I always was, and still am, very much fascinated by pop music. In 1979, Billy Joel made it to the charts singing: “Honesty is such a lonely word, everyone is so untrue. Honesty is hardly ever heard and mostly what I need from you.” An unforgettable and a very beautiful ballad, Honesty was re-energised by Beyoncé in 2008.

But what about the validity of these lyrics, especially if taken out of their romantic context? Do the lyrics strike the right chord?

Myriad interpretations exist on what is wrong or what is right. Each person has his or her own perspective on what constitutes right or wrong. And this in itself is a healthy challenge.

Some, or, rather, many of us, form an opinion merely by browsing through the media. Others, especially here in Malta, blindly and totally absorb whatever leaders say. But let’s not forget that all of these sources, more often than not, have their own agenda.

Of course, plurality of ideas is a vital and an indispensable prerequisite in a democracy. Although everyone is entitled to an opinion, one needs to delve and go through an analytical process to make a good judgment. And it’s exactly here where ethical norms can help. But even within the realms of ethics disagreements abound.

So how can we go about it in real life? What can we, and especially leaders, do to create an ethical environment? We and our leaders must be honest. Sigmund Warburg, a first-class financier, used to emphasise that “Honesty towards oneself is more important even than honesty towards others”.

Having the best code of ethics will not suffice. Enron, once a Wall Street darling, had a 64-page code of ethics. Now defunct and disgraced, Enron is an icon of corruption, remembered for the scandalous behaviour of its leaders and for filing one of the largest bankruptcies in American history.

Unless in action, values are worthless

If only Enron’s leaders had stuck to Abraham Lincoln’s 1860 motto “Right makes might”. Surely, they would not have ended up in jail.

Everyone may deem it fit to regularly evaluate how well governments, institutions and/or corporations are adhering to their credo. At the same time, great caution needs to be exercised with populist leaders because they tend to promise and peril.

Leaders who turn a blind eye to wrongdoing and fail to take any action, sooner or later, may dance to their own music.

Those who lead need to practise what they preach. So many people manage, but very few lead. In 2012,

Chris Lowney, an American writer, public speaker and leadership consultant, has admitted that “Being the best educated didn’t make me the most morally courageous.

“Experience has taught me that the morally toughest were often those who had weathered and even been humbled by the toughest life experiences... The agony of living thorough ambiguity helped them find their footing in life.”

Unless in action, values are worthless. If we want our children to have a better future, it is paramount that, from an early age, they are exposed to the beauty of some universal moral values.

We therefore yearn for more role models who believe and live in honesty, loyalty and respect. We need to show the young that it pays to be patient, kind and courteous. And, above all, that it takes courage to stand up and be counted. Can anyone not agree on this?

Taking it even further, we may be able to convince the powers that be that such values, plus frugality and personal responsibility for one’s actions, can perhaps play a more important role in our education system.

After all “It’s not our aptitude, but our attitude that determines our altitude”.

Tony Micallef is a retired banker with a Masters in business ethics.