About Business Ethics: Articles by Jeannine Clontz

Problem Solving For Dummies

I belonged to a local networking group that touts allowing only "one person per profession". When a competitor of mine visited the group, I told them that they would not be able to promote the specific services in conflict. They said, "No problem." On their next visit, they again promoted those services, so I took our president with me to tell them that they could not offer those services that conflicted with mine. Problem solved, right?

Imagine my surprise when they were inducted a few weeks later without my signature in the approval section of the application for just this situation. I asked why I hadn't been contacted, and was told that the president told them it wasn't necessary.

It seemed like they'd stopped promoting my services, but soon I found out that they did on weeks I was not in attendance. Then I overheard reviews from members for my services as being performed by the other member.

I submitted a formal written complaint to the president and vice-president explaining the situation and came up with what I thought were our only alternatives, my competitor could start another chapter, they leave, or I leave. Nothing happened for three weeks, so I asked them to meet with me after the meeting.

Yeah, they got my letter, and . . . no, they hadn't done anything. Since I was getting ready to leave for surgery, and a leave of absence they'd already approved, I told them they must get it taken care of, as I would have no way to monitor the situation after I took leave.

I was appalled with their solution. The following week EVERY member received a memo from the vice-president saying that this person was getting referrals that belonged to me, and that everyone should ask me before referring them any business.

Oh, my God! I wanted to crawl in a hole somewhere and die. Now they've taken what should have been handled one on one with the conflicting party and made me out to be, "Oh woe is me" Jeannine.

Needless to say, the conflicting party was very upset and voiced some very angry words about how this was handled. I made it very clear that I agreed. Now everyone felt like I was picking on my competitor. As you may have already guessed, my referrals were all sent their direction.

Unethical - you bet! On the conflicting party's part for not adhering to the rules and heeding the warnings, on the leadership team's part for not having handled it properly, quickly, or discreetly, and on the rest of the membership for not trying to understand the conflict, and supporting a long-time "charter" member.

I took my leave of absence, and started utilizing that time to market my business in other ways. Since I left the group I've put on many new clients, making me realize that this group truly wasn't the right place for me.

When I received an invoice for meals and dues last week, I guess I shouldn't have been surprised. Bet they miss my referrals. I was almost always the group leader! Ignoring my personal feelings, I penned a cordial letter letting them know that it just wasn't working for me as a good option for marketing my business.

I've heard that they aren't doing very well. And how could they, when they don't use good business ethics as the foundation for the organization.

Wishing you continued success and the wisdom to consider ethical options.

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