What is a Good Life? #28
Creating A New Narrative with Guido Palazzo
On the 28th episode of the What is a Good Life? podcast, I have the pleasure of being joined by Guido Palazzo, a professor of business ethics at the University of Lausanne in Switzerland. Guido delves into the intriguing topic of why good people sometimes make questionable choices, exploring the dark side of human behaviour.
Throughout the episode, Guido sheds light on the factors contributing to ethical lapses of individuals within organisations, as well as the catalysts that can lead individuals to adopt more ethical behaviours. We also explore the crucial need for deeper connections to foster harmonious relationships with ourselves and the world around us.
In these challenging times, Guido shares inspiring stories of individuals who managed to uphold their ethical principles even in the face of adversity (see clip below 🎬 ). He emphasises the significance of prioritising qualities such as meaning, values, and having various options, which have not only influenced his own life journey but also hold immense importance in leading a meaningful existence.
For anyone feeling overwhelmed by the multitude of societal challenges, this episode offers a much-needed perspective on our collective journey towards discovering new visions and narratives. It serves as a source of optimism and hope, encouraging us to actively create new stories and possibilities for an emerging future.
The weekly clip from the podcast (4 mins), my weekly reflection (2 mins), the full podcast (54 mins), and the weekly questions all follow below.
1. Weekly Clip from the Podcast
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2. My weekly reflection
In this interview, Guido shares several compelling stories that highlight how people behaved differently than the group, when the group had lost its way ethically. He emphasises the significance of choosing meaningful actions and staying true to our own values (as per the clip above).
The impact of values on our sense of contentment cannot be overstated. While adhering to our values might not necessarily lead to an easier or materially better life, we often underestimate the disturbance breaching our values can bring to our peace of mind, physical health, sleep, and relationships with ourselves and others.
In many societies, economic growth and prosperity have taken precedence over other aspects of life. This focus can sometimes lead us to justify our actions based on gains and opportunities, disregarding the consequences on our inner world.
Firstly, our behaviour profoundly influences how we perceive the world and what we expect from other people’s behaviour. Secondly, during moments of introspection, such as when lying awake at night, we get the chance to observe our feelings about our actions and choices, and how they impact our relationship with ourselves. Irrespective of external influences, whether it's the behaviour of our friends, our boss, or peers, this won’t sooth away how we feel about ourselves.
In my experience, the wider the gap between the projection of ourselves based on our values and our actual actions, the greater our suffering becomes. This disconnect is a deeply personal insight that only we can truly understand. External praise or validation cannot bridge this gap.
Perfection is not the goal; everyone makes mistakes and occasionally chooses the easier path. The key lies in recognising the frequency with which we compromise our values and holding ourselves accountable, even if at first it's just to ourselves. Acknowledging the breached values and understanding their impact on our relationship with ourselves and our overall well-being is vital for leading a fulfilling life.
3. Full Episode - Creating A New Narrative with Guido Palazzo - What is a Good Life? #28
Click here for Apple and Google.
4. This week’s Questions
What circumstances, processes, and states of being help you to make more ethical decisions and what contributes to your less ethical choices and behaviours?
Can you identify many legal and widely adopted behaviours that really conflict with your own values?
About Me
I am a Coach based in Berlin, via Dublin, Ireland. I left behind a 15-year career in Capital Markets after I became extremely curious around answering some of the bigger questions in life. I started this project in 2021, for which I’ve now interviewed over 150 people, to provide people with the space to reflect on their own lives and to create content that would spark people’s own inquiry into this question. I am also trying to share more genuine expressions of the human experience, beyond the facades we typically project.
If you would like to work with me, or you simply want to get in touch, here’s my email and LinkedIn.