It is well documented that the discovery of fraud and abuse is far more frequently found through chance observation than through formal auditing and oversight, no matter how important those functions obviously are. However, our initial awareness that ethical or legal problems are occurring often has less to so with the actual observation of some type of error in judgment or indiscretion and more to do with some indistinct gut sense that things just don't feel right. Always trust that feeling.
The reason for trusting your gut isn't because you'll always be right. In fact, hopefully you'll never be right because you hopefully aren't surrounded by previously undiscovered fraud and abuse! However, it is only by paying attention to what's eating you that you'll ever be able to really figure out why you have that feeling and, in turn, be more likely to determine whether or not fraud or abuse are actually occurring.
Can following your gut discomfort backfire sometimes? I really don't think so as long as you are appropriately discreet and tactful in your inquiries of/with others, remain open to alternative explanations for your discomfort, and maintain an 'innocent unless clearly proven otherwise' attitude.
Worst-case outcomes? The first possibility is that there is, in fact, some type of fraud or abuse occurring and you'll only have been able to figure that out because you paid attention to whatever was bugging you. The alternative worst case? There is no fraud or abuse and you'll be far more likely to figure out what and why some operational or interpersonal issue is annoying you and, therefore, be better positioned to make whatever changes will increase your day-to-day comfort or productivity. As worst case outcomes go, those seem like pretty good ones to me!
Christopher Bauer helps companies create and implement high-impact, high-ROI ethics and values training programs. In addition to keynotes and seminars on professional ethics, he also provides consultation on ethics program development and implementation. Information on Bauer Ethics Seminars is available at
