How many times in a work week have you faced a compromise of your integrity and belief systems in correlation to your company policy or the business culture of your company? It is epidemic in the corporate race to be faced on a daily basis with decisions that force you to choose between fulfilling expected production quotas and your personal integrity, and sadly there is no easy antidote.

The greater your position, the more likely you are privy to unethical practice from within your organization. What can one do when faced with knowing that your position within a company is in effect supporting principle that betrays your faith and interrupts your personal boundaries of best practice?

In speaking of unethical practice, there is an implication of illegal. Remove that status of qualification from the application of this brief article. Instead, understand simple knowledge of “legal accounting practices” or “less than forthright” sales techniques in business development and or financial management.

I had a fortunate experience of starting at an entry level position within a company that I was proud to be a part of, and working my way into a director position over the years where I ultimately obtained the clearance level of the internal financial systems and was placed in a role of decision making as it related to the company bottom line. I say it was fortunate, although it ended in termination, because it was a life experience to carry with me into new endeavors with open eyes and a sturdy sense of self.

The common factor shared among executives and corporate seniors, is the ambition to do and be great, and in the process of that provide for our families and accomplish an enviable quality of life that not all have the ability to achieve. Mediocre work ethic along with application of less than all of our talent, results in the average life, the average portfolio of success, and an average esteem.

You and I are not of that culture.

Those who thrive for best practice and in creating a daily impact via our job function, it is to be expected that eventually you will face something that could offend your character. You are plugged into this corporate mission wholeheartedly and identified much by what you do within the walls of your office and behind your desk. And hence, there is the rub.

Every person comes to a point in their lives, work, and personal or otherwise, where you are faced with character centered decisions, but in the professional arena it can be far more complicated and distressful to your life. It can keep you awake at night, and instill an anxiety that affects your production, your functionality on the home-front, and maybe disable your ability to pursue your company’s mission.

Consider the following input and may it bring you relief and peace in maintaining your integrity without interrupting your exceptional job performance and in turn thrusting you to the next level within your career.