A lens for identifying good or bad behaviour

What does it mean to be good?

It can often feel like someone's behaviour was 'bad' because we didn't like the outcome, because it hurt our feelings or because someone else said it was bad. This lens can make things clearer.

This is not a replacement for a moral compass BUT it might help you get some clarity.

When might you use it?

If you think you were doing good but someone else said otherwise
If you're unhappy about someone's behaviour but not sure why
If you want to explain in more detail what element of someone's behaviour was unacceptable to you
If you feel like you want to take a course of action but aren't sure you should

Intent

Was the intention good?

Did the person set out to make the affected person's life better?

The most obvious place to start is intent. There may have been little damage, and a person might even consent, but if the aim was to do harm then it's fairly obviously bad. If the aim was to help or make things better then that goes someway (1 in 3) to being good. If you aren't sure

Consent

Was there consent?

Did the person agree to be affected or impacted?

As important is consent. Even if you intend to do good, it's morally dubious to do something if people don't want it done. There may be 0.1% of exceptions (like emergency surgery on an unconscious patient) but chances are those exceptions don't apply to you.

Care

Does it avoid harm?

Is it clear attempts were made to avoid hurting people?

Finally care; this is trying hard to avoid harm. A good example is a break-up. The intent is hard to pin down but if its done from a good place, the consent is always there (anything else is stalking or kidnapping) but the last is doing it in a way that tries to avoid hurting the other person. It might not be 100% possible but trying is the most important thing.

Planning

Use this lens as part of making a plan. You can also use these as good ways of adjusting your behaviour or demonstrating that you tried to do the 'right thing'. It won't solve all the issues, nor make everyone happy but it will demonstrate a higher than average respect for other people. Consider these situations:

Writing about race

Race is a sensitive topic and one where you want to do the right thing. However the right thing is different for everyone. Using this lens can you say?

Intent: Did you set out to make things better for people? Especially black or other ethnic minority groups.
Consent: Did you speak with anyone from that group (especially recognised leaders) about your opinions?
Harm: Did you consider how it might harm people and take steps to avoid that harm?

Underperforming staff

When a team member isn't pulling their weight it's easy to feel wronged and justify bad behaviour. Here's how the lens can help:

Intent: Are you wanting to make things better for your team and that colleague?
Consent: Have they agreed to your expectations and repercussions?
Harm: If you do need to take action, can it rehabilitate or repair rather than punish?

Negotiating with a supplier

We want to pay a smaller price but not at any cost. Consider the purpose of your haggling and the effect it will have on everyone in the supply chain.

Intent: Why are you driving down price. To make it a fair price or to hoard profit?
Consent: Is the supplier willing to negotiate or are they forced to by your monopoly?
Harm: If they agree to your price, how will it affect their staff, their behaviour towards your staff and the community as a whole?

Giving criticism

If someone's messed something up or is behaving badly they need telling, but being 'good' about it is more likely to be effective.

Intent: Are you trying to change their behaviour or punish them for it?
Consent: Do you have the right to comment on their behaviour?
Harm: Will this discussion improve lives or damage them?

Once again, this is not a replacement for a moral compass BUT it might help you get some clarity. As with all the lenses, it's best used to aid a discussion rather than give a definitive answer.

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