Ethics
Everything we do, or don’t do, is a choice that can affect the course of our lives and the lives of others. It is clear that the most ethical lives are marked by principled decisions, not by self-interest, greed and expediency. Such principles rest on universal values that cut across time, culture, politics, religion and ethnicity. We expect our leaders to champion these core values in their decision-making and in their actions.
In recent years character and ethics have taken on new meaning and importance. Numerous American corporations are caught “cooking the books”. Political corruption and kickbacks have been discovered in neighboring jurisdictions. Waning trust and confidence in the integrity of our basic institutions leave us feeling vulnerable and frightened. With all that is at stake--especially citizen confidence in the integrity of their government--we need to refocus on right and wrong.
Ethics refers to standards of conduct, standards that indicate how one should act on moral duties and virtues, which are derived from principles of right and wrong. As a practical matter, ethics is about how we choose to do the right things when that will cost more than we want to pay.
Leaders must be able to face difficult dilemmas: being able to discern the difference between what is right and what is correct, what is right vs. what is effective, what is right vs. what is expedient, and what is right vs. what is desirable. Character is tested in times of crisis and confusion because there may be no clear distinction between right and wrong, or due to the pressure to take unexamined action. In times like these in order to retain the public confidence in their governance, it is paramount that leaders have a strong moral compass and act on it.
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Five Core Strategies
One Size Does NOT Fit All
Objectives