Ethics

1
WHAT IS ETHICS?

• Standards of duty and virtue that indicate how
  we should behave.
• Ethics is about right and wrong and how an
  honorable person should behave.
• Ethics is about being a good person.
• Is vs. Ought

2
Ethics refer to principles that define behavior
as right, good and proper. Ethics are
non-partisan, they transcend political, cultural,
or religious issues. They are not about what
some people call success. We do tend to judge
people by wealth, position, education, and even
beauty. Some times we evaluate them by their
bank account, the car model they drive or their
possession of the latest and greatest gadgets.
But how much can you really know about a person
by looking at these external things? Ethic
principles do not always dictate a single moral
course of action, such as this is right this is
wrong or this is good this is bad but provide
a means of evaluating and deciding among several
competing options.
3
Its not the same as values.
Ethics is what you do when no one else is
watching. Imagine you were invisible and were
able to do anything without consequences or
repercussions.
4
Most people have convictions about what is right
and wrong based on a variety of reasons. Some of
them are religious beliefs, cultural roots,
family background, personal experiences, law,
organizational values, political
habits. Character requires more than knowing
right from wrongIt also requires ethical
sensitivity to the final outcome of decisions and
it requires a procedure for applying these
procedures to problems. Ethics and character
are the same, but VALUES are not interchangeable
with these two. Why? Because ethics apply to
how a person SHOULD behave, whereas values are a
personal inner judgment that determines how you
will actually behave. And values can change with
time. Our values are what we prize and our VALUE
SYSTEM is the order in which we prize them.
Because values rank our likes and dislikes, our
value system determines how we will behave in
certain situations and creates a lot of clashes
in our life. For instance, the desire to be rich
may clash with our desire to be honest. A desire
for personal independence may clash with a desire
for intimacy. The simplest way to separate
values from ethics is that ethics/character put
into action what we should do as a matter of
integrity. Character is a lot of self restraint
by not doing what you have the power to do and
what you have the right to do. And biggest of
all not doing what you want to do. Remember
Ethics is Not doing what you have the power to
do. An act is not proper simply because it is
permissible or you can get away with it. Not
doing what you have the right to do. There is a
big difference between what you have the right to
do and what is right to do. No doing what you
want to do. An ethical person often chooses to
do more than the law requires and less than the
law allows.
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WHY BE ETHICAL?

• Its just good business
• Its the smart thing to do

6
People have a lot of reasons for being
ethical Inner benefit. Virtue is its own
reward. It gives us a personal advantage. It
leads to approval, self-esteem, admiration and
respect of peers. Good behavior can please or
help you serve your GOD. Some people are ethical
out of habit, they were trained as children.
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Aspen Declaration
In 1992 an eminent and diverse group of
educators, youth leaders, and ethicists from 30
segments of our nation issued the Aspen
Declaration, a document asserting the primacy of
six core ethical values that transcend cultural,
religious and socioeconomic differences.
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The Six Pillars of Character
TRRFCC
9
OUR WORKPLACE
SKILLS
SYSTEM
CHARACTER
We can always set the ethical bar higher!!
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To make any workplace function properly, we know
we need to have a skilled staff, a system in
place that works, and both leadership and staff
with character. Imagine a skilled employee
without character---He/She just will not fit in.
Character is a highly respected trait. The most
desirable employee is the selflessness one. A
selflessness person is filled with humility while
a selfishness person is filled with pride.
Selflessness people are strong and they know and
practice the Its not about me program. Lets
look at the system, I personally feel that most
of you have good systems in place. Past
performance proves that. But the system is set
up in a way that rewards individuals. If ______
is given a 1,000 reward for work that was done by
him that you could have or have done in the past,
how should you feel? If you are a person with
character, your character should not and is not
affected by this. In the war of competencies
versus current behaviors we need to work on all
three, skills, character and system. Somewhere
out there, I bet there is s list, a policy, a
directive that outlines the expectations of an
office. It might not be 100 perfect, but we can
build. Just skills training will not change the
results (if character is lacking). The system may
be great but some person may not live up to the
expected and need a check. If the system is at
fault, change it. If not, hold that person
accountable. An example of the system needing a
change is with a teen aged child who goes to the
library to work. The library closes at 9 but his
curfew is 830. Every day he is late coming
home. Why, because he looses track of time until
they announce the closing. So how can this
problem be changes? Change his time for
curfew.
11
TRUSTWORTHY

• INTEGRITY
• HONESTY
• PROMISE-KEEPING
• LOYALTY

12
Trustworthiness is sometimes misunderstood as a
personal value. The majority of people believe
themselves to be trustworthy, yet, their behavior
does not match their belief. Generally people
believe trustworthiness is keeping your word,
taking care of your belongings and returning that
which you borrow from others. However,
trustworthiness embodies much more. The
definition of trustworthy includes the personal
characteristics of Capable of being depended
upon dependable, reliable, responsible,
solid. Worthy of belief, as because of
precision or faithfulness to an original
authentic, authoritative, convincing, credible,
faithful, true, valid behavioral pattern. A
trustworthy person Arrives on time Does what
he/she agreed to do Knows his/her limits and
avoids promising more than she/he can deliver
Is consistentbased on past experiences one can
trust what she/he will do next How does one
become a trustworthy person? Trustworthiness is a
learned characteristic. Children learn
trustworthiness by what they experience.
Therefore, parents need to keep their word. If
they tell a child they will take him/her to the
store in a little while. The parent needs to
then take the child to the store. Whatever you
tell a child you need to do it, even when it is
something the child would not want you to do. For
example If you tell your child you are going to
send him/her to bed early if he/she hits his/her
brother, you need to send your child to bed early
in order to demonstrate to your child you are
trustworthy. Furthermore, when you follow through
on your statements, you are telling your child, I
say what I mean and I mean what I say. This gives
your child a sense of security and trust that all
will be in right order, even the things they do
not wish to havei.e. going to bed early. The
same thing is true in the workplace People who
are made aware of consequences, but never
receive them learn that their bosses are not
trustworthy. The need for instant gratification
in our modern society has made it all too easy to
slip out the white lie, to please others, or to
ease the pressure on ourselves. In doing so, we
implicitly accept deception as part of our
culture. Honesty, integrity and trustworthiness
are supposedly highly-valued character traits,
but what do these terms actually mean?
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1. Honesty On the road to be honest is to tell
the truth. It is simply conforming words to
reality. Honesty is regarded as the best policy.
It sets the record straight and allows the truth
to be known and declared. Honesty, however, is
not the same as Integrity. A thief can be
honest... all he or she needs to do is tell the
truth. We can agree that one is likely to be
dishonest for fear of negative consequences. If
the consequence is favorable, honesty may be
likely. Consider criminals who will tell the
truth for a lighter sentence. On this point, we
need to also appreciate that admission is not
the same as confession. When one confesses
something, they come forward and tell the truth.
However, when one admits something, its
usually because they have been caught out. 2.
Integrity To have integrity is to be true to our
highest values. Unlike honesty, integrity means
to conform reality to words. Integrity is
linked in the word integrate... and to live
with integrity means integrating our thoughts,
actions, speech and feelings into oneness. What
you see is what you get no duplicity. To have
integrity is to be true in the moment of
challenge, test and temptation. Our highest
values mean little in declaration if it cannot be
lived in combination with action. On this point,
we must consider acts of commission and acts
of omission. An act of commission is when you
do something that violates what you know you
should do. An act of omission is one in which
you dont do something that you know you should.
Equally, this could be a violation to conscience,
ethics and law. 3. Trustworthiness It has been
said that to be trusted is greater than to be
loved. To be trusted implies that you are
trustworthy or worthy of trust. It requires
character who you really are on the inside.
Too many consider their reputation first. Be
more concerned with your character than you are
with your reputation, because your character is
who you really are, whilst your reputation is who
others think you are
14
RESPECT

• IT IS OUR DUTY TO TREAT EVERYONE WITH RESPECT
• Courtesy
• Politeness
• Dignity
• Value the differences they bring into our
  workplace
• Tolerance (This can be hard)

15
RESPONSIBILITY

• Dont make excuses
• Accept responsibility for decisions
• Fulfill all obligations
• DO NOT over-promise
• Life is full of choiceswhat you do and dont do
  matters
• Choosing not to choose is a choice.

16

• Your ability to reason and freedom to choose
  makes you morally accountable for your choices.
• You are bound by principles of morality to make
  choices that honor, rather than degrade,
  universal ethical obligations to be trustworthy,
  respectful, responsible, fair, caring, and a good
  citizen.
• Your moral obligation is to choose attitudes,
  words, and actions and to accept personal
  responsibility for the consequences of those
  actions.
• Responsibility requires that you recognize what
  you do and dont do matters.
• SOME THINGS WE CANNOT CHOOSE
• You cant choose to be good looking, smart, or
  athletic. You cant choose your parents or the
  circumstances in which you grow up.
• But you can choose how to deal with the outrages
  and opportunities of life.From these choices,
  your character is formed.Choosing not to choose
  is a choice.
• EXCUSES ARE NOT
• Thats just the way I am. You are what you
  choose to be, nothing less and nothing more.
• Its not my fault. Responsibility isnt about
  blame its about accountability. The question
  for the responsible person is Could I have done
  something that would have mattered?
• Responsible people continually pursue excellence,
  exercise self control, restrain passions (lust,
  hatred, greed, fear) for the sake of a longer
  term vision. These are the people that realize
  they are as they choose to be, every day all the
  time.

17
FAIRNESS

• Listen
• Make decisions based on careful and appropriate
  consideration
• Who do we let go?

18
CARING

• Compassion and concern for others
• Kindness and consideration
• Mercy and forgiveness
• Empathy
• Gratitude and Expressed Thanks

19
CITIZENSHIP

• Play by the rules
• Respect authority
• Do your share
• Within the workplace keep proper records
• Follow office procedures
• Be a good office neighbor and pursue the common
  good

20
Enhance Ethical Commitment
Think of the most ethical person you know! What
characteristics do you associate with that
person? Do you think ethics are important to that
person? If someone asked that question about you,
how many people would think ethics were important
to YOU? How would it feel to know you are a role
model for others?
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Taking it to work. What Can the Business
Community Do?
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Expect all employees to maintain these ethics

• Trustworthiness
• Respect
• Responsibility
• Fairness
• Caring
• Citizenship

23
Trustworthiness

• Try to be honest and ethical in all business
  dealings.
• Never reveal proprietary information.
• Do not tolerate lying, stealing or deception.

24
Respect

• Treat everyone with courtesy, politeness and
  dignity, valuing individual and cultural
  differences in our workplace and among those we
  serve.
• Listen to and communicate openly with each other
  and with the customers in order to build mutual
  respect and long-term working relationships.

25
Responsibility

• Do not make excuses.
• Accept responsibility for our workplace
  decisions.
• Fulfill all obligations.
• Do not over-promise our customers.

26
Fairness

• Listen intently to the concerns of the customers,
  employees and vendors.
• Listen to the employees and make decisions that
  affect them only after careful and appropriate
  consideration.

27
Caring

• Truly care about each and every customer,
  employee and vendor.
• Commit to build long-lasting relationships to
  mutual benefit.

28
Citizenship

• Play by the rules.
• Keep proper records and follow financial
  reporting procedures.
• Follow all laws and regulations to the tee.

29
Listen for the bells warning you of an ethical
issue.
How will your decision look in the light? Could
a reasonable fair-minded person conclude you
acted improperly?
30
Identify the Problems

• Fill the gaps!
• Close gaps deliberately!
• Most of us overestimate
• The cost of doing the right
• Thing---and underestimate the
• Cost of failing to do so.

GAP
GAP
GAP