And that is why I’m glad that I am not a Goop, are you?– Gillette Burgess
Who remembers the childhood poem about The Goops? It’s an oldie but goodie. Our family recited it in lieu of a prayer at the dinner table, and now as an adult, I have relatively good table manners. When we don’t teach our children “right from wrong” and ignore or overlook their bad behavior, they carry it into adulthood.
Certain professions are reputed for low ethics- bankers, lawyers, PR firms, marketing consultants. The world of trust and leadership is not without its goops, perhaps because there are simply no barriers to entry. One need not have a college degree, any experience or table manners. Like me, I’m sure you’ve met your fair share along the way.
Use this as a checklist to identify the next goop you meet.
- They grandstand about the importance of trust, integrity, values, ethics and leadership but are incapable of walking it in their daily lives. They never learned how to use the soup spoon, let alone the knife and fork.
- They help themselves to the work of others without proper attribution, also known as plagiarism.
- They “borrow” intellectual property- logos, pictures, articles and anything else they choose with a sense of entitlement and no remorse.
- Their professional “claims” can’t be verified or checked.
- They are quick to blame but slow to accept responsibility.
- They say they are givers which makes them the worst kind of takers.
- They don’t keep their word.
- They speak hollow lingo- “listening” (this week), “mindfulness” (last week) and “trust” the week before.
- “Thank you” and “I’m sorry” are not part of their vocabulary.
- They lick their plates 🙂
Do any of the above sound familiar?
Why do we have “high trust” expectations of leaders in business, politics, media and sports? Why should we expect these public figures to be trustworthy when many of the people who claim to be the teachers and advisors to leaders on ethics and trust are not?
It’s lunchtime. I think I’ll go slurp some soup and join the rest of the goops. On second thought, I think I’ll pass. I’d rather go hungry. How about you?
Barbara Brooks Kimmel is the Executive Director of Trust Across America-Trust Around the World whose mission is to help organizations build trust. She runs the world’s largest membership program for those interested in learning more, and is also the editor of the award winning TRUST INC. book series and the Executive Editor of TRUST! Magazine. In 2012 Barbara was named “One of 25 Women Changing the World” by Good Business International.
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Copyright 2015, Next Decade, Inc.
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