Ethics Awareness

Your ETHICAL style

When you make a decision or analyze a situation, what matters most to you? Is it the final outcome? Is it how the majority of people will be affected? Or is it the character of certain individuals? How do you approach situations? When making those difficult decisions, what is the most important aspect to consider? Only you know the answers to these questions.

In this post I will scratch the surface of the Ethical Awareness Inventory. I will give brief definitions of what each person thinks of while making a decision or utilizing any thought process.

There are four major components (Character, Obligation, Results, and Equity) to the Ethics Awareness Inventory. If you took an Ethics Awareness Inventory or survey in the past you know what I am talking about. If not, that’s okay. The results of an inventory would be listed within one of the aforementioned.

They are:

If Character is the overwhelming factor, your perspective leans toward what it is good to be, rather than what it is good to do. You believe that moral excellence should be achieved and look beyond an individual’s actions and into his/her character.

If Obligation is what drives you, you look toward duty, or obligation to do what is morally correct. You believe that ethical principals should be respectful of human dignity, be universal, and promote individual freedom.

If Results are most important to you, the consequences of actions usually take precedence. Ethical judgment must be based on concrete, factual evidence. Talking is not good enough, action is what matters.

If Equity is what revs your motor, you look for stability. Pragmatism and normal day-to-day experiences are usually the only real guide to action. You believe that no set decision is adequate for all time.

You will notice that the acronym for the above categories is C.O.R.E. It is fairly simple to remember because your CORE values guide your ethics and decision making skills.

What are your thoughts on ethics? When do ethics play a role in your decision making process, and do you think about others, respect, outcomes, or yourself? What is the difference between right and wrong, and how often do you battle with making a decision because of fine line between right and wrong?

My challenge to you is to figure out what the most important factor to you when making a decision. Ask yourself these questions: Who will my decision affect? What will the ramifications be? Is it right or wrong? Is a person’s character more important than the outcome they produce?

Josh Brody is the President and CEO of Corporate Guidance Solutions, a consulting firm specializing in helping organizations and individuals realize their potential and enhance their performance.