Actions Speak Louder Than Words

Anyone who has children knows that actions often speak louder than words. This principle applies just as much to corporations as it does to individuals. While organizations may plaster their websites with inspirational mission statements, boast about value-based investment decisions, or promote elaborate diversity initiatives, the true measure of their integrity lies in how their leaders consistently behave, not in what they say..

A corporation's ethical and organizational compass is most clearly revealed during moments of crisis or pivotal decision-making. It's in these moments that the contrast between taking the easy path of acquiescing to unreasonable or unethical demands from senior leaders or clients versus making the morally right choice becomes starkly evident. True character is revealed when leaders prioritize their organization’s and its employees’ well-being over appeasing unreasonable leaders or clients.

It is crucial to stay observant during times of crisis, stress, and challenges.These moments offer invaluable insights into the genuine nature of an organization and its leadership.

This challenge of accurately gauging an organization's character and compatibility intensifies during any job interview process. Job applicants often rely on publicly available company information and limited interactions with corporate leaders, which may not provide a complete picture. Applicants are mostly limited to navigating via verbal cues from surface-level interactions instead of through actual behavioral assessment in real-life settings. Here, one should primarily focus primarily on insights from people who have worked or are currently working in the organization.

My advice? Pay attention to organizational and leadership behaviors while mostly disregarding verbal statements. This approach will give you a more accurate and reliable understanding of an organization's character and integrity. Actions truly do speak louder than words.