Will the common good prove the death of common sense?

That's the question that drives the conversation when Mark Brown, CSP, Deb Coviello, and • Kirsten Yurich join the ethics panel to Grapple with the Gray.

Here is our topic.

Last year, world civilization teacher Sarah Inama at Idaho’s Lewis and Clark Middle School resigned rather than comply with orders to remove from her classroom a poster deemed inappropriate by administrators, who said the poster violated the school’s “content neutral” policy, which prohibits any speech or messaging that might reflect personal opinions, religious beliefs, or political ideologies.

The sign read, “Everyone Is Welcome Here,” and it showed hands of different colors. That was it. The district’s chief academic officer Marcus Myers clarified that, “The political environment ebbs and flows, and what might be controversial now might not have been controversial three, six, nine months ago.”

Ms. Inama received an outpouring of support from the community, but it wasn’t enough to change the district’s mind. In her resignation letter, she wrote:

“I cannot align myself nor be complicit with the exclusionary views and decisions of the administration. It is deeply troubling that the people running this district and school have allowed a welcoming and inclusive message for my students to be considered controversial, political, and, worst of all, an opinion.

“I hope for the sake of the students in your district that you can remember the core values of public education. To serve all citizens, foster an inclusive and safe learning environment, and protect your staff and students from discriminatory behavior.”

Does the school administration have a point? If so, what is it? And is it better for a teacher like Sarah Inama to make a statement by publicly resigning or to remain in her job to serve her students while trying to change the system from within?

Meet this week’s panel:

Deb Coviello, aka the Drop in CEO, is an author, speaker, podcast host, and silver medalist curler who coaches C-Suite leaders of today and tomorrow to navigate challenges with confidence.

Mark Brown is a world champion international speaker, executive coach and, most important, devoted husband of Andrea.

Kirsten Yurich is an Organizational Performance Management Consultant, Peer Leaders Group Chair with Vistage Worldwide, Inc., and Adjunct Professor of Education at Felician University.

Should "what do I deserve" ever take a back seat to "what can I give"?

That's the question that drives the discussion when Lori Halverson, Allen Hauge, and Jeff Koziatek join the ethics panel to Grapple with the Gray.

Here is the topic we’ll be discussing:

An employee posted the following on Reddit:

I lost a schedule bid at work recently to an employee with far less seniority. The reason given to me was, “He is a single father, and that schedule works better with his son’s school schedule.”

Not to be insensitive, but so what? My time is not less valuable because I have no kids. I get the logic, but I could not give a care about his schedule or his problems. I have done my time, and I earned that bid, plain and simple.

I have filed a grievance with HR. The crux of it is that I was discriminated against for not having kids, in an attempt to get the schedule I bid on. A few coworkers have mentioned off the cuff that I should let it go because he’s a single father. They’ve said I “don’t get it because I don’t have any kids.”

Responses on Reddit were mixed. On the one hand, seniority should carry privilege. On the other hand, shouldn’t actual needs trump personal preferences?

What’s the ethical approach to this kind of dilemma, and what can leaders do to navigate these kinds of conflicts?

Meet this week’s panel:

Lori Halverson is an executive coach, speaker, and Vistage chair, helping CEOs and top executives look forward to Mondays and flourish through positive intelligence.

Allen Hauge is a master chair with Vistage International, Inc. He works with CEOs to devise strategies for success in business and in life.

Jeff Koziatek is an executive coach and keynote speaker, helping professionals to navigate change, sharpen focus, avoid burnout, and make a difference. He is also one of St. Louis Business Monthly's 100 St. Louisans you should know.

Can we use "the greater good" as an excuse to exempt ourselves from personal responsibility?

That's the question that drives the conversation when Sam Ardery, Shannon Lee, and David Marlow join me to Grapple with the Gray.

Here is our topic:

An Alaska Airlines customer reported buying a first class ticket from Costa Rica to Seattle, an 8-hour international flight. Upon arriving at the gate, they were informed that they were being bumped down to economy class to make way for two pilots who were traveling to make a connecting flight.

After the customer had paid for first class, the airline not only took away the seat but also the passenger’s breakfast, then failed to offer even a drink or a special snack. The anticipated luxury flight turned into a cramped, hungry ordeal.

Apparently, a pilot shortage has compelled airlines to offer pilots the perk of first class travel when they “deadhead” to make connecting flights. But does that justify refusing passengers the seats they’ve paid for to solve their own logistics and personnel problems? And if it does, do the airlines have a responsibility to do more to offset the passenger’s inconvenience?

Meet this week’s panel:

Sam Ardery is a national mediator, trial lawyer, consultant, speaker, and author. He teaches negotiation at Indiana University’s Maurer School of Law and is author of Positively Conflicted: Engaging with Courage, Compassion and Wisdom in a Combative World.

Shannon Lee is a CEO coaching chair with Vistage Worldwide, Inc. She works with organizations and executive teams to improve execution by defining, measuring, and standardizing the leadership behaviors required for businesses to perform well.

David Marlow, aka the Ikigai Guy and the Versatile Guru, is a coach, speaker, and author who helps people live into their purpose and helps companies bring their purpose to their products and their people.