My dad always used to tell me that you are who you are when no one else is looking. It’s not what you do when others are watching, it’s what you do when you’re all alone and no one knows. I’ve spent my career following that advice and it’s served me well. I have had more than one instance where inappropriate opportunities presented themselves that would have benefited me—but I ran in the opposite direction.

There are two qualities I demand of all project team members who work for me—honesty and integrity. You can tell me almost anything, as long as it’s the truth. I worked with a fantastic team member one time who accidentally deleted one of our client’s database of customer records. Every customer, every record, gone. My team member did the right thing. He told me the truth, what he did, and how it happened. Thankfully, after working many long hours by his side, we were able to recover the data. Because he was truthful, we were able to right the situation for our client and he kept his job. 

What is very disheartening to me are those who are covert and sneaky about their actions but haven’t yet been caught. But I’ve been around long enough to know that most everyone involved in these escapades is eventually found out. I used to work at an unnamed government agency where an employee was caught stealing. She had spent years pilfering tax payer money. And we’re talking millions of dollars! I knew her personally and I have to admit, while I’m a pretty good judge of character, she wasn’t someone I believed could be involved in theft. She’s serving out her thirty-year sentence as we speak. I’m guessing she doesn’t think it was worth it.

As a PMP, we all agree to abide by the PMI Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct. I had a very alert reader inform me that this site: [1] http://pmptutorial.blogspot.com/ was plagiarizing some of my material. Sure enough, pages 26 – 30 are posted on this site, word for word, including a figure that I created. I have no doubt my publisher’s attorney will issue a cease and desist order. This person is violating copyright laws and the PMI Code. Again, it’s disheartening to think that there are project managers, even would be project managers, who could engage in this behavior. It gives us all a bad name. The other saying my dad used to tell me was that if you’re faithful in the little things, you’ll be faithful in the big things. Copying some text and a drawing may seem like a little thing, but where does it stop? How about taking a bonus under the table to approve requirements we know aren’t acceptable? How about a golf trip to Vegas if we assure the vendor that we’ll award them the contract? We know the answer to those questions—just say no.

My advice is don’t even take the first step. Because little steps can lead us right over a cliff if we aren’t careful. If we begin to justify the little missteps, it’s only a matter of time before the big ones follow. The problem is, as the women who is now serving her thirty-year sentence has found, you continue to gain confidence with each misstep and eventually think you’re invincible. And that’s when it catches up with you. Say no to the little things and the big things will never be a question.