Welcome to the final post in our Let’s Talk series. We started this series by examining why the image of God in each human being makes it necessary for us to address sexual misconduct. We’ve also addressed sexual misconduct from the individual and organizational levels. In this post we will look at the industrial level.

A Note about Methodology

Before we begin, let’s look again at our methodology for addressing the issue of sexual misconduct. Because of sin, sexual misconduct starts at the individual level and seeps into every space that individuals inhabit.

Individuals make up organizations, so it is no wonder that some organizations will flounder in misconduct. Organizations then make up whole industries, so it is also no wonder why some industries struggle with regular misconduct.

Therefore, a simplified progression for sexual misconduct is individual, then organizational, and then industrial.

Is There Hope?

Now if sexual abuse is as large as an industry, I am tempted to conclude that there is no hope for change. How can individuals like you and I actually affect industrial change?

There is an answer. Our industries need leaders to model the way for appropriate sexual conduct. Leaders shape the culture!

Notice, though, that I am not only referring to individual leaders. Yes, we need individual leaders to affect positive change. But we also need whole organizations to model the way for appropriate sexual conduct. That is what this post is about.

Market Behavior

Let’s look at market behavior to better understand this concept. In a basic market, organizations exchange goods and services with consumers. Consumers influence these organizations to offer certain products over others.

Organizations can also influence consumers and other organizations through intentional value offerings. And, recall, organizations make up industries. So organizations can affect real changes in the marketplace and their industries.

What Will It Take?

We need positive marketplace leaders. That is, we need organizations to lead the charge by refusing to coddle misconduct. That involves your organization and mine as well.

Maybe you lead a small agency, or feel like you have little power to influence your industry toward appropriate sexual conduct. What can our organizations actually do to prevent sexual misconduct on the industrial level?

1. It starts with mission, vision, and values.

If any industrial change will happen, it will involve the philosophical level of each organization that makes up the industry. Our mission and vision statements are the rubric for our decision-making. And our values shape how we perceive those statements. It is imperative, then, that our mission, vision, and values in no way encourage sexual misconduct.

2. It continues with every decision.

If our mission and vision statements form the rubric for decisions, it will affect everything your organization does. You hire people who exude your values. You create goods and services that promote your mission. You build websites and dream up visions that conform to your mission.

Your organization can be a positive marketplace leader by creating and acting on a philosophy that honors the image of God in each human being.

I challenge you to let your organization be a voice when things aren’t right. Use the power you have for good by refusing to do business with industry leaders who promote misconduct. You can also create and abide by ethical policies that affect real people in real time.

Lead the Way

We live in a world where individuals, organizations, and industries are harming people for their own pleasure. You can lead the way as an individual in your organization and shape your industry for good.

Would you decide today to be a positive leader for the sake of the image of God?