The Ethical Mind: The 5th Valued Mind for the Future
Posted on Mon, Dec 19, 2011
So far, I have mentioned in my previous posts four kinds of minds that are essential in becoming and remaining a highly prized asset in a company. They are:
- The Disciplined Mind
- The Synthesizing Mind
- The Creating Mind
- The Respectful Mind
The fifth mind is the kind that makes an individual aim for a high quality workmanship.
5. The Ethical Mind
Ethically minded individuals strive for good work and ethical balance in micro to global environments.
Four tools, while not sufficient for good work, are probably necessary:
- A mission. Without a mission, you don’t know what you’re aiming to achieve. Try to develop a clear, actionable mission statement that embodies your values.
- One or more good models. Without models, doing the ethical thing is much harder.
- An individual version of the “mirror test.” Look into the mirror and ask yourself if you like what you see. Do you approve of what you’re doing at work? It’s easy to deceive yourself, so get confirmation from people you respect.
- A professional version of the mirror test. Look into the mirror and see if your colleagues are living up to their professional obligations. If not, what can you do to improve the ethical fiber of your profession?
The Future Is Now
In reality, many individuals in positions of influence are deficient in one or more of the five kinds of minds discussed here.
Shrewd managers or leaders select people who already possess these minds. They then challenge their employees to maintain, sharpen and catalyze their capacities so teams can work together effectively and serve as role models for future recruits.
The critical questions to ask yourself are:
- With which of these minds do I already show strength?
- How can I improve my mental capabilities?
- Where can I stretch my abilities to enable growth?
- Which of these minds do I need to learn?
- Who in my organization can help mentor me?