Education

WINNIPEG FREE PRESS - THURSDAY, AUGUST 2, 2018 15 A doctor swears at his patient. The political leader of a city lies. A banker launders money. These storylines plague society and often fill newspapers. They are stories of people making unethical decisions, and each one seems to surprise readers. "How could someone do something like that?" People ask themselves and each other this question after each new scandal unfolds. It's hard to understand how someone could wake up in the morning and make such an unethical decision. It shocks people even more when it's the people they think they can trust—the person prescribing their pills, the person making decisions for their city, the person handling their savings. These are smart people who have gone through years of training and worked hard to be in their professions. They don't exactly fit the prototype of "bad decision maker." Yet it's easier to do than many think. Psychologists say humans make decisions habitually. Someone who is accustomed to doing small unethical acts they think don't harm anyone are more likely to commit bigger, harmful ones when time and other pressures are placed on them. This is why it's so important for youth to make ethical decisions even when they think the stakes are low. The decisions they make as a young person influence the decisions they make for the rest of their life. And while parents can tell their kids to "make good choices," is it really enough? Like all habits, decision-making requires training. People stop at red lights because they've gone through driver's education. They make their bed how they've been taught by their parents. They play piano because their music teacher taught them the keys. So where is the training on ethics? The Better Business Bureau Foundation created LIFT to fulfil this need in society. LIFT is teaching youth how to make ethical decisions, even when the stakes are low and the answer is unclear, to help them make tomorrow's society better. It also touches on how their personal brand is impacted the by decisions they make. In the teenage world, many don't stop to think about how the decisions they make affect the person they are—or the person they want to be. Too many things are more important—earning social honours, being the captain of the volleyball team, getting an 'A' on an English paper. These traits make up a person's brand. Like McDonald's and Nike have brands, people do too. A person's brand is made up of the things others think about when they think about that person. It could be compassionate, hardworking, with a flair for creativity. Or it could be rude, indifferent, with a talent for disdain. The decisions people make in their everyday lives influence this brand. And this brand is essential in maintaining important relationships. "If you make a bad decision that impacts your brand, it's hard to regain the trust of people around you. But with hard work, it's possible," said Len Andrusiak, President and CEO of the BBB serving Manitoba and Northwest Ontario. LIFT will teach students how to make decisions that help them keep the positive brands they've worked hard to maintain. It will also show them how to repair brands damaged by a few bad choices. "We're all human. We make mistakes but we can also overcome them. Rebuilding a personal brand will help students personally, and also in the classroom or workplace," said Andrusiak. Not everybody's brand is the same. McDonald's and Nike have two very different identities, but both are successful. "A personal brand is exactly that—it's personal to you," said Andrusiak. People can build brands based on who they are, who they want to be, and what goals they have. When students start to consider the type of brand they want to build, they can understand how the decisions they make impact that brand. And while brands are individual, ethical decision-making can help build them all. LIFT teaches students different approaches to making ethical choices and how to build a brand that fits them and where they want to go. LIFT offers students five one-hour sessions that focus on different approaches to ethical decision-making and how to critically think through difficult situations. This program is currently being delivered in schools and youth organizations throughout Manitoba. For information on LIFT, visit bbb.org/ manitoba/bbb-foundation or contactthe BBB Foundation at 204-989-9011 or connect@manitoba.bbb.org. ❚ RAISING SOCIETY'S ETHICS BAR THE BETTER BUSINES BUREAU FOUNDATION'S LIFT PROGRAM The BBB Foundation's LIFT Spring 2018 program involved students from St. John's High School in the Winnipeg School Division and Fort Richmond Collegiate in the Pembina Trails School Division. Supplied Photos

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