It seems that everyday there is a news article or story about someone doing something that others consider unethical. I wonder  how people would define ethics if you asked them.

Decided to look up ethics in a dictionary and discovered the definition as: moral principles relating to a group, field or form of conduct. Hmm, okay then what are moral principles? Back to the dictionary to discover that there are several descriptions of moral: 1. principles of right and wrong behavior and 2. standards of behavior of what is acceptable or not.

Now my question is: who decides what is right and wrong or acceptable behavior? Seems the popular answer might be government or legal laws. However, aren’t the laws written because someone or a group ‘acts out’ from what the majority believes is right? And then the laws are modified because someone else finds a loop hole or an aspect that was not covered by the original law. Appears to be a perpetual law making machine. What if we look at how ethics and morals are created.

How do you learn ethics and morals? Are you born with them? No, you observe how others are behaving or you are directly taught what is right and wrong. If you observe other’s behaviors (whether as a child or an impressionable adult) and their behavior is acceptable by others, then you determine that it must be okay. Whoever teaches you will teach what they believe is moral. It is a repetitive cycle that seems to lose clarity and defined boundaries as it is repeated so the original morals are diluted with each cycle.

One aspect that rises up in ethical decisions is what is more important: protecting self and coming out ahead or respecting others. This applies with an individual as well as within a corporate culture. Is the decision coming from a place of fear or perhaps low self confidence? Talk about ‘soft skills’… these impact every action that is taken. I just read that up to 70% of individuals put something on their resume that is false. That is an example of trying to come out ahead rather than having the self confidence to represent yourself honestly. Is that ethically wrong? Some would say only if you get caught.

I was taught years ago to stop and ask yourself, ‘Would you be okay to have this printed in the paper (or on the Internet)?’ If not, then there is a core part of you that knows what you are doing is wrong. Stop and redirect yourself. Just because ‘everyone else is doing it’… does not mean it is right. Perhaps they are in protection and caught in the situation not feeling they can get out.

Are there consequences to being different and disagreeing with an acceptable behavior? Sure. I have a friend who recently reported some illegal actions and was fired because of it. That’s a consequence! However, my friend knows that the action was correct even though the corporate culture seemed to allow and accept the illegal behavior since it benefitted the stockholders and short term finances of the organization. And now is able to feel more peace and less stress daily.

When you recognize something as outside of what you feel is moral or ethical, I would advise you to first clarify the definition of ethical for you and for the other person or situation. It could be that there is just a difference in perception. Such as in Sweden leaving a sleeping baby in a carriage outside a restaurant – that is totally acceptable. In the States, we view that as wrong. If there is a definite ethical difference, then determine what the best next step is for you as well as for the situation, other person, or organization ensuring that you are considering from the highest perspective and not from protecting your ego or past actions.

Having an ethical mindset is a broad topic, my goal is to have you start to think about what you have accepted as being right or wrong for you. Question what you define as ethical and observe whether you live by those principles and why.