I've been planning to write on the topic of ethics and integrity (E&I) for a while. It's a difficult topic to write about, yet I think it's one of necessity! As we've seen lately, nothing can destroy a person's reputation and career faster than a display of poor ethics and integrity. There is a great deal one could write about ethics and integrity, so for the sake of this article, I'll keep it to three sections 1) E&I defined, 2) E&I in business, and 3) Personal E&I. Of course, I'll wrap it up with the usual "Coaches Corner" with some questions and ideas to get you thinking about how to stay true to your own ethics and live with more integrity.
Philosophers and researchers have been studying ethics since the days of Plato and Socrates. So, as you can imagine, there are varying schools of thought when it comes to defining ethics. Some believe ethics are hard and fast rules, right vs. wrong, some believe it depends on a situation; while others believe ethics makeup the ground rules with which people live their lives.
Random House Dictionary (2009) definitions:
Ethics: the branch of philosophy dealing with values relating to human conduct, with respect to the rightness and wrongness of certain actions and to the goodness and badness of the motives and ends of such actions.
Integrity: soundness of moral character.
An associate, Micki, shared her thoughts with me; she believes ethics are an external set of rules --- there are societal rules, laws, regulations, business rules, etc. When we break an ethical rule, there are consequences or punishments which come along with a violation. With ethics, there is right and there is wrong. Integrity, she believes, refers to the quality of one's character and his or her guiding behavior. In other words, integrity is a choice, and when we're acting with integrity, we do the right thing, even when nobody is watching us. Simply put, we can't have one without the other.
Ethics and Integrity in Business
"...it ought to be fairly easy to choose between right and wrong by relying on principles, but business activity often demands that we select from alternatives that are neither wholly right or wholly wrong (Preston Townley, Vital Speeches, Jan 1992).
Business leaders must remember their behavior is a strong influence on the behavior of employees in the workplace. Having a code of ethics, or a set of defined core values, can be powerful in developing or maintaining an ethical organization. Some business and political leaders might think they are being ethical simply because they haven't broken the law, yet. More often than not, breaking the law starts with unethical behavior that has simply gone unnoticed or unaddressed.
It's important for organizations of any size to identify and prioritize its ethics and values. The next step is to ensure there are related policies or procedures in place to encourage right behavior. When I work on a business success plan with a client and we're discussing ethics, I always ask what happens if any of those ethics are not followed. Not only do organizations need to encourage right behavior, they must be prepared to address violators of ethic codes.
Personal Ethics and Integrity
Ethical principles grow and develop over time through life experiences and situations. We all carry with us an individual code of ethics. Mine may be similar to yours, but there are always differences. This personal code of ethics is a foundation which acts like a moral compass and guides our integrity. Your ethics are reflected in your behavior and your actions on a daily basis.
Personal integrity takes courage. Integrity is all about living up to your own values and standards. It's about keeping your word to yourself as well as keeping your word to others. It's doing what you said you would do; and yes, that includes even the simplest of things you said you would do (changing the light bulb, garden work, showing up on time, etc...). Personal integrity is saying what you mean, not saying what you don't mean, and doing what you said you would do.
Coaches Corner
Most of us know when we act in violation of our ethics; and it's usually done with deliberate intent. If you're not sure if your behavior is unethical, right, or wrong, ask yourself one simple question: Would you be pleased if that behavior was splashed all over the evening news with your picture? Our ethics and integrity are frequently challenged. We need to have the courage to ask ourselves some tough questions, such as: Would I want others to mimic my actions? How will I feel about myself in the end? Am I being just and fair? Is this the right time, intention, person, place? Am I doing what I said I would do? Of course, you can always talk to your coach who can help you enlarge your perspective!
Remember: Doing the right thing may not always be the easy thing to do!
