Moral Compass
This essay is a discussion of what I feel on a personal level as what is right and also what is wrong. The essay will demonstrate how I can act accordingly when I am faced with decisions or judgment involving right or wrong. It is a reflection of myself in the context of moral values. The essay is a synthesis of personal value system and will incorporate experience, observations, independent inquiries, and ideas gained from learning wisdom traditions. There will also be a critical review of human values as well as the ethical challenges faced by business leaders. Further, it will highlight critiques of personal values and also social norms from multiple perspectives. Finally, there will be a review of Carey personal conduct which shall be discussed together with integrity norms.
According to Thompson (2009), Moral Compass is reflected in aspects such as decision-making, relationships, and character. My understanding of a moral compass is a guide to decision making which enables me to choose what is right or wrong. The moral compass is a good foundation to personal integrity since it guides on what values and behaviours to adopt for one to realise the good in not only oneself but also in others as well as material and social environment. A person with integrity and social conscience need to have a good understanding of what is wrong and what is right in the society. Failure to differentiate what is wrong and what is right might make it hard to live harmoniously, peacefully, and sustainably with others in society. What I value about the wisdom traditions is that there is an inner core of either traditions or religions which are independent of sectarianism, trappings, power structures, doctrines, and all other elements that pertain to religion. What I question about the wisdom traditions is that why do issues of moral values vary from one community to another? For example, “why is it that there are moral biases, yet we have the wisdom of traditions?” My vision of a good life is the one where I live in line with the moral values accepted by the community. The main values which anchor my moral vision are the golden rule and integrity which effectively summarises my core values (peace, truth, freedom, justice, and friendship). Symbols which motivates and inspires my moral vision are the famous people who lived by doing good things in the society such as Mother Teresa. My wisdom tradition influences my moral vision in that I am in a position to judge what is right or wrong without necessarily referring outside sources.
My rules and principles of the moral code are drawn from religious teachings such as the Bible, wisdom traditions, and experiences in life. For example, in the Ten Commandments, I frequently apply the principle of “love your neighbour as you love yourself”. In general, the golden rule summarises my rules and principles of moral code. If I am to express myself as who I am, the moral code best describes me. That is why I can say my moral code is consistent with my moral vision. For example, my moral vision involves core values such as world peace, truthfulness, friendship, justice, and freedom. The golden rule, which an underlying rule and principle of my moral code, involves all these core values. Wisdom Tradition influences my moral code because the universal principles which I believe it should govern sustainable, prosperous, and harmonious existence are grounded largely inform my moral code.
My moral fitness regimen is evident from my day to day practices. My relations with others such as the way I live up to my virtues, the way I overcome vices, the way I build moral community and the manner in which I create dispositions pertaining moral awareness are some of the factors which constitute my moral fitness regimen. I employ these practices to nurture a personal character and integrity by making them stand out in my daily interaction with people in the community. The practices reinforce and align with my moral code and vision because I can use them to describe who I am and what I stand for in matters regarding morality.
One of the moral challenges that has been a key defining moment for me was a request I was made to express my views regarding the decision of whether it is right or wrong to go to war. The consequences of war have clarified my decision to support peace instead of war. It has continued to define my character and values as a peaceful person who promote peace at all times and also a firm believer in the golden rule. If I could, I will still retain my stand against war or aggression. The universal principles of moral values which are inherent in me inform that the best approach to a conflict is the path of least resistance and minimal consequences to those who are involved and not involved in the circumstances leading to conflicts.
As a business leader, there is a lot to be applied in the moral compass. The major things which underpin my moral values as a business leader are fitness, performance, vision, and code. Building a social network of shared values involve interacting with various people with divergent views regarding what is right and what is wrong. This present a challenge. However, there exist opportunities in social networks with people who have similar views such as religious memberships and other social networks where members have almost homogeneous perspectives. With power associated with leadership, there is adequate resources to reinforce moral values. Being a business leader requires one to build cultures of shared accountability and responsibility. Business and social context of moral values may not be the same. The challenge is further complicated by the rights enshrined in the constitution which might be in conflict with business cultures. The ability to mobilise people to observe certain moral values may be quite challenging. However, there are opportunities to do this by establishing a moral code of conduct in the workplace. The ultimate objective of every business is to create wealth. However, there is a challenge in selecting commercial ventures which are in line with the moral values anticipated in the society. Given that communities favour certain commercial engagements which are in line with their moral values, there are lots of opportunities which can favour my commerce. Building societies that work better for everyone are quite challenging because people have been made to understand moral values differently. This is because of doctrines, traditions, and religious practices. However, due to the wisdom of traditions, the majority of the people somehow understand what is right and what is wrong. They present opportunities to build better communities.
Besides helping me to learn more about the moral compass, this essay has also given me an opportunity to reflect on my personal moral values. It has also given me a chance to describe myself in the context of moral values in case I assume different leadership positions. Beyond learning the moral values, I have also gotten a chance to differentiate ethics and morality. Further, I have learned where morality and ethics converge. Importantly, this assignment has helped to reinforce my expectations and responsibilities as a student at Carey Business School (Carey, 2014). Specifically, I can now exhibit honesty, respect for others, and integrity as part of my acceptable moral conduct in the community of students. I also understand better why the code of conduct is necessary and why all should observe it.
References
Carey. (2014). Code of Conduct. Retrieved from: http://carey.jhu.edu/students/student-resources/honor-code/code-of-conduct
Thompson, L.J. (2009). The Moral Compass: Leadership for a Free World. Charlotte, NC: Information Age Publishing
