Ethics Brain Teaser: Where Do You Draw Your Line in the Sand?

BY JAMIE WALTERS Reprinted with permission.

Some ethical scenarios seem easy to answer, but others are hidden or skewed by extenuating circumstances. Yet we all make decisions, or observe decisions being made by others, every day. Do you know where your own ethical line falls?

People earn doctoral degrees focused on the study of ethics; clearly, we're not going to come to any conclusions in a 500-word brain-charger about ethics. What we will do is prompt you to identify your "ethics line", and provoke honest thinking and discussion about what your ethics are, what your organization's stated and demonstrated ethics are, and whether that's acceptable to you.

Ethics Discussion-Group Guide

Print out and use these questions to conduct frank discussions among colleagues or to examine your own ethics. Note that none of the questions have a right or wrong answer. If your answer is "sometimes," explain why to better calibrate your "line coordinates."

Before the discussion, be certain to make agreements about open-dialogue and confidentiality, ensuring more candid responses and a clear understanding of the purpose of the conversation. Because of the sensitivity of some "ethical dilemmas" discussion items, make sure that every participant is okay with a frank discussion that might challenge his or her personal beliefs. Agree to standards of positive discussion, such as "no personal attacks" and "speak respectfully." During the discussion, use the tenets of Dialogue to keep the conversation moving and to reveal true assumptions and intentions. After the discussion, agree on ideas and action items that arose from the discussion, and plot the course to make those ideas a reality!

The following questions stem from real-world news headlines and current-events position papers:

Do you think it's ethical to . . .

Sell your children into prostitution to pay for more grain to feed your family?

Yes

No

Sometimes

Sell your children into prostitution to pay for a new television or stereo system?

Yes

No

Sometimes

Work in the advertising or public-relations industry on projects that encourage people to value material goods, such as television sets and stereo systems, to such a high degree that it results in choices like the one featured above?

Yes

No

Sometimes

Lay off employees after telling them that there would be no layoffs?

Yes

No

Sometimes

Work on a political campaign in which "the spin" is engineered for positive public opinion, even though it differs from the candidate's intentions or true positions on the issues?

Yes

No

Sometimes

Establish a community-relations department and fund-raising activities after receiving bad press?

Yes

No

Sometimes

Establish a community-relations department and send out press releases for every activity, ensuring good press coverage?

Yes

No

Sometimes

Be a cancer-treatment center who gets most of its funding from tobacco companies?

Yes

No

Sometimes

Be a leader or manager who expects all employees to be less than truthful - or lie - "for the good of the company"?

Yes

No

Sometimes

Describe your company culture as open and respectful, yet encourage cut-throat competition?

Yes

No

Sometimes

Say one thing, and do another?

Yes

No

Sometimes

Hold other people to standards that you yourself don't meet?

Yes

No

Sometimes

Have ghostwriters draft company announcements that come from the CEO?

Yes

No

Sometimes

Always agree with your supervisor, even when you have reservations or concerns?

Yes

No

Sometimes

Work for a company whose internal practices are counter to your personal beliefs?

Yes

No

Sometimes

Work for a company whose products and services run counter to your personal beliefs?

Yes

No

Sometimes

Perpetuate bureaucracy because it works?

Yes

No

Sometimes

Have one set of ethics for profit-making business organizations, and another set of ethics or moral-standards for individual behavior?

Yes

No

Sometimes

Sue an individual or a company for an injury incurred or a situation that resulted from you just not paying attention to what you were doing?

Yes

No

Sometimes

Maintain the status quo, even if you know that better is required?

Yes

No

Sometimes

What other questions would you add to this list to stimulate dialogue about ethical dilemmas, and the decisions individuals and groups make every day?

© Jamie Walters, Founder, Ivy Sea, Inc. Reprinted with permission.

TAKING SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY PERSONALLY

 A true story: A woman puts her umbrella on the floor of her cubicle after returning from lunch. The next day she discovers that the umbrella is gone. Fast forward one week. The woman sees a colleague walking around with her umbrella. When asked about it, the colleague replies, "Well, it didn't have anyone's name on it, so I took it." From some perspectives, this may either be an extreme example of an entitlement mentality, or indicate a significant lack of personal social responsibility.

What is personal social responsibility? Someone who is socially responsible, more often than not, recognizes that his behavior affects others, and holds himself accountable for his actions. The opposite may be someone who automatically blames an external source for his or her troubles, or whose behavior might consistently be perceived by others to be inconsiderate or rude. In a best-case scenario, a socially responsible person endeavors to have a positive effect on others, and enriches her environs. Such a person has the intention and takes action to ensure that his or her behavior makes a positive contribution, or at least is neutral and doesn't "pollute" others or the social (or actual) atmosphere.

In measures used for companies, social responsibility commonly centers around charitable donations, or environmental or community relations initiatives. An individual can be responsible - or not - through seemingly mundane acts. Of course, these same seemingly small acts add up to predominant ways of being, and can thus apply to both individuals and corporations alike when measuring an overall positive or negative impact on social and environmental wellbeing.

What sorts of small, individual actions are we talking about here? Consider the person whom others describe as the sort that "leaves a trail of disruption and damage in his wake." Imagine you're at a party, where attendees gather in small clusters to talk. Someone who isn't socially responsible or aware might position herself in front of one participant, effectively closing the circle and disconnecting the other person from the group, and the conversation. The "circle closer" may have done this inadvertantly, and may not even be aware of the effects of her behavior. Regardless, this is an example where a lack of consideration for others and/or awareness of how she affected her environment, as gauged by her actual behavior and its impact on others, "polluted" her immediate social environment.

Unfortunately, the effect lasts much longer than the act itself. Think of the impression these behaviors leave on others. Consider how this information alters someone's thoughts about referring you to a colleague, or shifts another person's desire to work with you or invite you to future gatherings. Just as garbage dumped at sea finds its way back to shore, you ultimately pollute yourself when you pollute your social environment.

Boosting Your Personal Social Responsibility "Quotient"

Be aware:

A powerful step in becoming more socially responsible is opening up your senses and awareness to this concept. When you focus your thinking and intentions on personal responsibility, you make new observations and make choices that lead to a more positive, socially aware outcome. Some people use physical reminders such as inspirational quotes, a photograph of a mentor or a piece of jewelry to represent social responsibility and one's commitment to make a more positive difference.

Initiate random acts of personal social responsibility:

Don't wait for the opportunity to come to you. Create small-effort, huge-impact instances where you can demonstrate your personal social responsibility. Genuinely listening to someone is a good example. Other examples include: Writing a letter of thanks to a bank teller that provided outstanding service; engaging in honest conversation; and having a sense of appreciation for the skills and ideas that someone brings to the group, and sharing your appreciation.

Recognize others for their socially responsible behavior and work:

It can be incredibly rewarding to receive a well-deserved compliment, just as it can be to give one. Fortify someone's resolve to be socially responsible by recognizing those behaviors. A sincere, well-earned compliment can encourage - and almost guarantee - the continuation of the appreciated behavior. From these observations, you can glean wonderful ideas and inspiration for your own repertoire of socially responsible activity!

Make it a daily habit:

When planning your day, consider socially responsible and aware approaches you can take to accomplishing your list of to-do's.

Plot relevant goals:

Associate your personal and professional goals with socially responsible techniques and actions for achieving those goals. Not only will this increase the frequency and depth of your social responsibility "quotient," it'll open your eyes and mind to new ways of achieving your goals, which ensures continued growth and learning.

© Jamie Walters