Rafe Esquith writes about Lawrence Kohlberg’s Six Levels of Moral Development in his book “Teach like your hair’s on fire” as a model for young people.
I think it could also help companies trying to figure out their culture and strategy.
Let’s take becoming more sustainable as an example – how would companies look at these different levels?
1. Stay out of trouble
Most organisations start here. They ask what the minimum compliance levels are and do what is needed to stay out of trouble.
2. Do things for rewards
Some organisations will get involved in programmes and schemes that offer a reward, such as grant funding for early adoption.
This can help unlock some projects that might otherwise not meet investment criteria.
3. Please someone else
We probably see companies start projects when customers ask them to make progress against the customer’s own objectives.
Questionnaires, rankings, and customer promotions may help make the case that an organisation should do more in a certain area.
4. Follow the rules
This might seem similar to 1, but the difference is that in this case it’s more like making a set of rules to follow rather than complying with someone else’s rules.
For example, you might set out rules on how to book travel – avoid meetings if possible, choose low-carbon options, and so on.
A collection of such rules then guides behaviour.
5. Be considerate
This level of operation is one that is empathetic – that considers others.
Perhaps the easiest way to see this is action is with the construction industry.
Is that development next door making noise at all times of day and night or are they considering the impact on the people around them.
In fact, there is a considerate constructors scheme that is just about this.
6. Have a personal code
This is the most difficult one to reach. It’s about having a code about what is the right thing to do and doing it regardless of what’s happening elsewhere.
You see this in action quite a lot. Companies sign up for a programme because it is good marketing, and then pull out when it’s too hard to reach, or if the political environment changes and certain views fall out of favour.
Do you carry on with those views, because you think they are right, or do you bend to power?
Esquith thinks that the 6 levels are an easy-to-understand set of building blocks that can help young people grow as students and people.
Perhaps they could help companies do the same.
Handcrafted insight 