Bribery is not a harmless tradition.
It undermines a country's economy and puts all participants at risk. Smart business managers and
international travelers know how to respect the culture while remaining on the safe side of the law.
Here's how to make integrity work for you.
"Greaseless - How to Thrive without Bribes in Developing Countries"
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People say bribing is the culture. How can things get done
without bribes?
Communicate an alternative way of conducting the transaction.
Don't assume the alternatives are obvious. Keep the focus on the outcomes
you want rather than the outcomes you don't want. Surround each transaction
with its own culture of system integrity. You will find individuals who
appreciate positive alternatives. Whether or not it works the first time
or every time, the net benefit is much higher than the net benefit of
participating in corrupt practices.
I hear everyone does it. Why shouldn't I do it too?
You hear about it when people beat the system, but they don't tell you
when it catches up with them. Corrupt agreements cannot be enforced
and often deceive and disappoint, tending to cost more and yield less
than anticipated. Bribes embroil you in local politics, which eventually
gets exposed in the world press. When you bribe, you reward someone for
taking what is not theirs to give, bleeding their economy of productive
potential. And you may be incurring liability under the Foreign Corrupt
Practices Act, which actively enforces criminal and civil penalties.
What is System Integrity?
System Integrity means creating value by plugging leaks. In a place
where rules can be broken with impunity, a spiral of self-dealing and
waste is unleashed. When systems work with integrity, productivity is
unleashed. Everyone gets a higher return to their effort when no one
is able to put themselves above the law. Carrots and sticks don't
work when stealing the carrots is an option.
You have many alternatives to bribing. Identify the options and practice communicating them in advance. Contact Dr. Breuning to request a briefing, schedule a workshop, or receive an invitation to an upcoming event.