Ethics Starts with Common Courtesies

by Colonel Arthur J. Athens, USMCR (Ret.), Director, U.S. Naval Academy’s Stockdale Center for Ethical Leadership

One of the major departments of our federal government asked me to speak to their senior executives about “Organizational Values.” About two weeks before my presentation, I thought it would be wise to become more familiar with this department by studying their website. While browsing the department’s online presence, I could not find a list of values for the department.

I called the individual who had invited me to speak and told him I couldn’t find the department’s values on the website. He quickly responded, “You didn’t find any . . . because we don’t have any. That’s why we want you to address the subject.” After a pregnant pause, he continued, “But we are serious about values and have been conducting surveys and focus groups throughout the department to solicit thoughts from our workforce.” I asked if he could share some of the observations they had gained from the surveys and focus groups that might help direct my presentation. There was silence again on the line and then he sheepishly said, “Actually, what we’ve been hearing is our people want their bosses to know their names, greet them during the day, and say thank you on occasion.” Wow . . . I had my work cut out for me!

I did make my presentation and hope I assisted the department with thinking more deeply about their values. But the comments from this department’s workforce made me reflect on the relationship between ethics, values and civility. I came to the conclusion that too often we think of ethics from the perspective of complex, perplexing and often daunting issues facing us as we live out our lives. Instead, perhaps we should first focus on the basics . . . treating others with courtesy.

In the book, If Aristotle Ran General Motors, Tom Morris, a former philosophy professor at Notre Dame and founder of the Morris Institute for Human Values, introduces his readers to Hampden-Sydney College in Virginia. Dr. Morris visited Hampden-Sydney and was struck by how each student looked him in the eye, said hello clearly, and in a friendly manner, inquired about his well-being. His escort for the visit remarked, “At Hampden-Sydney, we believe etiquette is where ethics meets everyday life.” I learned, in fact, every freshman at Hampden-Sydney receives the booklet, To Manner Born; To Manners Bred: A Hip-Pocket Guide to Etiquette, in which the student reads the following maxim: “Civility and integrity are the bases upon which relationships—professional and personal—are built.”

Ethics really does start with common courtesies . . . calling people by their name, greeting them sincerely, saying thank you and you’re welcome, and demonstrating respect for all who cross our paths. As Epictetus writes in The Discourses, “We ought to exercise ourselves in small things, and beginning with these to proceed to the greater.” A good thought to start every day!

Colonel Arthur Athens will be giving a keynote presentation at AWSA's 2019 Associate Principals Conference.