The National Football League season reaches its annual climax next weekend with the Super Bowl matchup between the New England Patriots and New York Giants. No matter who wins the big game, though, the story of this NFL season surely has been Tim Tebow, the quixotic quarterback of the Denver Broncos. Tebow may be the most polarizing athlete in America today due to his open expression of religiosity.
Those who love him for wearing his faith on his uniform sleeve point to his selfless works outside of football and his unceasingly positive attitude in the face of criticism. His successes on the field this year have appeared to be positively miraculous on occasion.
Those who hate him for these displays – including his kneel-down prayer widely known as “Tebowing” – find him annoying and over-the-top, and regard his antics with skepticism. His detractors believe that he is simply using his faith as a way to pump up his brand value to offset his inferior athletic ability. Interestingly, both his admirers and detractors find him too good to be true.
I think the Tebow-haters have it wrong. He has never claimed divine intervention. Rather, Tebow has repeatedly said that his open displays of prayer have been for the power to be his best and to give thanks for his blessings.
I cannot make any judgment on the substance of his beliefs but I am certain that Tebow is, in fact, driven by his religious faith and that all of his life decisions are made through the prism of that faith. Such certainty in the face of public scorn and disdain makes all of us sinners a little uncomfortable.
Likewise, sometimes business leaders and line employees are made uncomfortable by ethics and compliance professionals who steadfastly adhere to the corporate equivalent of faith – i.e., the company’s ethics commitment as expressed through its vision, mission and values statement and its compliance commitments as expressed through its code, policies and procedures.
Which brings me to Mahatma Gandhi. Asked about his dogged non-violent perseverance in the face of extreme adversity, he is said to have remarked: “First, they ignore you. Then, they laugh at you. Then, they fight you. And then, you win.”
This progression is amusingly familiar to many of us in the ethics and compliance profession. Many times in our careers, for example, we have seen necessary initiatives ignored, laughed at and fought. Sometimes, these initiatives have been implemented; sometimes they have been needlessly delayed; and, sometimes they have been unwisely defeated.
But here’s the kicker – regardless of success or failure, it’s the Gandhian progression that matters most. Armed with a “Tebowic” strength about right and wrong – and a respectful but persistent insistence that ethics and compliance issues be considered – you will ensure yourself a seat at the table because those with the power to make decisions know that these topics will always be part of the discussion. Accordingly, decision-makers will eventually learn to account for and defend ethical and legal behavior themselves.
Ask questions and question answers. Ensure that ethics and compliance is considered even in the face of adversity. You’ll find that, more often than not, the game will be played on your side of the field. And as the Patriots and Giants surely understand, sometimes field position is the difference between winning and losing.
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About the Author
Paul F. Liebman is of counsel for Ladner & Associates PC in Texas. His practice focuses on corporate ethics and compliance, bringing extensive in-house and private practice experience and recognized thought leadership spanning more than 20 years. His clients historically include large and small companies, both public and private.
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Proselytizing and public prayer are attempts to draw attention to yourself not to God. Feeling compelled to write your autobiobraphy (with a ghost writer) at the age of 23 would not have occured to Gandhi.