Values Course Management Skills 302 Due Week 5

Valuescourse Management Skills 302dueweek 5

Read Friedman’s Chapter “Clarifying What’s Important to You” and answer the following questions: identify three to five core values that are most important to you and explain how these values have influenced key decisions you have made in your life. Describe an ethically challenging situation in which you spoke up, and one in which you did not speak up. For each, explain what you did (or did not do), the outcome, and the factors influencing whether or not you spoke up, such as individual, situational, or organizational influences. Discuss how you felt based on the outcome of each situation.

Paper For Above instruction

Values play a fundamental role in guiding behavior, decision-making, and ethical considerations in both personal and professional contexts. According to Friedman’s chapter “Clarifying What’s Important to You,” understanding one’s core values is essential for aligning actions with personal principles and cultivating integrity. This paper explores three to five core values that resonate deeply with me, illustrating how these values have shaped pivotal decisions in my life. It also examines two ethically challenging situations—one where I chose to speak up and one where I remained silent—analyzing the factors influencing these choices and the emotional repercussions of each experience.

Core Values and Their Influence on Decisions

The first core value that guides my life is integrity. I believe that honesty and consistency with one’s principles are the foundation of trust and respect. For example, during my time in a previous job, I discovered a minor financial discrepancy that could have easily been overlooked. Upholding my value of integrity, I chose to report the discrepancy to my supervisor, which ultimately fostered transparency and reinforced my credibility. This decision was driven by my commitment to honesty, even when it might have been easier to ignore the issue for convenience.

Secondly, compassion is central to my value system. It influences how I interact with others and make decisions involving empathy and understanding. For instance, when a colleague was going through a difficult personal situation, I offered support and flexibility in my work schedule, prioritizing their well-being. This reinforced my belief in the importance of kindness and empathy in building strong relationships.

Third, I value responsibility—both personal and societal. This value motivates me to contribute positively to my community and to be accountable for my actions. An example of this is my volunteering at local shelters, where I recognize the importance of giving back and sharing resources and time with those in need. Responsibility also guides my professional conduct, ensuring I meet commitments and uphold standards.

Ethically Challenging Situations

The first scenario involved a workplace situation where I noticed a teammate cutting corners on a project deadline, which could have compromised quality and integrity. I chose to speak up, raising my concerns with the team and recommending a review to ensure standards were maintained. The outcome was positive: the team addressed the issue, and overall project quality improved. Factors influencing my decision included my organizational values of honesty and accountability, as well as my awareness of the potential impact on client satisfaction and team reputation.

Conversely, there was a situation where I observed a co-worker misusing company resources for personal benefit. I hesitated to speak up because I feared retaliation, damage to workplace relationships, or being perceived as confrontational. Ultimately, I decided to remain silent, which left me feeling guilty and conflicted. The organizational culture also played a role, as a lack of open communication channels and perceived retaliation risks discouraged whistleblowing. The outcome reinforced my understanding that organizational climate significantly influences ethical behavior.

Factors Influencing Speaking Up or Remaining Silent

Personal factors such as confidence, moral courage, and fear of negative repercussions influenced my decision to stay silent in the second situation. Situation-specific factors included the perceived severity of the misconduct and the potential retaliation from colleagues or supervisors. Organizational factors included the lack of protective policies or clear ethical reporting mechanisms, which discouraged me from raising concerns. These factors created an environment where speaking up felt risky, affecting my emotional state—leading to feelings of guilt and dissatisfaction. Conversely, in the first case, a supportive organizational culture with clear values and channels for reporting misconduct empowered me to act ethically.

Emotional Reflection and Lessons Learned

Experiencing both situations highlighted the importance of organizational ethics and personal conviction in ethical decision-making. Speaking up in the first scenario reinforced my confidence and sense of integrity, while remaining silent in the second left me feeling uneasy and regretful. These experiences taught me the importance of cultivating moral courage, understanding organizational policies on ethics, and fostering an environment where ethical behavior is supported and protected.

Conclusion

In conclusion, core values serve as a compass in complex situations, guiding decisions and behaviors. The capacity to speak up ethically depends on personal courage, organizational culture, and perceived risks. By reflecting on these experiences, I recognize the need to strengthen my moral resilience and advocate for ethical practices within my environment. Understanding and aligning actions with core values ultimately promote integrity, trust, and responsible leadership in all areas of life.

References

• Friedman, M. (Year). Clarifying What’s Important to You. In Course Packet.
• Kidder, R. M. (2005). How Good People Make Tough Choices: Resolving the Dilemmas of Ethical Living. HarperOne.
• Boatright, J. R. (2012). Ethics and the Conduct of Business. Pearson.
• Schein, E. H. (2010). Organizational Culture and Leadership. Jossey-Bass.
• Resnik, D. B. (2015). What is ethics in research & why is it important? National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences.
• Kaptein, M. (2011). Understanding unethical behavior: A new perspective. Journal of Business Ethics, 103(4), 601-612.
• Bryant, J. (2017). Ethical Leadership in Organizations. Routledge.
• Johnson, C. E. (2012). Meeting the Ethical Challenges of Leadership. SAGE Publications.
• Northouse, P. G. (2018). Leadership: Theory and Practice. Sage Publications.
• Treviño, L. K., & Nelson, K. A. (2017). Managing Business Ethics: Straight Talk about How to Do It Right. Wiley.