Creating a personal philosophy requires an understanding of the difference between values, morals, and ethics. Here is how I define these terms and have organized the content in this section. Click on each header for my in-depth philosophy.
Values are the individual belief system a person holds. Everyone has a different set of core values that they base their actions on. It’s important to define what these are to you because they are the foundation upon which your moral behavior and ethical actions are based.
Morals are based on your values. These are the personal actions you take and decisions you make every day. It’s important to observe your behavior to determine if your actions align with your beliefs. My morals statement is what I like to call my mission statement.
Ethics are the actions you take and decisions you make on a much larger scale. They are the alignment of your values and morals within a society or an organization at large. An ethical dilemma occurs when two of your core values are competing with one another. For example, a choice must be made between the value to spend time with family and the value to be a responsible employee and work late to finish a project. This philosophy statement will be expressed as part of my ethical leadership statement.