What is Your Code of Ethics?

By Vickie Gaskill, MPM®, RMP®, CPM®

Recently, I have seen activities in meetings that I have attended that would lead me to believe that there were a few in the group who were acting as if they had no kind of ethical/moral code of conduct to govern their behaviors. In other words, they said and did as they pleased and didn’t care how it effected others in the room. I’ve seen this in City of Kent committee meetings of which I am a volunteer. I’ve seen it in the board meetings of some of the condo/HOAs that we manage. I’ve even seen it in some of the board meetings of some of the trade associations that I belong to. What is it….can’t we govern ourselves in a professional civilized manner? What did the guy say in the movie, “Can’t we all just get along?”

What are ethics? Do we expect that everyone will have the same ethical standards? Ethics is the science of morality or a set of moral principals that a group or individual operate under. A Code of Ethics would be a set of principals describing a code of conduct or behavior that is commonly recognized and used to govern a group or individual. Ethical codes exist to guide interactions between individuals or groups in order to distinguish between good and bad decisions. Ongoing business can only be conducted between individuals who understand, share, and follow similar codes of conduct (ethical codes). This is how trust is established. It’s the foundation for establishing right and wrong in our group interaction.

With all this said and done, I ask once again, “What’s your personal Code of Ethics or Do you have a Code of Ethics?” When confronted with a difficult situation, a proposed contract assignment, or an unproductive meeting, do you feel discouraged and misguided? Do you think to yourself (or maybe even say right out loud), “I’m going to say whatever is on my mind and to heck with the rest of you?” What would be your response if you or the group you are interacting with had a specific Code of Conduct (Ethics) that was written out and that could be referenced every time you felt challenged in one way or the other? Why not consider writing a Code of Ethics or a set of principals that will establish the present and future behavior of yourself or your group?

If you need some help, in the publication, Community Association Journal (Jan./Feb. edition), Julie Adamen, President, Adamen, Inc., (www.adamen-inc.com) wrote a few ideas in her Common Sense Code of Professional Community Administration Ethics. She highlights the following:

· Don’t lie, cheat, or steal
· Know your stuff – and let others know theirs
· Refuse Abuse
· Keep an open mind
· Rid yourself of “We’ve always done it this way.”

Think about it. Having some well written established codes of behavior will help you through your sometimes difficult and challenging position as a participant in any type of meeting