What is the primary goal of the project? To complete a project on time, within budget, and meeting all success criteria. It is often not enough. There are many ways to reach your project goals. Is the end worth the means? No! How can you avoid unethical behavior? [iStock/eelnosiva]Self-awareness is the best weapon. Do you adhere to the professional code? To behave well, you don’t need to be a member. It is quite common to not be aware that you have acted unethically as a project manager. I can only scratch the surface of this topic today. However, I will try to highlight situations that you should be aware of in order to avoid unethical behavior.
Do you place project above your own self?
Do you act in the best interest of the company/project? I know you do. Most cases. If you are found guilty of causing damage to the project, what happens? There is a possibility that you could be penalized. Or, you’ll just look bad. Reporting the problem could put your career at risk. Will you place the needs of the project before your own?
It is more difficult to find a way to solve the problem quietly. It is easier to hide the truth or not tell the truth about the problem. If you fail to succeed, you’ll create more problems. It could have a cascading effect.
This is what I always say. Problem solving is best done when you deal with them honestly, straightly, and early. It is unethical and unprofessional to hide problems until the last minute.
Are you qualified enough?
Have you ever said to your boss that you don’t have the right qualifications? I’m sure you haven’t. It is ethical to not be able to deliver on a project. You work with the money, time, or resources of others. If you fail to complete a project on time, you could put the reputation of someone or their business at risk.
Are you able to manage demanding or aggressive stakeholders? Are you able manage a budget? There are many more questions like this. Sometimes the line is too thin, I know. Try to be open next time about any gaps in your qualifications. You will at least share responsibility with your boss.
Proprietary Information
Did you sign the NDA paper? However, most of your friends know what you are doing. A copyright law is also available. It varies depending on where you live. But, have you ever looked at the laws? To make sure you don’t violate any rights.
Even emails from your former company can be retrieved “just in case”. If they are accidentally leaked onto the internet, they can cause major problems for years.
Mutual Cooperation
When deciding how to best serve your project, do you consider the situation of your coworkers? Your project is the most important thing to you. But what about the others? You should always act in the spirit of mutual cooperation in all situations. This means that you should always negotiate win-win solutions. This is what you should be thinking about next time that you have to remove people from a project or functional manager.
Another example is when team members are involved in a project that is doomed for failure. It is not ethical. These failures could have a negative impact on their careers. You are responsible for their future. Performance reviews are the same. It is not a good idea to judge a person on the basis of whether the project was successful or failed. It shouldn’t be a factor in their evaluation.
Do you ask your stakeholders and team members for their suggestions on the best communication method? This shows respect. This is also true for meetings. Do you just cancel a meeting with a mere ten minute notice? Do you rely solely on automated notifications? Although it seems insignificant, it is still unethical.
Respect cultural differences
I believe there is sufficient information about racism and respect for ethnic differences. People tend to judge others from their own perspective. A project manager, however, has a professional responsibility.
How to avoid unprofessional or unethical behavior
