When faced with a difficult situation, when you are considering what to decide or not, what to say or write or not, what action to take or not, do you convince yourself (no matter what the consequences to all stakeholders)...

• well, the marketplace expects it,
• the competition is already doing it,
• the shareowners want more profit and share price growth,
• my boss is demanding it,

...so I'm just going to do what I think is necessary?

Or do you carefully consider:

• is it legal?
• is it in conformity with your organization's policies and practices, rules and regulations?
• is it consistent with what you learned as a child from parents, teachers, clergy?
• what trusted advisors are saying?
• what your own experience tells you?
• or how this will all read on the front page of the New York Times when they print all the details?

In short, do you have the courage to contemplate for a while and then decide, say, write or do only what you know in your heart is the right thing?