In the workplace, acting ethically isn't just an abstraction. Especially for managers, making the right choices in ethics-laden situations, big and small, is an almost everyday occurrence. Ethics is commonly thought of as the rules or principles that define right and wrong conduct. There are many examples in which the task isn't as simple as just choosing the "correct" answer. Rather, the decision may involve the many shades of gray in between "right" and "wrong". The organization can do much to foster ethical behavior. But in the final analysis it is the individual manager who must make the decisions, and quite often individuals make poor choices on ethical issues. It's important that you develop your own ethical guideposts and decision making processes to apply for yourself.

What guideposts can you use, especially in those "gray" areas, where right and wrong are not easily defined? What processes can you follow to enhance your ethical thinking and decisions?