The Six Pillars of Character

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The Six Pillars of Character
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I. Trustworthiness

• Others give us greater leeway/we do not need
  monitoring
• Others believe in us/hold us in higher esteem
• Most complicated of the core values/includes

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A) Honesty/honorable, hence credible

• Honesty in communications
• truthfulness
• sincerity
• candor (frankness)
• Honesty in conduct
• playing by the rules w/o stealing, fraud,
  subterfuge or trickery

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B) Integrity/acting according to ones beliefs

• Hypocrites have no integrity

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C) Reliability/making all reasonable efforts to
fulfill ones commitments

• Avoid bad-faith excuses
• Dont rationalize
• Avoid unwise commitmentsTHINK before you commit

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D) Loyalty/allegiance, fidelity, devotion

• NEVER above ethical considerations
• Prioritize
• Safeguard confidential information but never if
  it breaks the law or threatens others
• Avoid conflicting interests

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II. Respect

• The Golden Rule
• Prohibits violence, humiliation, manipulation,
  exploitation
• Reflects civility, courtesy, decency, dignity,
  autonomy, tolerance, acceptance

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III. Responsibility

• Being in charge of our choices
• Being accountable
• Pursuing excellence
• Exercising self-restraint

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IV. Fairness

• Adherence to a balanced standard of justice w/o
  consideration for ones own feelings or beliefs
• Examples
• Unfair to handle similar matters inconsistently
• Unfair to impose punishment not commensurate with
  the offense

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V. Caring

• The HEART of ethics ethical decision making
• Impossible to be ethical and unconcerned with the
  welfare of others
• Highest form of caringALTRUISMand not merely
  giving for tax purposes

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VI. Citizenship

• Knowing/obeying laws
• Keeping informed
• Maintaining society
• Giving to society more than what is taken
• Conserving resources
• Recycling
• Using public transportation
• Buying an economy car
• Cleaning up litter