It may be more difficult to make a decision if you find yourself in a potentially conflicting situation with other people or if you are forced to go against your personal ethics. However, by doing an examination of conscience, you have the opportunity to overcome these difficulties.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Consider and Evaluate
Step 1. Take a step back to rationally examine the circumstances
In this case, your goal is to make sure you are making the best possible choice to avoid negative consequences.
- Think about how you got involved in a given situation. You can decide which moves to take next if you clarify how you got this far.
- Ask yourself how you could avoid a crisis. Would it have been just as difficult to do the right thing if I had acted differently? Who else is involved? If multiple people are involved, to what extent does claiming to be the only person doing the right thing affect your relationships?
- Compare the current situation with other past experiences where you should have guessed what was right. Look at what worked or what was useless and apply what you have learned to current circumstances.
Step 2. I imagined possible outcomes that could occur if I made a particular decision
Evaluate all the consequences, or at least any important ones, so as not to make impulsive choices.
- Make sure you are not in a position to be forced to make certain decisions. Be aware of how your actions may affect over time especially if you are trying to do the right thing within a business setting.
- Evaluate the pros and cons of each consequence. Ask yourself how one result might be better than another.
- Be prepared for the possibility that other people might react unexpectedly. It is certainly difficult to calculate the unexpected, but if you are aware that something might happen, you will be able to reduce panic and further tension.
Step 3. Consider the other people involved
Doing the right thing isn't just about you. Most of the time it also involves the involvement of other people and, by correcting them when they have made some mistakes, you run the risk of hurting their susceptibility. On the other hand, they can help you resolve any conflicts and decide what to do. Try asking the following questions to see how such an attempt can affect your decision:
- To what extent will "doing the right thing" benefit others?
- How will the situation improve following your intervention?
- How will your relationships improve? How will they get worse?
- How do those who do "the right thing" act?
Part 2 of 3: Keep Calm
Step 1. Try not to overthink and over-analyze the situation, your reaction and possible consequences
If not, there are several things that could affect how you intend to do the right thing:
- You will begin to doubt yourself. Once you have come to make a decision based on the most appropriate course of action, you need to be confident.
- It's not the end of the world. Doing the right thing doesn't mean you're unable to make the right decision right away. Therefore, if you make a mistake, accept it and learn from what you did wrong.
- Nothing might happen. If you panic, you will not be able to act promptly. If you are truly indecisive, talk to others about it. Their views may lead you to look at the situation from a different perspective.
Step 2. Keep your emotions in check
They risk suddenly becoming unmanageable. If you think too hard about the best way to solve a problem, take a moment away from the situation. Take a breath and don't try to fix everything within the time frame you set for yourself.
- Pay attention to any physical reactions. Sometimes, the body can exhibit symptoms of physical stress. Think to yourself if the circumstances are too difficult to handle.
- Don't try to control or hold back emotions. It is important to express everything you feel. Emotions are natural, they are the cipher of our being and play a vital role in the choices we believe are right to make. Pay attention to what you feel and focus on how to manage it.
- Avoid acting on impulse. The first reactions to a given situation are not always the most suitable. Therefore, if you intend to react, think carefully, since impulsiveness is not always the best way to do the right thing.
Step 3. Talk to someone
By doing this, you can decrease the pressure you may be feeling. It is always useful to analyze problems and times of difficulty.
- Make your voice heard. Face your problems openly so that others know what you are fighting against. You will feel less engrossed in your worries and won't go around the problem if you communicate the obstacles you are facing in order to take action right.
- Find someone who understands why you feel compelled to do the right thing. He will be able to better understand your difficulties and therefore will be more inclined to give you concrete advice.
- Look at the situation from a different point of view. Maybe you took too long to solve a problem. Therefore, be aware that another person's opinion may bring to light ideas that you were neglecting.
Step 4. Evaluate how you handled the situation, what your journey has been and, if applicable, who you asked for advice
When you do the right thing at the right time, you are only halfway through the work, because the other half is represented by personal growth that you are maturing in the meantime. Every situation is different, and as a result, the right thing to do also varies. Look back and see what you can learn from past experiences. When you feel you haven't done it right, try asking yourself a few questions, like:
- How can something right today reduce any mistakes in the future?
- Am I happy with the result (or the results)?
- To what extent have I handled the situation compared to the past?
Part 3 of 3: Maintaining the Reputation
Step 1. Practice what you do so that it represents you and others in the right way
In your view of things you should also consider that of others. Such an effort is essential in the business context. Ask yourself some important questions to decide what is the right thing to do and how to get it done:
- Will this decision go against your morals?
- Who could it bother? And therefore, how could you avoid such an eventuality?
- What will others think of you?
- Do the other people involved feel that this is an important enough issue that it can be solved by doing the "right thing"?
Step 2. Talk to other people and act as soon as possible
To avoid guilt, it is important for a whole group to do the right thing as well as the single person. There is no need to hold a formal meeting, but by talking to other interested parties, you can ease any remaining tensions. Keep in mind that by comparing yourself with others, you may get favorable results, such as:
- By teaming up with other people to try and do the best you can, you'll be able to keep everyone on the same page. Good communication avoids any discrepancies of conflicting ideas and reactions.
- Try to dissipate the tension between people. Depending on the gravity of the situation, it may be better to give up acting without taking other people's feelings into account.
- Ask why and how people react to you. Do they feel that what you are doing is not the right thing? Are they still mad at you? By asking why someone behaves the way you do, you can put yourself in their shoes and make better decisions based on their behavior.
Step 3. Allow everyone to make their voice heard
We all have reputations to uphold. Whether it's flaunting it, staying true to yourself or making it better, it's important to keep in mind how we present ourselves and represent ourselves to others.
- Make sure you act in a way that doesn't damage the reputation of others. You have to keep this in mind especially when you move around in a work environment.
- Do the right thing so that others don't doubt your decisions. If others perceive you in a certain way, you should consider what they say about you. Before making a decision, try asking around if what you think you are doing is really the right thing.
- Don't ignore the advice. This is easier said than done. You may feel like you are doing the right thing, but listen to what others have to say about it. They can help you fine-tune your ideas and how you present them.
Advice
- Don't get too carried away by situations. The more you get involved, the more factors you will have to consider when making a decision.
- Don't get too involved with people. It can be overwhelming when different minds collaborate or collide.
- Consider the pros and cons.
- Trust your instincts. If you feel like something is going (or not) done, don't take it lightly.
