforcing
the relevant behaviours. To do this, Weinstein
suggests following three steps.
The first is to promote ethical values to the world
and within the organisation.
The second is to “hire for character”, which means
that references to those values should be embedded
in the job description.
Finally, ask character-focused questions in job
interviews, he says.
“Is it important for your team to be knowledgeable
and skilled? Yes, but is that it? No, there are plenty of
‘crooks’ who are very knowledgeable and very skilled.
“Ask a candidate about a time when they had to
tell an uncomfortable truth to someone at work, for
example. That would reveal two crucial qualities of
high character employees – courage and honesty.”
CULTURE OF ETHICS
Mahesh Balakrishnan FCPA, KYC compliance
transformation lead at ANZ and member of
CPA Australia’s Ethics and Professional Standards
