Ethical Behavior
Definition
Adhering to strong personal values and always being honest
What is it?
Ethical behavior is characterized by honesty, fairness and morality. A person who embodies Ethical Behavior lives by a code of ethics and high moral standards that others respect and admire.
Why is it important?
Employers, colleagues, and patients all want to engage with people who consistently practice Ethical Behavior. People quickly learn who can be trusted and who withholds or compromises the truth. Ethical Behavior is especially important when dealing with confidential patient information and sensitive decisions. In an environment where medical personnel rely on others and work in tandem to effectively complete their job, it is important to have a foundation of ethical practices, transparency, respect, and honesty.
Suggestions for Improvement
- Define Your Core Values
First, explicitly identify your most important values. One of the best ways to build integrity is to define the kind of person we want to be. Evaluate your performance regularly to determine if those values are evident in your life. Keep in mind that there are two main types of values at play. First, there are values by which we operate. Second, there are values by which the world operates. An important step in determining values is to understand which values we hold ourselves to versus which values the world or work environment expects us to follow. - Always Tell the Truth
Second, make an unwavering commitment to telling the truth. Real honesty means we not only evaluate our own abilities fairly, but also speak fairly and mindfully of others. Resist the urge to put others down in order to make yourself look better. Likewise, avoid exaggerating your own abilities, actions, or results. We should lean more toward the side of humility rather than that of grandiosity. Let others brag on us. We don’t need to do it ourselves. - Demonstrate Accountability
Finally, take responsibility for your actions and commitments. Showing accountability means following a relevant code of ethics in your practice: showing up on schedule and putting in an honest effort while on the job. It means following through on your commitments because of your internal compass, rather than because someone else may be watching. Workers who exhibit accountability also honestly acknowledge their mistakes and then work towards a resolution. They resist the urge to cover up mistakes to make themselves look better than they really are.
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