REDEFINING THE NIGERIAN FACTORS: IMBIBING
GOOD WORK ETHICS
BY
EMEKA ONONAMADU
Citizens Centre for Integrated Development and Social
Rights - CCIDESOR
At KFC Hall & Restaurant, MCC/Uratta Road, Owerri,
25th May, 2012
DISCUSSION PREMISE
• Whatever is not worth dying for is not worth
living for — Muta Baroka.
• You have control of your action but not its
consequences — Anonymous
• If you don’t stand for something you will fall
for anything. — Malcolm X
Introductory Notes
A good work ethic is what most employers look
highly in employees. Work ethics is defined
from the perspective of working hard to the
willingness to put the organization first.
Therefore honesty and working well with other
coworkers are considered to be good work
ethics as well. Having a good work ethic can
help you to advance in your job and other
aspects of life. To practice proper ethics bring
also respect and trust at work.
Introductory Notes
• Nigeria has over 170 million people and over 70%
lives below two dollars per day
• Over $400 billion of oil revenue has been stolen
since independence
• Beyond the collapse of public utilities the second
reason why companies fold up is corruption and
poor work ethics
• Nigeria is the 3rd country in the world that harbors
the highest number of poor people behind China
and India.
Introductory Notes
• Nigerians are responsible for 85% of Nigeria
economic and social challenges
• Before Imo state has the lowest poverty index
in the southeast, today, Imo state is the forth.
These problems seemed insurmountable but
they can be overcome by regeneration of good
work ethics.
What is Ethic
According to Encarta English dictionary, Ethic is
a system of moral standards or principles. So
ethic is a combination of different acceptable
standard practices or principles. It is also the
combination of acceptable basic etiquettes in
an operating environment. Etiquette is simply
the rules and conventions governing correct or
polite behavior acceptable in a particular place,
group or country. It is also a social skill that can
be learnt
What is Ethic
Cont’d
Work ethics include not only how one feels
about their job, career or vocation, but also
how one does his/her job or responsibilities.
This involves attitude, behavior, respect,
communication, and interaction; how one gets
along with others. Work ethics demonstrate
many things about whom and how a person is.
What is Ethic
Cont’d
• Work ethics, such as honesty (not lying,
cheating, and stealing), doing a job well,
valuing what one does, having a sense of
purpose and feeling/being a part of a greater
vision or plan is vital. Philosophically, if one
does not have proper work ethics, a person’s
conscience may be absent
WHAT IS MORAL?
It is a familiar topic that is so difficult to define but
easy to describe.
When we talk about morals, we are referring to what
is right and just as opposed to what is official or what
is outwardly declared to be right or just. Moral is
required to develop or practice a good work ethics. It
also helps to build your courage and conscience.
WHY GOOD WORK ETHICS NECESSARY?
• Your coworkers pick up on it and they will
respond to your mood and if it is positive or
negatives it determines the overall individual
and team output.
• You can really impress the ones you work with
and your superiors if you can have a good
attitude, be on time and lead by example.
Most employers are looking for that employee
that stands out among the rest and having a
good ethic will get you on the right path to
success.
WHY GOOD WORK ETHICS NECESSARY?
• It is easy to spot the employees that have bad
work ethics because they are the ones that are
usually trying to get out of working. They
always want everyone to cater for them and
they usually do not have the organizations
best interest in mind.
• Having a good ethic is having a good attitude
and finishing your work on time. People like to
be around someone who is positive and in
turn helping them have a better working
environment
WHY GOOD WORK ETHICS NECESSARY?
• The organization will always need you
more than you need it. Because the
organization wants to succeed, an
employee with good work ethics is an
asset that the organization will find
difficult to dispose.
• The employee generates brighter future
either in the organization of outside the
organization. An employee with good
work ethics does not stay unemployed.
WHY GOOD WORK ETHICS NECESSARY?
• The job becomes a pleasure. Since an
employee is going to be at work for at least
eight hours a day, a good work ethics he/she
enjoys team members.
• Good work ethics helps to create more jobs
through expansion, diversification or
acquisition
THE MAKE UP OF GOOD WORK ETHICS
Most people who have good work ethic start young
and learn what the value of hard work is. Major tips
to boast your work ethics include:
• Dress Properly: If an employee is always well
dressed, he /she receive admiration. Dressing
well means dressing professionally and
appropriately as required for your specific
position or organization while looking well
groomed all the time. Ensure also that your
body language does not suggest a negative
conclusion.
THE MAKE UP OF GOOD WORK
ETHICS
cont’d
• Be punctual at work: Try your best to be
punctual and if possible to be at office first
before others. It can be complimented with
staying late as normally the bosses too get in
early and stay late. For women or those who
live far away from their place of work, it is
important make necessary preparation in case
emergencies occur which can keep one late in
office.
THE MAKE UP OF GOOD WORK ETHICS
cont’d
• Make your presence felt: Do not be evasive or aloof. Be
visible at work and consciously productive. You should
be reached when your colleagues or boss needs you.
Don’t just keep an act of working; inculcate the habit of
working instead. If you expect others to treat you with
respect you need to treat them well too. Make a habit
of greeting others or exchanging pleasantries with
those around you. Also be helpful and supportive to
the new employees joining the Organization. Also try
making friends with people in the other departments
also and showing respect to those below you. Do not
keep malice in work place as it will affect your output.
THE MAKE UP OF GOOD WORK ETHICS
cont’d
• Communication: It is important that your
body language and conversation should
reflect a confident you. Speak concisely and
clearly. Learn to be assertive. People would
not take you seriously if you act or talk like a
gawky school girl/boy or someone who is
unsure or frightened
THE MAKE UP OF GOOD WORK ETHICS
cont’d
• Be reliable at work: Never postpone the work to be
done. Complete every task you need to do beforehand
which would create the impression of reliability. Also
be willing to take up new responsibilities at work and
meet your deadlines in time. It is better to under
promise and over deliver on a consistent basis to be
seen as a prudent staff. Let your boss know that he can
count on you. Be an expert in your field of work and
brand yourself as invaluable to your organization.
Reliable employees are always taken care of when it
comes to handing out raises and promotions.
THE MAKE UP OF GOOD WORK
ETHICS
cont’d
• Stand for what is right and just: Avoid
corruption and fight it – fraud, waste and
abuse. Do not compromise them in any
circumstance, directly or indirectly. Ensure
that lying, cheating and stealing are not part
of you or your work.
THE MAKE UP OF GOOD WORK ETHICS
cont’d
• Understand appropriate policies and laws: Every
organization has its policies and vision. Better
knowledge of them will enable appropriate
decision, actions and reactions. It will guide you on
broad processes, procedure, rules regulations and
their applications.
THE MAKE UP OF GOOD WORK ETHICS
cont’d
• Be a leader than a follower: Many occasions
happen when you work in an organization like
Birthday Parties, Farewell Parties, Promotions, and
weddings of colleagues which needs things to be
organized. Try taking up the responsibility or
organizing them and do a good job at it. Also you
can contribute to the Organizations Newsletters and
get your name out through them. If you have an
idea which is beneficial for the Company go ahead
and share it with your Boss. Make your Boss know
that you appreciate him for the support given by
him
THE MAKE UP OF GOOD WORK ETHICS
cont’d
• Stay updated: Read industry related publications,
reports and magazines and be aware of market
trends. Also keep track of what is happening in the
Organization and be open to learn new
technologies
THE MAKE UP OF GOOD WORK ETHICS
cont’d
• Be Positive all the time: Applying the
principles of positive enquiry is very helpful. If
you see your team members from their
positive sides instead of their negative sides, it
will help you to build better working
relationship which will aid your output.
THE MAKE UP OF GOOD WORK ETHICS
cont’d
• Be Transparent and accountable. The presence of
transparency, honesty and accountability ensure
that you are trusted, and in the future with key
positions.
• Learn from your mistakes: Focus on making a
carrier. Let every error or mistake is a teacher to
you. Do not worry over making them (so long as
they are not out of stupidity) but worry over
repeating them.
THE MAKE UP OF GOOD WORK ETHICS
cont’d
• Keep a record of your achievements: Keep a
private diary of your monthly achievements
for the organization. Constantly check if it
corresponds with your target or the target the
organization gave you. Also note how many
times you have erred and why and try to avoid
future occurrence. Work on correcting your
undesirable habits and improving your
positive skills
THE MAKE UP OF GOOD WORK ETHICS
cont’d
• Finally, respect and protect the rights of all
staff: As you will like your rights to be
protected, protect the rights of others
particularly the endangered groups eg.
Women, differently able and lower level staff.
THE MAKE UP OF GOOD WORK ETHICS
cont’d
• When you apply all these, you would have
immensely contributed to the redefinition of
Nigerian work factor which has been battered by
the demonic presence of corruption in work
places. A Nigeria where people are paid without
working, where people ask for kickback and bribes
for being paid and the consequence has been poor
economy and unimaginable unemployment rate.
HOW TO CONDUCT WORK ETHICS SELF ASSESSMENT
• Identify the standard on which you base work
ethics. This may be what some view as a holy book,
such as the Bible, the Koran or your deity. You may
need to research and compare in order to discover
which standard of morality you believe is most
reliable and accurate to drive your work ethics.
• Read the laws and standards regarding morality
from the source that you chose.
• Compare specific behaviors to the standards in the
authoritative source.
• Decide whether a thought or action is moral based
on the standard to which you adhere.
WHERE TO DRAW THE LINE – INTEGRITY
• After one’s health, it’s said that the most important
thing you have is your integrity, because once it’s
gone — it’s gone. Along with the awful feeling of
not wanting to look at yourself in the mirror, word
spreads, & you might find yourself very unpopular
all of a sudden.
• So, what is the role of integrity?
• Certainly, it’s about behaving in a way that you are
proud of. It means that your morals are intact &
that you don’t bend them on a whim.
• Employees who don’t act with integrity might do
things they abhor for cash, say one thing & do
another, or lie to their boss for a quick buck. The
core of it really comes from employees acting
selfishly, as well as only thinking about the present
& not considering the future repercussions……………
• It’s all too easy to get swept away in a tidal wave of
excitement & then realize, ‘I shouldn’t have done
that’.
• The world is rife with opportunity for us to sell out,
compromise our values & buy into someone else’s
shady agenda. That’s why it helps to think about the
big picture. So if someone offers you something,
don’t just say yes because it flatters your ego —
think about the likely chain of events afterwards.
Sometimes the best thing to do is just not get
involved, which can be hard. It’s important to learn
how to say no. So, how do we work out where we
draw the line? I think a good rule of thumb, though
a little terrifying to think about at first, is never do
anything you wouldn’t want on the front page of
the newspaper or query files of your supervisor. It’s
a pretty good way of gauging your work ethics.
THE END
Do not forget to do good wherever you are. A
single act of goodness from one Nigerian can
transform Nigeria and Nigerians. A single act of
goodness from one Imo citizen can transform
Ndimo.
Thank you