| Ethics. Most people assume it means a certain code of honor or a standard of good behavior. When you're ethical, you 'do the right thing'. But what exactly does that mean, and do we all mean the same thing when we say it? It's a gray area, to be sure, which may be why we're seemingly besieged with ethical scandals and the resulting dissolution of trust.
The only way to know what, exactly, we mean when we talk about 'being ethical' is to reflect on the question as a team and individually and come to some consensus about what ethics looks and sounds like within our group or organization.
Effective communication guides us to compare notes and ensure that we have a common understanding of ethics and ethical behavior, versus assuming a common understanding. But proceed cautiously; our standard of ethics often stems from a cultural or religious foundation, so can make for uneasy and, if we're not aware and skillful, illegal discussion.
An optimal and skillful dialogue will find the common ground "beneath the radar" of particular schools of thought, religion or ethics that too often spur conflict and a false sense of separation from others with whom we have more in common than not.We've put together this Ivy Sea issue portal to help get you started toward mindful reflection, solid understanding, productive dialogue and skillful practice of ethical standards.
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