by Patricia Clason at:<http://www.lightly.com>

Q: I am a person of fairly high ethical standards. How can I tell if acompany has similar standards before I am employed there?

First, know your own ethical type. Ethics are a set of values thatconsistently guides our behaviors, usually in alignment with the majority ofsocietys definition of correct and positive behavior, within legal parametersand balancing the good of the one with the good of the whole.

How do you approach ethical dilemmas? What do you hold as personal corevalues? What guides your decision making process - the good of the one over thegood of the whole (egoism), the greatest good for the greatest number(utilitarianism), to thine own self be true/purity of heart (existentialism),the word of God as you know it (divine command), adherence to a code of conduct(deontology), peer pressure (conformism)? Or perhaps some combination of theabove, an eclectic - deep, reflective thinker? Ethical is a relative word as itdepends on the values that form the ethic. Gang members can be very ethical bythe standards of their gang, but against the law.

Then when interviewing or researching a company, look to the company missionand/or vision statement. What kinds of values does it reflect? Then find out ifthe company has a code of ethics - or a professional (trade) code of ethics thatit supports. Companies have a corporate culture, just like individuals have anethical type. It would be preferable if you could find a match. Is it possibleto read the employee manual or company policy manual? You could do a search ofnews articles about the company in the last five years. You may find that theyhave been involved in legal battles, or commended for their community work.Trade associations are often a good resource of information, especially if youcan find a former employee. Take in all stories with the proverbial grain ofsalt to balance exaggeration or personal vegences. Many very large companieshave been written up in top ten best companies lists. Check through mediaarchives (library, internet) for those stories.

Pay attention to attitudes in general - from the very first point of contact.Watch and listen for incongruencies or attitudes that just dont fit for you.Dont write off that sense of being uncomfortable in your concern aboutgetting a job. Its a warning signal. Pay attention!!!!

Sometimes, however, you just dont know until you have been there for awhile and an ethical dilemma comes to the surface. Listen carefully for howothers talk about the situation. Watch carefully to see how management responds- or doesnt! And if you are not in alignment with the company ethic, thenstart looking for a new place to work. That dissonance can wear you down veryquickly and damage your sense of self if you sell out to keep a job. In Cry theBeloved Country, Alan Paton wrote, I shall no longer ask myself if this isexpedient, but only if it is right. I shall do this not because I am noble orunselfish, but because I need for the rest of my journey a star that will notplay false to me, a compass that will not lie. I am no longer able to aspire tothe highest with one part of myself and to deny it with another.

Hold to your true star, that high ethical standard that you have. It willserve you well in establishing trust with co-workers, employers, subordinatesand life in general.

And trust is the cornerstone of success.

"If you have built castles in the air, your work need not be lost, that iswhere they should be. Now put the foundation under them."
--Henry David Thoreau

Build strong foundations under YOUR castles with a private Coach!

PatriciaClason, owner of "Accountability Coaching Associates" was first toreceive the "Registered Corporate Coach "designation from theNational Association of Business Coaches. Patricia is also a professional speaker, author and trainer in human resourcedevelopment with over twenty-five years of experience!

Visit her at her website <http://www.lightly.com>where you will find helpful articles, a calendar of events for the Center forCreative Learning, and much more!

Or call her at (414) 374-5433

Check out her NEW program on Ethics - the hot topic of the 21st century!

And in the meantime - Take It Lightly!!!!!!!!