Ethics, Quality of Life and Professional Practice Elizabeth A. Buchanan, Ph.D. Endowed Chair in Ethics University of Wisconsin-Stout

Before We Start

Thank you!  Marcia and Shirley  Who embody ethics and professional practice in each and every transaction, contributing to all of our quality of lives!  This wonderful AAFCS Affiliate  Back at Home, Carolyn Barnhardt and Dianne Klemme, who introduced me to this community

What do those words mean? Do we agree?

They are Virtues They are universal, timeless They focus on BEING rather than DOING Aristotle: Courage is a virtue found between the vices of cowardliness and rashness Stop and think about today’s politics, technologies, workplaces. How can we promote courage and avoid the vices? What are our virtues and can we sustain them?

 Believe in the family as a fundamental unit of society.  Embrace diversity and values all people.  Support life-long learning and diverse scholarship.  Exemplify integrity and ethical behavior.  Seek new ideas and initiatives and embraces change.  Promote an integrative and holistic approach, aligned with the FCS body of knowledge, to  Support professionals who work with individuals, families, and communities.

What Happened?  In the late 1980s/early 1990s, technologies were going to reduce stress on all of us, in our personal and work lives:  We’d benefit from greater efficiencies: Our work lives would be easier and our home lives simplifiedwork livesour home lives simplified  We’d have more time for our social relationships and quality of life (we’d more readily practice those virtues)  The End of Work would liberate us—while The End of Work would also shift the social order and contribute to a “reinvented work reality”  Social, critical, and theoretical attention on meaningful work and personal fulfillment, and social justice: or in other words:  Ethics, quality of life, and professional practice were (supposed to be) important virtues.

In case all of the simple technologies don’t work:

What’s Missing?

What Happened?

OR:

We could continue…  Polarization  Divisiveness  Incivility  Insensitivity  Bullying  Unhealthy workplaces  Overworked  Stressed out  Burned out  Budget cuts  Uncertainties

When We Talk About Ethics, Quality of Life, and Professional Practice:

So What?

 Civility = “ Civility is about more than merely being polite, although being polite is an excellent start. Civility fosters a deep self-awareness, even as it is characterized by true respect for others. Civility requires the extremely hard work of staying present even with those with whom we have deep-rooted and perhaps fierce disagreements. It is about constantly being open to hear, to learn, to teach and to change. It seeks common ground as a beginning point for dialogue when differences occur, while at the same time recognizes that differences are enriching. It is patience, grace, and strength of character.” (Institute for Civility in Government)Institute for Civility in Government

 Resilience= “In the context of exposure to significant adversity, resilience is both the capacity of individuals to navigate their way to the psychological, social, cultural, and physical resources that sustain their well-being, and their capacity individually and collectively to negotiate for these resources to be provided in culturally meaningful ways.”  Resilience Project Resilience Project

In Short:  Ethics, Quality of Life, Professional Practice demand us to:  STEP UP, BE COURAGEOUS, FIND OUR BALANCE, FIND OUR VOICE, FIND OUR VIRTUES

Making Decisions, Having Discussions  Define the situation, recognize your bias, feelings, responsibilities  LISTEN  Identify stakeholders, who are you defending? What do you stand for?  Look to extant codes of ethics/organizational/institutional policies; are you supporting and promoting your professional virtues?  Ensure your competence in evaluating/responding to the situation (do you need an outside expert to advise? An internal colleague?)

Making Decisions, Having Discussions  Evaluate alternatives to your decisions; we aren’t always right! And—it’s not always personal!  Will you be confident in disclosing your decision? Will your public statement/decision match your organizational mission/personality?  Consider the cumulative result of this decision, as it will affect subsequent decisions. Think precedent.

1.Pay attention14. Respect other people’s time 2.Acknowledge others15. Respect other people’s space 3.Think the best16. Apologize earnestly 4.Listen17. Assert yourself 5.Be inclusive18. Avoid personal questions 6.Speak kindly19. Care for your guest 7.Don’t speak ill20. Be a considerate guest 8.Accept and give praise21. Think twice before asking for favors 9.Respect even a subtle no22. Refrain from idle complaints 10.Respect others opinions23. Accept & give constructive criticism 11.Mind your body24. Respect the environment & be gentle 12.Be agreeableto animals 13.Keep it down25. Don’t shift responsibility & blame

Share everything. Play fair. Don't hit people. Put things back where you found them. Clean up your own mess. Don't take things that aren't yours. Say you're sorry when you hurt somebody. Wash your hands before you eat. Flush. Warm cookies and cold milk are good for you. Live a balanced life Learn some and think some And draw and paint and sing and dance And play and work everyday some. Take a nap every afternoon. When you go out into the world, Watch out for traffic, Hold hands and stick together. Be aware of wonder.

For More Information  Elizabeth Buchanan