DEVELOPING YOUR OWN CODE

Notwithstanding the fact that your application of your personal code of ethics may not be as ˜ethical as you thought, giving some thought to creating one is a useful exercise that I highly recommend. Take a look at the questions in Figure 8.1. Consider each as carefully and thoughtfully as you can.

Try being brutally honest with yourself and once you have the answers to these questions, try constructing a code of ethics that guides your own personal decision-making. Type it out neatly and have it laminated. Hang it on your wall in your office and look at it every time you're faced with a dilemma. It just might make you think twice, and really that's all we can hope for, isn't it?

Questions for creating your personal code

1. What kind of values did your parents try to instil into you as a child? Your church ? School? Individual teachers ? Mentors?

2. Which ones stuck with you?

3. What experiences in your childhood altered the way you value things in your life?

4. What experiences as an adult (both personal and professional) have had an impact on what you value?

5. To whom are you loyal? (Consider yourself, your employer/ clients , your family, your profession, society for starters.)

6. What kind of ethical style do you have? (Try: virtuous , intuitive, empathetic, Darwinian or Machiavellian for starters, ie what principles appeal to you most?)

7. What have you done in your past when faced with ethical dilemmas?

Figure 8.1: Questions for creating your personal code