Ethical Decision Making

The FM 22-100 gives a 4 step process to decision making:

1. Interpret the situation.  What is the ethical dilemma?
2. Analyze all the factors and forces that relate to the dilemma.
3. Choose the course of action you believe will best serve the nation.
4. Implement the course of action you have chosen.

What I find fascinating are all the outside forces that reflect on decisions dealing with ethics.  For example, as a minister I spend time mentoring and counseling individuals.  My job requires me to make sure that I uphold the highest standards when speaking to them - especially women.  I absolutely refuse to counsel women alone and require that my wife be present and all doors remain open.  I am not a certified counselor so I have to be careful to protect the ones I counsel and myself.

When faced with tough ethical decisions, answers do not always come easy and at times they do not lead to happy endings.  Turning in a boss who is illegally changing documents to keep their taxes down is one of those tough decisions.  My favorite commercial is from the Foundation for a Better Life.  The young basketball player admits during a championship game that he caused the ball to go out of bounds.  Who does that?  Someone who makes a tough ethical decisions based on his values - he had nothing to be sorry about because people win in life when their ethics reflect their values.  Here's a link to the video: Basketball

Godly values are key to leaders looking to lead their people especially during trying times.  Corrupt personal ethics have proven the downfall of many leaders throughout history.  Your ethics will prove your character.  Lie, cheat, and steal and people will not trust you.  Cover up your mistakes and you lose every one's respect.  Fire someone irrationally and you end up on national news...

So, interpret the situation.  Use wisdom and ask the appropriate questions.  Make sure you are not drawing invalid or prejudiced conclusions.

Drawing the correct conclusion means you may have to second guess yourself when things do not add up.  If the situation is not dire, then spend time in prayer and ask others you trust to weigh in on the subject unless it is too sensitive - seek professionals in those cases.  If the decision has to be made immediately, pray and rely on the wisdom God has grown in you through study and preparation.  Yes, you should be studying and preparing!

Ethical decisions are just that.  They are decisions.  You will have to decide, and sometimes that is difficult especially if it will cause hurt.  Your decision will drive the opinion others have of your business, of your ministry, and even of your country. 

Above all, follow through.  Wishy-washy decisions will soon find you without the trust of those you lead.  Stick by your decision but make sure you are open to correction if you are wrong. 

Here is a good book on ethics:  Ethics 101

Learn to respect yourself and you will learn to live with your decisions.  Listen to the Spirit of God and trust yourself - you will do well.