The Six Pillars of Character

I.Trustworthiness  Others give us greater leeway/we do not need monitoring  Others believe in us/hold us in higher esteem  Most complicated of the core values/includes:

A) Honesty/honorable, hence credible  Honesty in communications – truthfulnesssincerity candor (frankness)  Honesty in conduct – playing by the rules w/o stealing, fraud, subterfuge or trickery

B) Integrity/acting according to one’s beliefs  Hypocrites have no integrity

C) Reliability/making all reasonable efforts to fulfill one’s commitments  Avoid bad-faith excuses  Don’t rationalize  Avoid unwise commitments…THINK before you commit

D) Loyalty/allegiance, fidelity, devotion  NEVER above ethical considerations  Prioritize  Safeguard confidential information but never if it breaks the law or threatens others  Avoid conflicting interests

II.Respect  The Golden Rule… Prohibits: violence, humiliation, manipulation, exploitation Prohibits: violence, humiliation, manipulation, exploitation Reflects: civility, courtesy, decency, dignity, autonomy, tolerance, acceptance Reflects: civility, courtesy, decency, dignity, autonomy, tolerance, acceptance

III.Responsibility  Being in charge of our choices  Being accountable  Pursuing excellence  Exercising self-restraint

IV.Fairness  Adherence to a balanced standard of justice w/o consideration for one’s own feelings or beliefs  Examples: Unfair to handle similar matters inconsistently Unfair to handle similar matters inconsistently Unfair to impose punishment not commensurate with the offense Unfair to impose punishment not commensurate with the offense

V.Caring  The HEART of ethics & ethical decision making  Impossible to be ethical and unconcerned with the welfare of others  Highest form of caring…ALTRUISM…and not merely giving for tax purposes

VI.Citizenship  Knowing/obeying laws  Keeping informed  Maintaining society  Giving to society more than what is taken Conserving resources Conserving resources Recycling Recycling Using public transportation Using public transportation Buying an economy car Buying an economy car Cleaning up litter Cleaning up litter