Professional responsibility refers to the area of legal practice that includes the roles of a person to conduct oneself in a professional manner, and avoid personal interests in his or her duties. Professional responsibility dilemma can be said to be the situation where one has to make a tough decision in his or her professional career. It can be between upholding what is ethical and standing by the professional standards and exposing what is fraudulent though damaging to the your line of profession if let out. As much as one has a responsibility to the public and other organizations connected to his or her line of business there are some issues that create a dilemma in deciding what action to take.
An example of professional dilemma occurred while working as a helping hand in the financial department of a small company. The case involved the CEO and the finance department. Since the CEO wanted the company to grow, he pressured the department to alter the real financial situation of the firm so that it can attract attention to various stakeholders. The department workers were contented with the order. Therefore, rendering a helping hand as there was no way out. The whole deal was against professional conduct and the ethics of working.
Working in the financial department there were various codes of conduct that were supposed to be fully followed to ensure professional standards are met. Among these codes is confidentiality, that is, one is supposed to address any controversial matters of the firm within the firm and no word is to get out. Another of these values is integrity; all cases should be handled wisely and in a straight forward manner. Professional competence, objectivity and honesty are other of the values that guide any financial officer in discharging his or her duties. In handling the CEO’s case, honesty, intelligence, and professional competence were the principal values affecting my decision making. It was against the values to tell the matter to the firm’s stakeholders and to confront the seniors on the issue was out of choice.
The rules that were in play regarding the case was that the orders of the CEO were not to be questioned and especially by the junior workers. It was an unwritten rule that the superior’s instruction was not to be challenged. The only way out of the case was to abide either with the orders that were against my responsibility to the firm and the stakeholders or quit working.
Today if there were a similar case, I would have tackled it as follows:
- Ask question to hear various views, to ensure that am not in the wrong I would ask a question to get a clear view of the problem.
- Share my concerns with a trusted workmate in order to hear their advice on the case.
- Listen to what he or she has to say and take it seriously.
- Report the case to the appropriate person or authorities.
- Ask lead questions rather than accuse the wrongdoer to enable him to realize his mistakes and reconsider his actions.
How to have a dispute professionally has instilled in one various skill that are important in solving problems at work in the most professional and wise manner. The knowledge has changed my approach from irrational acting and thought to one that is led by wise reasoning. Studying how to solve disputes professionally is one vital area that every person should have knowledge about to be able to solve professional responsibility dilemmas encountered.
