Ethical Leadership

Ethical Behavior

- No rewards for unethical behavior - Sanctions and forgiveness for mistakes - Take appropriate action(s) when dealing with dereliction of duty

Military Ethic

The art of observing those moral obligations and precepts that is appropriate to a person's role within the military profession. The American military ethic is designed to put principle above self-interest. Personal integrity and moral courage are the keys to viability of that ethic.

Values

The core beliefs we hold regarding what is right and fair in terms of our actions and our interactions with others; what individuals believe to be of worth and importance to their life.

Promise Keeping

DoD employees (to include Airmen) are obligated to keep their promises in order to promote trust and cooperation. Because of the importance of promise keeping, it is critical that DoD employees (to include Airmen) only make commitments that are within their authority.

Ethical Leadership

Ethical leadership is defined as the demonstration of appropriate conduct through personal actions and relationships and the promotion of such conduct to subordinates through two-way communication, reinforcement, and decision making. Ethical leadership combines ethical decision making and ethical behavior, and occurs in both an individual and an organization.

Caring

Compassion is an essential element of caring for others. Courtesy and kindness to those we serve and to those we work with help to ensure fair treatment. Caring for others is the protection against the temptation to pursue the mission at any cost.

Pursuit of Excellence

In public service, competence is only the starting point. DoD Employees (to include Airmen) are expected to set an example of superior diligence and commitment. They are expected to be all they can be and to strive beyond mediocrity.

Ethical Values

It defines values as core beliefs, like duty, honor, and integrity that motivate attitudes and actions. It also explains that not all values are ethical (integrity is; happiness is not). Ethical values relate to what is right or wrong, therefore we are expected to consider them over nonethical values when making decisions

Responsible Citizenship

It is the civic duty of every citizen, especially DoD employees (to include Airmen) to exercise discretion. Public servants are expected to engage personal judgment in the performance of official duties within the limits of their authority so that the will of the people is respected in accordance with democratic principles. Justice must be pursued and injustice must be challenged through accepted means.

Fairness

Open-mindedness and impartiality are important aspects of fairness. Leaders must be committed to justice in the performance of their official duties. Decisions must not be uninformed, impulsive, or biased. Individuals must be treated equally and with tolerance.

The Three P's

Operate in the context that Airmen must put PRINCIPLE (truth telling and honor) first; PURPOSE (mission accomplishment and duty) second; and PEOPLE (fellow citizens, Airmen, etc.) third.

The Three R's

Provide guidance when considering the Os, they explain that when making decisions, and conducting one's self, it is the RULES that give a person ethical guidance. The situation, circumstances, or REALITIES influence if the rules are followed. Don't forget to consider the RESULTS or consequences of decisions and actions beforehand.

Ethical Dilemma

Situations where one is forced to choose between two alternatives (both alternatives can be unfavorable and/or less right and more right or less wrong and more wrong).

The Three D's

States that we must try to DISCERN the truth; at appropriate times, we DECLARE the truth, as we have discerned it; and then we DO what we have discerned and declared. Simply put, the three Ds emphasize that you have a moral charge to educate yourself as best as you can in light of the truth, to speak up for truth, and then to act in truth. One more D actually comes into play here, the process of moral DECISION, a word that the dictionary tells us means ―the idea of coming to a conclusion after some question, talk, or thinking over.‖

Ethics

The study of what we understand to be good and right behavior and how we judge those behaviors. Ethics is a set of standards of conduct that guide decisions and actions based on duties derived from core values. It is closely related to and generally interchangeable with our ideals about values and moral behavior.

Ethical Decision Making

There are three qualities individuals must possess to make ethical decisions. The first is the ability to recognize ethical issues and to reason through the ethical consequences of decisions, while being able to see second and third order effects. The second is the ability to look at alternative points of view, deciding what is right in a particular set of circumstances. The third is the ability to deal with ambiguity and uncertainty; making a decision on the best information available

Morals

Values that we attribute to a system of beliefs that help us define right from wrong, good versus bad. Typically, they get their authority from something outside the individual—they may come from a higher being or authority.

Accountability

accepting responsibility for decisions and the resulting consequences. This includes avoiding even the appearance of impropriety because appearance affects public confidence. Accountability promotes careful, well thought out decision making and limits thoughtless action.

Integrity

being faithful to one's convictions is part of integrity. Following principles, acting with honor, maintaining independent judgment and performing duties with impartiality help to maintain integrity and avoid conflicts of interest and hypocrisy.

Honesty

being truthful, straightforward and having candor are aspects of honesty. - Truthfulness means having moral courage to avoid lies and deception.

Ethical Traps

confusion or uncertainly as to what actions or behaviors to take because of conflicting opinions/values.

Integrity First

exemplifies the willingness to do what is right even when no one is looking. Doing this will set the right example and earn the respect of subordinates and superiors alike. The moral traits (courage, honesty, responsibility, accountability, justice, openness, self-respect, and humility) of integrity combine to form a moral compass for the military professional.

Loyalty

is the bond that holds the nation and the federal government together and the protection against dissention and conflict. It is not blind obedience or unquestioning acceptance of the status quo. Loyalty requires careful balancing among various interests, values, and institutions in the interest of harmony and cohesion.

Respect

is treating people with dignity, honoring privacy, and allowing self-governing. Lack of respect leads to a breakdown of loyalty and honesty within an organization.

Drive For Success

making decisions based on a ―win at all cost‖ attitude rather than on military rules, regulations, and codes of conduct.

Worrying Over Image

making decisions based on how they impact one's reputation/standing among peers, subordinates, supervisors, community etc. rather than on military rules, regulations, and codes of conduct.

Ethical Relativism

making decisions based on personal values/beliefs rather than on military rules, regulations, and codes of conduct

Loyalty Syndrome

making decisions based on respect and/or loyalty to an individual, unit, or organization etc. rather than on military rules, regulations, and codes of conduct

Excellence In All We Do

our commitment to the highest standards in everything ranging from product excellence to operations excellence. It directs us to develop a sustained passion for continuous improvement and innovation that will propel the Air Force into a long-term, upward spiral of accomplishment and performance.

Service Before Self

the essence of our commitment to the nation, and reminds us that military service is a calling. Professional duties must take precedence over our personal desires.

The Three O's

you must know who (US Constitution, Air Force, Unit) and what you OWE; display proper ORDERING of ethical priorities and understand what you should, or OUGHT to do.