Do Ethics Guide Your Decision-Making?

“Just cover for me this one time, it will be fine.”

“No one will ever know … help me out, and we’ll forget this ever happened?"

"You don’t have to worry about anything … I'll handle the backlash.”

Do any of these statements sound familiar? Have you ever been asked to do something that goes against a "gut feeling?" In each communication above, it implies that if you comply with the request, then you may, at the very least, become a part of some uncomfortable office dynamics. Other possible scenarios might include getting caught up in a lie and/or a misleading situation that comprises your integrity and your employment. Unethical decision-making can also lead to criminal wrongdoing with serious legal consequences. For this reason, you need to have your values defined and your ethics top of mind.

In my book, Answers for Modern Communicators: A Guide to Effective Communication, I shared a situation that challenged my values. It was early in my career when a direct supervisor asked me to do something for her that contradicted what a Senior Vice President at the company wanted, expected and had asked me to do for her directly. The statement, “You don’t have to worry about anything ...” caused me to make a decision that was, to say the least, uncomfortable and something I regretted afterward. From that day forward, I was careful about upholding my values by asking more questions and having a clearer understanding of the work required and also by trusting my instincts and not ignoring those gut feelings.

Companies realize the value of focusing on ethics. One of the first steps in creating an ethical workplace environment is to define what ethics means to your company. What is ethical communication and how do employees uphold ethics at every touchpoint? For starters, you would ask, "What does our organization value when it shares information?” Is it honesty, accuracy, transparency, fairness, etc. The best companies take the time to define their values and then let these values guide decision-making as employees share internally and externally with the public. 

Now, take this to the individual level? What about your own personal values and how do you uphold ethics in your communication? If someone asked you right now," What are your values?” Would you be able to answer quickly? Have you defined your values? Defining what you value in communication (and in your life), and recognizing what ethical communication looks like, is an exercise for every professional. At the top of my list are honesty, dependability, patience, respect, positivity, and open-mindedness.

In the spirit of sharing and mentoring, I asked a few members of my Women Worldwide cohort to weigh in on ethics and how and why they keep ethical values top of mind. Here’s what they shared with me:

Sheila Murphy, CEO of Focus Forward Consulting & Career Coach

"Not keeping ethics top of mind can be seriously detrimental to your well-being and success. Knowing and understanding your values and ethics is important to determine whether an organization is a good cultural fit for you. When there is a misalignment and you are not living your values, it can impact your engagement and well-being. Also not acting ethically, can be devastating to your career- as the saying goes a reputation takes a lifetime to build and only a moment to destroy.”

Nora Gardner, CEO & Creative Director of Nora Gardner New York

"My parents taught me to value integrity above all else. Over the years, I have grown my business to have the core values of transparency, quality, and excellent service. In my current day to day this means (1) delivering a quality product that was sourced and manufactured ethically, (2) ensuring that my amazing team feels empowered, challenged and motivated, and (3) maintaining clarity in all business relationships via clear contracts so that business is smooth sailing and we can focus on growth!"

Corina Manea, Digital Marketer, Brand Strategist, Blogger

"Ethics go hand in hand with who you really are. It is (or should be) part of you, part of your message and mission, and part of your business. If you lead an organization, you have to be and set the example with what you say and especially what you do as a leader. Make sure you're open to receiving honest feedback and make ethics and ethical behavior part of the daily conversations with your team. Focus on the positive reasons and examples of why you are in business and reinforce your team's good actions. You'll inspire them to act with passion and ethics in everything they do."

Susan Freeman, CEO, Freeman Means Business, Author, Speaker & Podcaster

"Communicating fact-based messages accurately and truthfully is critical. Ethical communication values freedom, diversity, and tolerance. But while ethical communication should be honest and straightforward, it should never offend or provoke listeners. There is now a seemingly blurred line in this digital age -- especially in political discourse. In addition to respecting the diversity of thought and perspective, ethical communication means being considerate of basic human needs and avoiding words and language that are demeaning or intolerant and refraining from messages that promote or incite violence. 

Disagreement and debate are good things. We are well served when people represent their different viewpoints and then compete vigorously to recruit voters. But it becomes disturbing when demonization that characterizes American political debate today results in disagreements that activate the psychology of good-versus-evil. When this happens, it becomes more difficult to reach agreements and reasoning becomes far less responsive to facts. 

People dig in and begin to believe that the ends justify the means. When that happens, people are more willing to break laws, play dirty tricks, lie and ruin the personal lives of their opponents. Good people are discouraged from entering politics and good public servants are driven out of public service. We must engage in principled and ethical communication if we are to progress in a civil manner and change the current landscape for the better."

Are you keeping your ethics top of mind and have you defined your values? Please weigh in here!