Ethical Maturity

0:01 achieving ethical maturity is a lifelong process as we pay attention both to our actions and our reactions for acting using different ethical lenses helps us make better decisions and live with Integrity I'm kathern bear the founder and CEO of Ethics gain a company that provides learning tools for people who want to explore ethics and ethical decision-making when people think about ethics they think about action just doing the right thing today we're going to talk about the flip side of action

0:31 reflection a process necessary for ethical wholeness for integrity as we are being reflective either before making an ethical decision or after the pieces of the puzzle fall into place pausing to reflect can help us become ethically mature as we evaluate a potential path forward we notice our motives the amount of risk we are willing to take and whether we are at peace or still unsettled with our decision after taking action we then

1:01 reflect on the results did we balance the values intention were we able to create the greatest good for the most people through our acts this cycle of action and reflection can help us Achieve Personal Integrity where our actions match our values and our lives have meaning and purpose as we reflect we continue widening our perspective to see what impact our choices have on others first we begin with ourselves did we have good and honorable intentions or were we

1:32 acting from anger and seeking retribution wishing harm on others did we moderate our desires so we weren't being petty greedy or selfish as we consider others for whom we are responsible or those with whom we live and work did we act in a way that showed care and respect for them did the decision and the results help both individuals and the group as a whole Thrive and then did our decisions create a stronger Community were we Fair did we

2:03 think about those without power or resources are the institutions our families social organizations places of worship businesses stronger because of our choices and finally did our action support the system as a whole if those who work in business lie cheat and steal the social and economic systems we take for granted can fail Enron is a case study of people who did didn't respect the company or the economic system in which they worked the leadership was so

2:35 focused on themselves that they didn't moderate their greed and ambition as the house of cards came down everyone including them was hurt by their unethical business decisions as we move into a global economy sustainability is not just a feel-good concept unless we all consider how our actions affect the larger Community the systems might fail and so we pay attention not just to knowing our own core values and commitments but also finding out more about our shadow side we take time

3:07 to consider where we and those with whom we work can be tempted into unethical behavior let's return to the case of the social networking as before for this thought exercise you're going to imagine that you are a manager working in the marketing department of a company you've hired Sky to develop your social media Presence at orientation she learned that she can access personal social media during working hours within reasonable limits after 60 days she is meeting her

3:35 goals and Performing well however you have confirmed that she spends about three hours a day on her personal social media site everything from Facebook to personal tweets sky has also created an anonymous blog that is critical of you and the company this case presents clear values intentions on one hand we expect people to follow the rules on the other we want to give employees flexibility as they exercise their judgment we also want to treat sky like an adult who can manage

4:05 her own time without treating her differently from everyone else as you followed a decision process that helped you clarify the values and principles of the four ethical lenses you came up with an action plan that included values from all ethical perspectives you would call a meeting with Sky review what you know about her work patterns and remind her of the policy you would explain the reasons for the policy how both individuals and the community are stronger if everyone

4:36 carries their own weight you would then ask her what she thought was going on what suggestions would she have for moving forward you would find out if she decided whether or not she was a fit you would give her an opportunity to resign if she wanted to stay you'd give her a chance to change you would then make sure that you have a performance plan that would allow you to culture towards success the plan would include an

5:05 increasing we workload to challenge her and help her develop her skills and she would be reminded that everyone has to be treated with respect including her employer and her co-workers you would remind her that to be fair you have to treat everyone the same and enforce the rules for all and finally you would communicate with her frequently notice how this plan of action in includes values from each of the four ethical perspectives values that might have been overlooked had you

5:35 not worked through the questions for each perspective that guided you towards the best answer now that you've got the action plan you have one more step before you act what will Sky's response be at this point you can anticipate her response by considering her ethical perspective after you determined her ethical lens and expected blind spot you'll be ready to meet with her and listen for ethical cues reflect back to her her ethical strengths and reframe the context from

6:07 her ethical perspective let's see how that approach might play out as humans we have three different sources of unethical Behavior we have our ethical blind spots those places where we aren't aware when we don't pay attention to either our sections or reasons for acting we may slip into unethical Behavior Temptations come when we're under stress deadlines pressure for results that aren't there wanting to look good or make someone happy wanting more for

6:39 ourselves than our fair share vices show up when people choose to act unethically many of us are uncomfortable thinking about our blind spots we're even more uncomfortable coaching someone into ethical Excellence when they're not aware of what they're doing so let's look at the blind spots and possible antidotes for each ethical perspective to help us consider how best to coach Sky if Sky's ethical home is the rights responsibilities lens she might believe that because she's special she should be

7:11 excused from following rules that she doesn't like the antidote for excuses is the virtue of prudence reminding people that when they claim their rights as individuals they also have to live into their responsibilities now if es Sky's ethical home is the results lens she may claim expedience once her work was done how she spent her time with her business the antidote for expedience is the virtue of temperance reminding sky that she could temper her desire for

7:42 more personal surfing time and give her employer a full day's work by improving her work product or asking for more responsibility if Sky's ethical home is the relationship lend she might feel that she ex is exempt from following the rules because they really don't apply to her the antidote for those claiming exemption from the rules is the virtue of Justice reminding sky that she is an employed just like everyone else as a member of the community following the

8:11 rules that everyone else has to follow is only fair and finally if Sky's ethical home is the reputation lens she might believe that she is entitled to do whatever she wants given that her job is to work with social media the antidote for entitlement is the virtue of courage reminding sky that to be a role model for others and live into her core values she needs to excel at her job and not take the easy path as

8:37 she makes courageous choices as we reflect on the virtues that become the antidotes for ethical blind spots notice that we expect Sky to be an adult and concerned about her ethical behavior from the perspective of the rights and responsibilities lens we focused on ideals and treated people as fully functioning adults from from the perspective of the results lens we provided what makes people happy we reminded ourselves and others that we have to accept the consequences of our

9:07 choices and not expect to be rescued from the perspective of the relationship lens we talk to everyone who is involved and assur that our processes lead to Justice finally from the perspective of the reputation lens we encouraged ourselves and others to seek ethical excellence in all that we say and do notice that the question questions for ethical maturity raise more questions than answers however as we each learn to ask the important questions become aware of ethical blind

9:38 spots and then pursue a life of virtue will grow in ethical maturity and integrity