Often, we hear the word ethics but many of us may not even know the real meaning of it.  We hear the word being used frequently by teachers, leaders, professionals, coaches, mentors, the young and the aged, but I wonder if we know what ethics really is, and why it matters.  Above all, I wonder if we truly understand how to apply it in our daily lives, leadership positions, homes, communities and society as a whole. To set the stage, let me just state that ethics involves honesty, responsibility, respect, integrity, self-discipline, and modesty – just to name a few.

As I embarked on seeking knowledge about ethics, I discovered that it originated from the Greek word "Ethos" which means the "science of morals". Webster's dictionary provides an extended definition which states that ethics is "the science of human duty,……; a particular system of principles and rules……..".   Manuel et al, of the Markkula Center for Applied Ethics also define ethics as "….based on well-founded standards of right and wrong that prescribes what humans ought to do, usually in terms of rights, obligations, benefit to society, fairness or specific virtues".  Since ethics has to do with people and their conduct, it can be applied to various fields of human endeavors.

During my research, I was particularly drawn to the discovery of the two types of ethics – personal and social.  Personal ethics is simply described as a "set of boundaries or limits of specific moral standards of individual values - code of professional conduct and belief of right and wrong".   It was eye-opening to find that ethics and how it is viewed varies from person to person.  However, it is generally accepted that behaviors such as lying, cheating, stealing and not being considerate of others are considered unethical and has great impact in shaping who we ultimately become.

Unlike personal ethics which is based on individual standards or choice, social ethics involves other people and is non-optional.  It generally refers to the principles and guidelines that govern standards and conduct that a group of people agree upon - to differentiate between right and wrong or good and bad.  Because these guiding principles are usually decided by a group or team, it makes social ethics non-optional.

After several hours of digging out information about ethics, I have come to realize that it carries a much more deeper meaning than what I have seen modeled in my society.  Even though most of the literature I have read propose that ethics is an integral part of our daily lives, my experience has been that definitions of right and/or wrong vary, even among professionals, leaders and family members. I represent many high school students and youths growing up in The Gambia who are yet to encounter professionals, leaders and role models who live ethically or apply ethics in their daily walk.

With the knowledge I have acquired and my personal experience through mentorship with Coaches of Influence Foundation (COIF), I have arrived at a conclusion that ethics should be an everyday companion in our business, workplace, academics, homes and society.  To me, ethics matters because it can serve as a guide to help us assess whether our behaviors are justifiable.   Whether at home, in school, in the marketplace or corporate arena, applying ethics in our daily lives can help our society and people to maintain a strong sense of integrity.  I must conclude by stating that ethics, as I am taught and see it modeled in the COIF organization, is an essential value to society and if adopted and utilized by all, it will go a long way to positively impact our lives, families, communities, nation, continent and world. 

Author:  Julmina Mendy

Editor:  Dr. Margaret Ellis