Ethics in The Real World

Dr. Toby Groves

Ethics in The Real World

Codes of ethics, ethics training, and “tone at the top” are expected to improve ethical behavior. But do they? Research shows that not only can these traditional initiatives be unhelpful, but they can harm ethical reasoning! Instead of looking at how people are “supposed” to behave, this class examines how people actually make ethical decisions in the real world. We will explain how ethics codes can cause unethical behavior, why we misunderstand the influence of tone at the top, and why people betray their own ethical beliefs.

Have questions? Want to discuss bringing Ethics in The Real World to your group? Contact laura@tobygroves.com

Download the full program description here

Major Subjects:

Why ethics codes fail
How tone at the top affects organizational decision-making
Why traditional ethics training results in ethical failures
How to recognize unconscious defense mechanisms
Making ethical decisions under pressure

What Participants are Saying

"A real-world crash course in audit thinking."

"The most fun I’ve ever had learning about auditing."

"It felt like a professional escape room for auditors—with real insight built in."

"I learned just as much from hearing other teams present as I did from my own experience."

“It was like stepping into the audit itself—every decision mattered, and I learned more in one day than I have in some entire courses.”

“I didn’t expect to come away with this many real tools to improve how I think. It wasn’t just about audit—it was about how to be sharper, faster, and more insightful.”

Book Ethics in The Real World. The Audience Will Thank You.

Ethics in The Real World is available for in-person, virtual or hybrid delivery.

Perfect for internal audit departments, government agencies, corporate teams, and chapters.

For more information email laura@tobygroves.com

Dr. Toby Groves

Dr. Toby Groves