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 Ethics
are rules, a code by which we live our lives. Ethical behaviour
is knowing the right thing to do, and doing it. Problems arise
when you decide to do the wrong thing. This leaves us with the
question of who defines these rules. What may be ethical for one
person, one culture or one nation may be unethical for another.
Who decides?
We
all do! The point is you can't teach ethics - you can teach the
difference between right and wrong, but each individual will then
have to decide which way to go. Dr. Leigh Quesnel states, "Unethical
behaviour is rarely a result of ethical dilemmas; more often it
is the result of knowing what is right but choosing to stray from
the correct path."
Take
these everyday situations:
- Why
shouldn't I spend time talking to my girlfriend on the phone?
I know I'm being paid for this time, but I don't have much to
do right now. When the boss has an assignment for me, she'll
bring it in and then I'll hang up. - stealing time…take
care of personal stuff on your own time. Get up and find something
to do if all your immediate work is done.
- I
know the boss is too busy to take this call right now, but it's
just easier to say she's not in. (Maybe you do this when someone
stops by your house and you don't want to answer the door, so
you get your kids to say you aren't home.) - lying.
- I
gave the clerk $10 to pay for my purchases. She gave me change
for $20. Oh well, her problem, not mine. My lucky day!! - it's
not your money. The clerk will have to make up the difference
from her own pocket - you are profiting from her misfortune.
Saying she shouldn't have made the mistake is ridiculous…everyone
makes mistakes. Yes, she should have been more careful, but
that doesn't give you the right to money that isn't yours.
- I
need to do some of my work at home, but I don't have the programs.
The boss says I can use software registered to the company.
After all, you're supposed to be allowed to install the same
software on your work computer and on your laptop, or something
like that, I think (and if it isn't that way, it should be),
so what's the harm. - stealing again, from the software company.
So,
how do you make sure your staff (or you) don't fall into these
ethical pits? You can't. However, you can ensure people are aware
of what is and is not acceptable behaviour. Whether they choose
to follow along is up to them. Either a person has a set of inner
values that guides their lives, a code of ethics or they don't.
You can't teach that.
 It
happens to all of us … mental block … brain drain …
we just can't think, make decisions, write that letter, do what
needs to be done. To get past this frustrating dilemma, try these
simple suggestions:
- Go
for a short walk
- Get
something cold to drink
- Take
a stretch break
- Daydream
for a few minutes
- Go
read the jokes on the staff bulletin board
Often
these short breaks are all you need to get back into focus and
do what needs to be done.
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UPCOMING
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are planning our fall/winter program schedule. Do you have
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Send us an email with your request and we will try to fit
it in...
information@dimension11.com
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Quote
of the Month
"We're
given a code to live our lives by. We don't always follow it,
but it's still there."
~
Gary Oldman ~
To
read back issues of Knight Views, go to the archives.
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