Ethics and Values · “The principle, the end justifies the means, which in individualist ethics...

Ethics and Values

First, let’s look back at our core values

Go to slides on core values.

“Live in such a way

that your life

demands an

explanation.”

“The principle, the end

justifies the means, which in

individualist ethics is regarded

as the denial of all morals, in

collectivist ethics becomes

necessarily the supreme rule.”

- Friedrich A. Hayek (The Road to Serfdom)

- A serf is a person in a condition of servitude required

to render services to a lord (master).

Review survey results with cadets.

Let’s get something clear ….

What we allow ourselves to watch, listen

to, and read, impacts the way we think.

The way we think influences what we

believe and what we value. What we

believe influences the way we behave –

our actions.

Think + Belief = Actions

Ethics: A system of moral principles;

the branch of philosophy dealing

with human values and moral

conduct. The science (The study of)

of moral duty.

Ethical: Conforming to moral

standards. Conforming to standards

of a profession.

“The shortest and surest way to

live with honor in the world is to

be in reality what we appear to be.

All human virtues increase and

strengthen by the practice and

experience of them.”

- Socrates

Character can be measured by what

you do or how you act when no one is

looking. “How can you know what is

in your heart? Look at your behavior.”

- Psychologist, William James

“There is a precise standard of right and wrong.

What is right is right whether the day is clear or

cloudy. What is wrong is wrong, whether the matter

is exciting or repulsive. The one who lives in his or

her emotions will not be governed by principles but

by the whim of vacillating feelings.”

- Watchman Nee

Tell the cadets the story of the student who shoplifted at a Wal

Mart just because they happened to be angry – their justification

for shoplifting.

Are there any ethical people left?

YES!

They are out there. Your goal is to

be one!

“Ethics is essential to effective

leadership.”

Dr. Len Marrella

Expressions that are prevalent today:

“Don’t give me that goody goody garbage - everybody

cheats.” (Who is everybody?)

“What’s the big deal, I see my parents doing it.”

“Whatever, anything goes.”

“So what if I take a few items? I’m not stealing from a

friend. I’m stealing from a big company and they can

afford it.”

Some statistics:

- A Reader’s Digest study found a high

percentage of high school students think

cheating is okay. Why? They indicated

the chances of getting caught are slim.

-The Josephson Institute of Ethics’ Youth

survey results for 2008, indicate the

following:

-35% of those surveyed have stolen

property in the past 12 months

-40% of the students surveyed agreed

with this statement: A person has to lie

or cheat sometimes in order to succeed.

- “It is not unethical to do whatever you

have to in order to succeed - as long as

others are not seriously hurt.”

So it is okay to hurt someone as long as

it isn’t too bad?

There’s this disconnect between

knowing what is right and actually

doing what is right.

Is it just kids who have this problem?

NO!!!

Adults who have been surveyed have seen the

following:

- Lying to supervisors or falsifying information

- Observation of theft or misuse of organizational

property

- When asked if they had reported what they had

observed, the answer was NO.

-- 60% justified not doing anything by saying,

“Nobody cares about business ethics.”

-- Over half of them did not trust the company to

protect their identity.

These are the same people who

value loyalty and courage.

See the disconnect?

What do people value?

“Survey Says!!”

Institute of Global Ethics conducted the same survey you

took. They found the following from their 272 participants:

Value Chosen Most Important

Truth 169 33

Compassion 153 44

Responsibility 147 33

Freedom 113 19

Reverence for Life 108 25

So, where do we go from here?

You must be willing to do the harder

right instead of the easier wrong.

You must connect what you know with

what you do.

(Talk about the Ethical Dilemma.)

Next, an ethics check.

(28)

When making an Ethical decision, ask

yourself the following:

1. Is it legal?

-- Not just talking about civil or criminal

laws.

-- Includes company policy.

--- Not doing something that is or gives the

appearance of being illegal, improper, or

immoral.

(29)

2. Is it balanced?

-- What is meant, is the decision fair or

will it heavily favor a group of people

over another in the short or long term.

-- Will there be a BIG winner or BIG

loser?

-- If not balanced, it will probably come

back to haunt you.

3. How will it make me feel about

myself?

-- Unethical acts will erode your self-esteem.

(No amount of money or power is worth

that.)

--- Would you want your decision published

in a major newspaper or shown on the

nightly news?

“There is no pillow as soft as a clear

conscience.”

“Okay, but how do I behave ethically when I’m

pressured to do unethical things?”

You need “Ethical Power”. This power comes

from the core principles of ethical behavior.

We’ll look at five principles. They are:

1. Purpose 5. Perspective

2. Pride

3. Patience

4. Persistence

(30)

1. Purpose: This is your objective, intention -

something you are always striving toward.

- A purpose is ongoing unlike goals that have

deadlines.

- Purpose is a particular road you choose to

travel.

- Purpose is the picture you have of yourself -

the kind of person you want to be.

- Purpose is your attitude toward ethics and

morality.

Have a purpose and stick to it!

(Here are some examples)

- Purpose to be honest

- Purpose to be fair

- Purpose to do the right thing even if

it’s not popular

2. Pride: The sense of satisfaction you get from your

accomplishments as well as those of others.

- A healthy dose of self-esteem gives strength to do

the right thing.

- It is healthy and justified to feel good about

yourself.

- - Some have too much or too little.

--- Too much = false pride (33)

--- Too little = self-doubt

---- Both impact ethical behavior

False Pride:

- Distorted image of own importance.

-- Big “I” little “you”.

-- Don’t need the help of other people.

- False pride can blur your purpose.

- Constant need to always win.

-- Leads to rationalization, exaggeration, cover

ups, arguing, and lying.

-- Can’t let anything make them look bad.

Self-Doubt:

- People with self-doubt don’t like

themselves very much.

- They don’t trust their own judgement.

- Driven by a desire to be liked and

accepted by others.

- More difficult to be morally strong.

- Have trouble standing up against

pressures from others.

- People with self-doubt listen to

others too much.

This leads people with self-doubt

to second guessing themselves or

letting others mislead them into

doing things that are wrong -

unethical - in an effort to be liked

and accepted.

Both false pride and self-doubt are bad

and both come from a low self-esteem.

Both are trying to make up for their

own “I-don’t-count” feelings.

YOU MUST HAVE BALANCE

You don’t want to feel worth-less than

others nor worth-more than others.

“You have permission to like yourself!”

Stay away from those who would say

negative things (untrue things) about

you - putting you down.

Surround yourself with

those who would build

you up.

Having pride, healthy self-esteem,

will lead to you sticking with your

purpose and making ethical decisions.

3. Patience:

- Having faith.

-- A complete trust, confidence, or reliance.

--- Both spiritual and in a general sense.

--- Thinking positive is another aspect of

patience.

----An energized belief that no matter what

happens, things are going to work out.

We have faith when we believe in something

and we base our actions, indeed our whole life,

on that belief.

- A lack of faith, patience, will cause us to

grasp for the here and now and thus sabotage

our future.

- We make what seems a sound, ethical, decision but

we want an immediate reassurance, results, that we

did the right thing. (This is not realistic – it takes

time – let the process work.)

Faith, yes patience, teaches us there is a

more universal timing.

- Things don’t always happen right when

we want them to.

- We need to know there is something

greater than ourselves - a higher power.

Don’t let others pressure you to make a quick

decision that could end up being okay in the

short-term but very bad in the long-term.

4. Persistence:

- Patience is important but without

persistence combined with it, you’ll

probably get off track.

- Got to have that “Stick-to-itiveness.”

-According to Winston Churchill,

“Never, Never, Never, Never, give

up!” – persist.

You MUST be persistent - consistent -

knowing right from wrong and acting on that.

- Being an ethical person means behaving

ethically all the time - not just when it’s

convenient – whether it is sunny or cloudy.

- Don’t just “try” - do it!

- You must be committed!!!!!!!!

5. Perspective (The ability to see all the relevant data

in a meaningful relationship.)

- This is the capacity to see what is really

important in any given situation.

- It’s from perspective that you oversee the

other four principles.

How do you gain perspective?

- Waking up your inner self.

-- The inner self focuses on being

reflective and thoughtful. (Serious

thought.)

--- Its attention is on meaning and

values, the finding of significance in

life.

Simply put, giving your inner being a

chance to catch it’s breath.

How?

- By the quieting, calming, of the mind -

in solitude.

- Prayer.

- Meditation.

- Taking a walk, not running, and

reflecting on what has happened and

what will be happening.

- Having quiet - solitude – is best for

this to work.

The Core Principles of Ethical Power:

1. Purpose: See yourself as being an ethical

person. You let your conscience be your

guide.

2. Pride: Feel good about yourself. You

don’t need the acceptance of others to feel

important. Have a balanced self-esteem.

3. Patience: Believe things will

eventually work out well. You don’t

need everything to happen right now.

Have faith!

4. Persistence: You stick to your

purpose. My behavior is consistent with

my intentions. As Churchill said,

“Never, Never, Never, Never, Give

Up!”

5. Perspective: I will take time to reflect

and be thoughtful. I will quiet my mind

so I can hear my inner self and see

things more clearly. I will strengthen

my inner self through prayer,

meditation, and reflection. I will seek to

see the interrelationships to the actions I

take.

The Ethics Check:

1. Is it Legal: Will I be violating

either civil law or company policy?

2. Is it balanced: Is it fair to all concerned

in the short as well as the long term? Does

it promote a win-win relationship?

3. How will it make me feel about

myself? Will it make me proud? Would

I feel good if my decision was published

in the newspaper? Would I feel good

about it if my family knew about it?

In closing:

There is

No RIGHT way

To do a WRONG thing.

Choose this day, PURPOSE, to do what is right

and ethical!!!!!