Ethics are the values or principles that regulate your behavior. These are what makes you extraordinary, and help to inspire you. These are a crucial part of not only your job but also anything you do in life.
Many of us have not identified what our values are. These are important to unearth to help you manage your career.
Understand Your Ethics
Your ethics can best be thought of as why you do what you do.
Ethics are subconscious, as we often learn them in childhood. Many times our ethics are rooted in us by our parents and are deeply held. Most times we do not even realize we have engrossed these from our folks until we find that our ethics need to be looked at closer.
Many individuals will not examine their ethics until they are forced to, such as in a case of an incident where they may feel wrong about something. They are often unable to put their finger on why it is wrong. This can be a signal that your values or beliefs have shifted.
Values Aren’t Universal or Rational
Your ethics are not universal to others around you. Nor are they rational all the time. Yet it is not unheard of to hear others say “I thought everyone had that belief.” or “Why do you think that? It is wrong!”
We must remember that others’ values are not wrong. Everyone is entitled to their own values and beliefs. Maybe the reason for thinking this way is that we often do not speak of values. It also does not mean that yours are wrong. It is acceptable for everyone to believe what they desire, and to know that some beliefs are more socially accepted than others.
Ethics and Your Moral Compass
Ethics are what drive our behavior and motivation. Michelle Obama said in a 2015 speech that as long as she holds onto her beliefs and values and follows her moral compass, then the only expectations she needs to live up to are her own.
Ethics and Motivation
Ethics play a huge part in your self-motivation, says Daniel Goleman, author of several emotional intelligence books. Motivation, he says, is broken down into four elements, one of which is the desire to meet or enhance certain standards (the standards we strive for in life).
Therefore, in your career, you should aim to work in an environment in which you are able to meet these standards. If you are not able to complete this, at least work in a setting that does not go against these standards.
Determining Your Ethics
We know that ethics truly matter while they may not be 100% clear. Therefore, you must take the time to determine what your ethics are.
Sarah Ellis and Hellen Tupper, authors of The Squiggly Career provide these tips to help you determine what your ethics are.
- Career highs and lows should be viewed. What made you the happiest in your career and what made you miserable? Write down as many details as you can, including what you were doing, how you felt, and why. From here you will be able to figure out career must haves and must not haves.
- Ask yourself what is important to you. Four areas to look at include the people you work with, what work you do, the organization you are working for, and the work environment. Once again, you will want to be as specific as possible.
- Look for specific words. Write down words or phrases that are important characteristics to you. Such words may include calmness, power, kindness, respect, and community.
Once you have completed these three steps, narrow it down further to only 10 words. From this list of 10, you will want to prioritize what is important to you. Then compare those 10 and limit it down to four. These final four words should be defined by you to determine if they feel right for you.
Putting Your Ethics Into Place
Once you have identified your ethics, you can put them into place and live the best life possible. You will be able to ask yourself questions such as “With my current career, do I have the chance to use my values? Am I able to change something so I can?”
Should you face a new opportunity, and you aren’t certain if you should jump on it or not, ask yourself if it will provide you more opportunities to live by your ethics than your current job. You might be hesitant subconsciously if you’re not certain that it fits your ethics, even if on the outside it looks like a perfect opportunity.
