Unethical behavior, in which people deliberately intend to harm themselves or others, springs from, and is reinforced by, destructive and painful mind states such as fear, greed, anger and jealously. Ethical behavior, on the other hand, enhances the well-being of everyone because it comes from, and reinforces, motives and emotions such as love, joy, generosity and compassion.
There is no question that this planet has become an unhappy place with over 40% of the 250 countries of the world in conflict or at war. And since the 9/11 attacks here in the United States and continuing madness in the Middle East, many people are concerned about personal safety.
Ethical cultures are the result of diligent effort--frequent, scheduled conversations between leaders and employees about what the standards of your company really are according to Laura Hartman, a professor at DePaul University.
How ethically vulnerable is your organization? Just go around and ask people what the core values are that define your company. You may be surprised at the variety of the answers.
For more information on ethical governance, go to: http://home.att.net/~coachthee/Archives/ethicsandgovernance.html
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