What is Ethics Coaching?
Glad you asked!
To answer that, let’s start by defining “ethics.”
While there are many definitions, for the purpose of our work, we define ethics as values in action.
To describe values, we use the phrase “This I Believe.”
Ethics, in a phrase, is “This We Practice.”
Ethics coaching supports the journey from “This I Believe” to “This We Practice”: from belief to practice AND from I to WE. We see ethics as a social contract.
To put it together:
Ethics is a social contract based on shared values that describes how we work (and play) together in concrete detail.
Why concrete details?
While inspiring, “We value time with family” as a social contract is vague and aspirational. “We only partner with suppliers that offer a fair living wage to their employees, paid family leave, and a maximum of 8 hours per shift” is actionable, measurable, and repeatable. It can reliably and consistently build impact over time. It provides clarity when onboarding new team members.
What is a living wage, you ask? What length of a family leave? Is there a decent break in that eight-hour shift?
Where does it end?
Well, it doesn’t.
Ethics is journey work, not an item to cross off a to-do list. It is a way of being. There is always space to develop more details or additional values. Your ethics will bump against reality and will require updates and attention. At times, your values will conflict with each other. Ethics coaching helps grow the skills, muscles, and mindset for navigating this journey with flow.
What simple and concrete actions that reflect your values are you already taking in your business?Reply with your thoughts, I read and respond to every email.
