Ethical intelligence is the conscious embodiment and courageous application of honorable principles, practices, and processes that cultivate compassion, cooperation and collaboration between individuals and groups across all interactions and situations, and through which elevates humane and sustainable insights, innovation, and interconnection.

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It embodies a mindset that is 100% committed to thinking, choosing and behaving with an unbreakable, purposeful habit of integrity that composes our identity: intrinsically woven with impeccability, character, humility, and courage.  It is the inner moral compass that constantly self-reflects and upgrades our personal Internal Operating System in every situation and interaction we find ourselves in, personally and professionally. It's owning the fact we are all imperfect human beings - and we all have the ability to grow, shed our old skin, and evolve - or  "learn, unlearn and relearn" as the late futurist Alvin Toffler once stated. 

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Ethically Intelligent behavior is rising to the top of the list of leadership qualities essential to sustainable organizational success as well as attaining and keeping public trust. Customers are demanding accountability and transparency in the principles and practices of leaders of all types, and "getting away with" unethical behavior is certainly not something to brag about if you or your organization aspires to have a reputation of unshakable integrity. ​​​​​

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​​Ethics - a code of embodied, guiding universal principles that shape and govern our behavior regarding right and wrong - has often been left to discussions in university philosophy classes, or rules imposed through strict religious doctrines, unquestioned dogma or "motivational/inspirational" posters that proclaim great-sounding platitudes to be adopted at work - that often no one pays much attention to.

 

Focusing upon authentically cultivating honorable character overall rather than the details of any one action - considering the influence of human being upon human doing - helps us transcend the tendency of the ego to think one ethical belief system is "better than" another, an error in thinking that leads to elitism, bias, and division. 

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"Ethical blindness is a temporary and unconscious deviation from one's own values. It is important, to understand that ethical blindness is not the same as unethical behaviour. It is just the increasing inability to see the ethical dimension of what, on deciding. But ethical blindness increases the probability, of unethical behavior. So, in many cases, unethical decision making is less rational and less deliberate, than we think. But more intuitive and automatic. And a specific circumstances, the ethical aspect of a decision, might fade away. How is that possible? Our main assumption is that unethical decisions in organizations have less to do with a person making the decision, and more with the context in which they make their decision. Contexts can be stronger than reason, stronger than values and good intentions." - Palazzo and Hoffrage, Faculty of Business and Economics at the University of Lausanne, Switzerland.

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Ethical Intelligence skills are essential to provide balance and a means to honestly self-reflect how we are showing up in the moment in any given situation or encounter. It is collection of qualities that serve as "checks and balances" on the ego running wild - and using Emotional and Social Intelligence and Mindful Awareness skills for ego-serving purposes alone. Unfortunately, there has been resistance to learning about upholding strong ethical principles at work and in everyday life because a) Ethics are often confused with religion, morality, and "commandments," and b) Doing so requires taking a deep, radically honest look at ourselves/our organizations and taking ownership for any unethical behaviors we/they are engaging in. This means 24/7/365 - not just when we "feel" like it, or when nobody's watching - and includes ending any justification of engaging in ethical transgressions that by their very nature create harm or suffering simply for personal and/or organizational gain. This includes the fallacy of what is called "situational ethics."
 

What makes someone Ethically Intelligent? 

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There is not one definitive list of qualities that when combined will make us a "perfectly ethical" human being. However, there are many that, when incorporating radically honest self-reflection and assessment regularly, can help guide us into making more ethically intelligent choices and taking more ethically intelligent actions as we grow in intentionally conscious awareness. And just like Emotional and Social Intelligence and Mindful Awareness, our level Ethical Intelligence is not fixed; we have the ability to refine our character as we travel through Life - which is reflected through the choices we make. 

 

First things first: Who we are frames how we think, choose, act and behave in any context/situation. 

Our character shapes all four, which in turn impacts how we respond to life stressors and how resilient we are when 

moving through and past them. When we try to improve what we do without refining who we are, it is illogical to think 

we'll be able to build high performing, collaborative and productive teams - or for that matter, lead by authentic, 

transparent Ethically Intelligent example in whatever sphere of influence we have: at home, school, work, as parents and

family members, and in all our social interactions. 

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≈ Ethical Intelligence is not about depending on someone else to hold you accountable. 

≈ It is about you holding yourself accountable because it matters to you to live and lead by impeccable (not perfect) example.

≈ It's about playing Big in Life.

≈ You are responsible for the impact (positive and negative) of every one of your free-will actions and inactions

– even their unintended results and consequences.
≈ Depend upon yourself to take ownership for the impact of your thoughts, choices, actions and behaviors on others  - as well as yourself.
≈ Choose to embrace 100% accountability as part of who you are and how you show up - especially when no one is looking. 
 

Those who never take ownership for any of the above will always blame others and cause pain and suffering wherever they go as long as their refusal to hold themselves accountable continues.

 

“Manliness consists not in bluff, bravado or loneliness. It consists in daring to do the right thing and facing consequences whether it is in matters social, political or other. It consists in deeds not words.” - Gandhi

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Build an Ethical and Harmonious Workplace Culture Before 

Focusing on Productivity and Performance

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​​​Honorable character as the centerpiece of Ethical Intelligence can be expressed as a higher octave of the basic principle of the Golden Rule that encourages us to actualize our highest potential as human beings. "Treat others in the fair and just manner their highest self is worthy of being treated - and doing the same toward yourself." It embodies inclusive respect and kindness toward all humanity - including the compassionate yet sometimes fierce "tough love" that doesn't enable a fellow human being's darkness or shadow behaviors. It includes the ability for us to forgive one another, as we are all imperfect human beings that make mistakes, as well as holding others (and ourselves) accountable for violations of the law and crimes against humanity - both of the latter being extreme breaches of ethical conduct. Not taking a stand or not speaking up when you witness corrupt, inhumane (and yes, undeniably evil) thought systems, behaviors and actions  in any form, by any person is enabling with silence. 

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