Ethics, morals, values, character, integrity and on and on.  Do you get confused on the definitions of all these words that for the most part mean “to do the right thing?”

My favorite way to describe ethics is “your personal set of moral principles or values that define what you consider right or wrong.”  The thing that really intrigues me about ethics is that they are different for everyone.  When you live by your own code, it is easy to determine whether you have lived up to your code or not.

But what happens when you are in a much larger group.  How do you define what is right or wrong when so many different opinions must be considered?

One of the current projects I am involved in as part of the President’s Advisory Council for the John Maxwell Team is to create a Code of Ethics.  This effort, headed by my good friend Deb Ingino, will lay out a blueprint for the way we act as a team and how we represent the John Maxwell brand.

I believe in any organization, ethics are represented from the top and like the saying goes, you are only as strong as your weakest link.  If you are not unified in your ethical practices, it will show, and it will show in a negative light.  So what is the best way to be unified?  I would suggest communicating that code clearly so that everyone knows exactly what you, as a team, stand for and how you will act.

Your personal code of conduct should represent what you believe in.  When part of a team or organization, you may have to change a little to conform, but you should never compromise your integrity, or your code.  Your code should always be more stringent that any group you participate in.  This is why your code is so important.

“Live one day at a time emphasizing ethics rather than rules.”  –  Wayne Dyer

I think Dyer brings up a great point.  We often allow our ethics to be determined by the laws and rules that we are governed by.  To me, that is no more that letting someone else make my decisions for me and tell me how I should think and what I should believe in.

The culture we live in today is ever changing and what may be our personal code today, may change tomorrow.  Now before you start beating me up for waffling, consider that once upon a time some of our most respected leaders believed that women should not vote and all men should not be given the freedom they deserved.

My point is that times change and the way we act may need revising at times as well. But what you believe in should always stay the same if you based it on how you truly feel on the issue.

My guess is that very few people have an actual written code of ethics or conduct, but if you were going to write one, what would be in it?  What do you hold to be true that you are unwilling to compromise on no matter what the circumstances?

Even when you don’t think they are, people are watching you.  Do your actions represent what you believe or simply what the world is willing to accept?

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Barry Smith    5/27/13   photo by author   © Building What Matters 2013