Character Based Ethics

By Dr. R. Bruce Bickel

As a culture, we attempt to keep pace with the myriad of changes that are thrust at our society. Any sense of stability is often sacrificed at the altar of pragmatism. “If it works” has become the battle cry of the aspiring at the expense of the more historical American virtue of “Is it right?” Consequently, corporations in both the profit and nonprofit sector have been exposed as less than “ethical” in some of their practices in their quest for success. While the common man cries for security, society as a whole is attempting to achieve a marriage of political correctness and personal responsibilities, often positioning the minority opinion as the ruling standard. Can the scales be balanced in such a dilemma? I believe there is still hope for us as a people, but it requires that we understand the difference between morals and ethics.

The word “morals” comes from the Greek word “mores” which literally means “ever changing.” Societal changes bring about moral adaptations that are reflections of current trends. One only has to look at the contrast between the morals of the past generation and our current code of conduct to recognize the significant lessening of what used to be the standard. I would suggest then, that the next generation will experience a similar demise in the morality that characterized the first decade of this millennium.

Our word “ethics” comes from the Greek word “ethos,” which connotes the idea of stability. One can find the idea of an ethos in early Greek literature to signify a place of security and stability in the midst of the storms of life. Thus, it has come to imply the concept of a plumb line, the standard of rule by which all measurements are made in order to create uniformity and solidarity, hence, an environment of stability and security. We need to be concerned about our ethos more than we do our morality. One is stable; the other changes.

But what precedes ethics? What is the basis of individual ethical decision-making? It may be helpful for us to understand the differences among temperament, personality, and character. Temperament refers to the natural inclinations with which one is born. Personality is the expression of one’s temperament, and character is the quality of one’s personality. The first two cannot be changed, but we can modify, refine, or build character. Thus, one can have a strong willed child and a weak willed child and they both can be respectful, diligent, or punctual. Granted, it may take more effort to build these traits in one child than the other, but they both can develop the same character qualities. Character, then, becomes the foundational ingredient in developing within any structure of human relationships an environment of stability and security. A character ethos becomes our plumb line.

We are at a crisis in our culture. It is not a crisis of security, although that is of prime importance to our citizenry. It is not a crisis of terrorism, although that is an issue of concern for our world. The crisis that concerns me most is one that is far more deleterious because it is so subtle. It is not always observable, but it is like a festering cancer that eats away at the very fiber of American society. The implications may not be as sudden as those of global terrorism, but the long-term impact will be more destructive. It is a crisis of character.

One only needs to consider the recent scandals that have rocked the business world. Enron, Tyco, World Com, and Arthur Anderson are just a few of the more glamorously publicized versions of this crisis. We see the same manifestations in government as partisanship takes the place of proper policy. It is as though each party thinks they “own the country” rather than remembering they have been elected to “guide the country.” The Democrats and Republicans do not own the Ship of State; they are to steer the Ship of State.

The damage assessment to our culture reaches much further than the realms of finances or employment. The greatest injury to American society is the erosion of ethical leadership. We have forgotten that leaders of character create organizations of character. If our nation is going to reestablish itself as a nation of character, we must have organizations that are led by people of character. We can either conform to society or we can transform society. To do the latter, we must begin to think differently about ourselves and about those with whom we relate. The basis of transformation must have its foundation in the realization that character precedes conduct because who we are determines what we do. Who we are is a function of how we think of ourselves in relationship to those with whom we work and serve. Conduct results in consequences and consequences lead to feelings. Transformational leadership means how we think determines how we act, and how we act determines how we feel. It means, Think Right, Act right, Feel Right. Feelings become the result, not the reason, for our actions.

When character becomes a tradition there is no limit to one’s success.

© 2006 R. BRUCE BICKEL, DMIN, DD
www.bbtlg.com
 

Dr. R. Bruce Bickel is president and founder of Transformational Leadership Group, LLC., and Senior Vice President and Managing Director of Private Foundation Management Services, PNC Advisors, Pittsburgh, PA.

Dr. Bickel addresses key issues concerning character, ethics, performance, and accountability related to organizational effectiveness. Dr. Bickel’s unique background permits him to develop new presentations based on an organization’s specific requirements and needs.
 

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