Professional Ethics – Introduction

Professional Ethics is the set of standards adopted by professionals, in so far,

as they view themselves acting as professionals.
Usually stated in the formal code (eg. ASME)
Professional Codes of Ethics of a given profession focus on the issues that are
important in that profession (differed based on the profession like medicine, law
etc.,)
Professional Ethics sometimes differ from the personal morality in its
degree of restriction of personal conduct since it has both positive and
negative dimensionsCivildatas.
Professional Ethics is supposed to ke precedence over personal morality. (eg.
Doing Abortion, Taking Bribe/Gif s e c.)

PERSONAL ETHICS Vs PROFESSIONAL ETHICS

Personal Ethics deals with how we treat others in our day to day lives.
Professional Ethics often involves choices in an organizational level rather than a
personal level.

Many of the problems will seem different because they involve relationships
between two corporations, between a corporation & government or between a
corporation and group of individuals. Frequently, these types of relationships pose
problems that are not encountered in personal ethics.

Engineers shall hold paramount the safety, health and welfare of the public
in the performance of their professional duties.

- ABET (Accreditation Board for Engineering & Technology)

The objectives of „Professional Ethics in Engineering‟ are:

(a) To understand the moral values that ought to guide the Engineering profession,
 (b) Resolve the moral issues in the profession, and
(c) Justify the moral judgment concerning the profession.

It is intended to develop a set of beliefs, attitudes, and habits that engineers should
display concerning morality. The prime objective is to increase one‘s ability to deal
effectively with moral complexity in engineering practice.

Alternatively, the objectives of the study on Professional Ethics ay be listed as:

(A) Improvement of the cognitive skills (skills f the intellect in thinking clearly)
1. Moral awareness (proficiency in recognizing moral problems in
engineering)
2. Cogent Civildatasmoralreasoning(comprehending, assessing different views)

3. Moral coherence (forming consistent viewpoints based on facts)

4. Moral imagination (searching beyond obvious the alternative responses to
issues and being recep ive to creative solutions)
5. Moral communication, to express and support one‘s views to others.
(B) To act in morally desir ble ways, towards moral commitment and responsible
conduct
6. Moral reasonab eness i.e., willing and able to be morally responsible.
7. Respect for persons, which means showing concern for the well-being of
others, besides oneself.
8. Tolerance of d versity i.e., respect for ethnic and religious differences, and
acceptance of reasonable differences in moral perspectives.
9. Moral hope .e., believes in using rational dialogue for resolving moral
conflicts.
10. Integrity, which means moral integrity, and integrating one‘s professional
life and personal convictions.
 UNIT – I
UNIT I HUMAN VALUES
Morals, values and Ethics – Integrity – Work ethic – Service learning – Civic virtue – Respect
for others – Living peacefully – Caring – Sharing – Honesty – Courage – Valuing time –
Cooperation – Commitment – Empathy – Self confidence – Character – Spirituality –
Introduction to Yoga and meditation for professional excellence and stress management.

HUMAN VALUES
MORALS
Morals are concerned with the principles of right and wrong behavior.
Alternatively, Morals are lessons that can be derived from a story or experience.
Morality is derived from a Latin word MORALITAS which means Manners,
Customs or Proper Behavior.
Morality is the degree to which something is right or wrong, good or bad and so
[Link],Morality is the principle governing Civildatas right &wrong and good&
bad behavior.
Morality is concerned with principles and practices of morals such as:

(a) What ought or ought not to be done in a given situation?

(b) What is right or wrong about the h ndling of a situation? and
(c) What is good or bad about the people, policies, and ideals involved?
Morality is a system of moral principles followed by a particular group of people.
Morality is classified follows
Descriptive Morality
Normative Morality
Morality Synonymous with Ethics

Descriptive Morality is the moral code of conduct formulated by a group of

people (Religious or Otherwise).
Normative Morality is the code of conduct,specifies the conditions under which
it is valid and considered acceptable by all rational people.
Morality Synonymous with Ethics are ethical codes required for moral behavior,
is considered identical to morality.

As against morals and ethics, laws are norms, formally approved by state, po er or
national or international political bodies. Breaking the norms is called crime, and invites
specific punishment.

Asotoma Satgamaya, Tamasoma Jyothirgamaya, Mrityoma Amruthamgamaya –

UPANISHADS. (From Falsehood to Truth, from Darkness to Light, from Death to
Eternal Life).
.
VALUES
Values or Human Values can be defined as the fundamental constructs, principles
or standards developed over a period of time that we use as a reference base our
decisions and actions.
People will act congruent with their personal values or what they deem to be
important.
A value is defined as a principle that promotes well-being or prevents harm.
Values are our guidelines for our success—our paradigm about what is acceptable.
Values are the scales we used to weigh our choices for our actions, whether to m ve t
wards or away from something.
 Personal values are defined as: ―Emotional beliefs in principles regarded
as particularly favourable or important for the individual.
A personal value can be defined as an absolute or relative ethical value, the
assumption of which can be basis for ethical actions.
Try not to become a man of success rather become man of value – Albert Einstein

EXAMPLES FOR HUMAN VALUES

o Travelling in Bus/ Train, giving seat to an elder person
o Following Road/ Traffic rules in a road while driving/ standing in signal.
o Buying a ticket in queue on a railway station/ theatre.
o Touching feet of their elders (Social/Cultural value in India)

Types of Values
The five core human values are:
(1) Right conduct, (2) Peace, (3) Truth, (4) Love, and (5) Non-violence.

1. Values related to RIGHT CONDUCT are:

SELF-HELP SKILLS: Care of possessions, diet, hygiene, modesty,
posture, self-reliance, and tidy appearance

SOCIAL SKILLS: Good behavior, good manners, good relationships,

helpfulness, No wastage, and good environment, and

ETHICAL SKILLS: Code of conduct, courage, dependability, duty,

efficiency, ingenuity, initiative, perseverance, punctuality,
resourcefulness, respect for all, and responsibility

2. Values related to PEACE are: Attention, calmness, concentration, contentment,

dignity, discipline, equality, equanimity, faithfulness, focus, gratitude,
happiness, harmony, humility, inner silence, optimism,patience, reflection,
satisfaction, self-acceptance, self-confidence, self-control, self-discipline, self-
esteem, self-respect, sense control, tolerance, and understanding
3. Values related to TRUTH are: Accuracy, curiosity, discernment, fairness,
fearlessness, honesty, integrity (unity of thought, word, and deed), intuition,
justice, optimism, purity, quest for knowledge, reason, self-analysis, sincerity,
sprit of enquiry, synthesis, trust, truthfulness, and determination.
4. Values related to LOVE are: Acceptance, affection, care, co passion,
consideration, dedication, devotion, empathy, bearance, forgiveness, friendship,
generosity, gentleness, humanness, interdependence, kindness, patience,
patriotism, reverence, sacrifice, selflessness, service,
sharing, sympathy, thoughtfulness, tolerance and trust
5. Values Related To NON-Violence are:
(a) PSYCHOLOGICAL: Benevolence, compa ion, concern for others,
consideration, forbearance, forgiveness, manners, happiness, loyalty,
morality, and universal love
(b) SOCIAL: Appreciation of other cultures and religions, brotherhood, care of
environment, citizenship, equality, harmlessness, national awareness,
perseverance, respect for property, and social justice.
 PERSEVERANCE is defined as persistence, determination, resolution, tenacity,
dedication, commitment, constancy, steadfastness, stamina, endurance and
indefatigability. To persevere is described to continue, carry on, stick at it (in formal),
keep going, persist, plug away, (informal), remain, stand firm, stand fast, hold on and
hang on. Perseverance builds character.
ACCURACY means freedom from mistake or error; conformity to truth or to a
standard or model and exactness. Accuracy is defined as correctness, exactness,
authenticity, truth, veracity, closeness to truth (true value) and carefulness. The value of
accuracy embraces a large area and has many implications. Engineers are encouraged to
demonstrate accuracy in their behaviour through the medium of praise and other
incentives. Accuracy includes telling the truth, not exaggerating, and taking care over
one‘s work.
DISCERNMENT means discrimination, perception, penetration, and insight.
Discernment means the power to see what is not obvious to the average mind. It stresses
accuracy, especially in reading character or motives. Discrimination stresses the power to
distinguish or select what is true or genuinely excellent. Perception implies quick and
often sympathetic discernment, as of shades of feelings. Penetration implies a searching
mind that goes beyond what is obvious or superficial. Insight suggests depth of
discernment.

Evolution of Human Values

The human values evolve because of the following factors:
1. The impact of norms of the society on the fulfilment of the individual‘s needs
or desires.
2. Developed or modified by one‘s own awareness, choice, and judgment in
fulfilling the needs.
3. By the teachings and practice of Preceptors (Gurus) or Saviors or religious
leaders.
4. Fostered or modified by social leaders, rulers of kingdom, and by law
(government).
Keep your thoughts positive because your thoughts become your words,
Keep your words positive because your words become your behavior,
Keep your behavior positive because your behavior become your habits,
Keep your habits positive because your habits become your values,
Keep your values positive because your values become your destiny
– M. K. GANDHI
ETHICS
Ethics refers to moral va ues that are sound, actions that are morally required
(right) or morally permissible (all right), policies & laws that are desirable.
Ethics is the word that refers to morals, values, and beliefs of the individuals, family
or the society. The word has several meanings. Basically it is an activity and process of
inquiry. Secondly, it is different from non-moral problems, when dealing with issues and
controversies. Thirdly, ethics refers to a particular set of beliefs, attitudes, and habits of
individuals or family or groups concerned ith morals. Fourth, it is used to mean ‗morally
correct‘.
Ethics is defined as the moral principles that control or influence a person’s
behaviour or a system of moral principles or rules of behaviour.
 Ethics is also defined as the branch of philosophy that deals with moral principles.
Ethics is also defined as a particular set of beliefs, attitudes & habits of individuals
or family or groups concerned with morals.
“Wrong is wrong if everyone is doing it, Right is right if nobody is doing it “– ARISTOTLE
“Doing the right thing doesn’t automatically bring success, but compromising ethics almost
leads to Failure” – UNKNOWN.
Ethics helps to know the people‘s beliefs, values and morals, learn the good and bad
of them & practicing them to maximise their well being & happiness. Ethics tells us how
to live, to respond to issues, through the duties, rights, responsibilities and obligations.
Ethics focus on studying & applying the principles and practices universally.
Ethics can be categorized as
 Meta ethics
 Descriptive ethics
 Normative ethics
 Applied ethics
Meta ethics deals with the origin of ethical principles that govern the specification
of right & wrong behaviour.
Descriptive ethics refers to the study of moral beliefs of people or societies
consider right or wrong.
Normative ethics is concerned with arriving at a set of moral conduct rules against
which behaviours are judged.
Applied ethics denotes the study of ethically controversial issues such as
imposition of death penalty & cloning e c., Few types of applied ethics are Bio ethics,
Computer ethics, Medical ethics etc.,
“Ethics is knowing the difference between what you have a right to do and
what is right to do” – POTTER STEWART
Morality is different from Ethics following ways:
MORALITY ETHICS

More general and prescr pt e based Specific and descriptive. It is a critical

on customs and tradit ons reflection on morals

More concerned with the results of More concerned with the results of a
wrong action, when done right action, when not done

Thrust is on judgment and Thrust is on influence, education,

punishment, in the name of God or training through codes, guidelines,

by laws. and correction

In case of conflict between the two, Less serious, hence second priority
morality is given top priority, only. Less common. But relevant
because the damage is more. It is today, because of complex interactions
more common and basic. in the modern society.

Example: Character flaw, corruption, Example: Notions or beliefs about

extortion, and crime. manners, tastes, customs, and towards
laws.
 “The first step in the evolution of ethics is a sense of solidarity with other human
beings” – ALBERT SCHWEITZER
“Without ethical culture, there is no salvation for Humanity. Relativity applies to
Physics, not Ethics” – ALBERT EINSTEIN
“A man without ethics is a wild beast loosed upon this world “– ALBERT CAMUS

INTEGRITY
Integrity is defined as the unity of thought, word and deed (honesty) and open
mindedness. Integrity is the quality f being honest & having strong moral principles.
“Integrity is doing the right thing even when no one is watching “– C S LEWIS
“The strength of the nation derives from the integrity of the home” –
CONFUCIOUS
Integrity includes
o The capacity to communicate the factual information so that others can make
well-informed decisions.
o Yields the person‘s ‗peace of mind‘, and hence adds strength and consistency
in character, decisions, nd actions. This paves way to one‘s success. It is one
of the self- direction virtues.
o Enthuse people not only to execute job well but to achieve excellence in
performance. It helps them to own the responsibility and earn self-respect and
recognition by doing the job.
With Integrity, you have nothing to fear, since you have nothing to hide . With
Integrity, you will do the right thing, so you will have no guilt – ZIG ZIGLAR
Integrity is choosing courage over comfort; choosing what is right over what is
fun, fast or easy; choosing to practice our values rather than simply professing them –
UNKNOWN
Moral integrity is defined as a virtue, which reflects a consistency of one’s
attitudes, emotions, and conduct in relation to justified moral values.
The integrity of men is to be measured by their conduct, not by their professions –JUNIUS
Integrity without knowledge is weak and useless, and knowledge without integrity
is dangerous and dreadful – SAMUEL JOHNSON.
Success without Integrity is a failure – ANONYMOUS.

WORK ETHICS
Industry and Society are the two systems which interact with each other and are
interdependent. Society requires industry/business system which provides manufacturing,
distribution and consumption activities. It needs investment (capital input), labor (input),
supply (raw materials), production (industries, business organizations), marketing and
distribution (transport), and consumption (public, customer). A lot of transactions (and
interactions) between these sub-systems involving people are needed for the welfare of
the society. It is here, the work ethics plays an essential role.
Work ethics is defined as a set of attitudes concerned with the value of work,
which forms the motivational orientati n.
The first qualification for success in my view is a strong work ethic – HENRY FORD II
Workethicseliminatesfear–MICHEALJORDAN
Work Ethics aimed
Ensuring the economy (get job, cre te wealth, earn salary)
Productivity (wealth, profi )
Safety (in workplace)
Health and hygiene (working conditions)
Privacy (raise family)
Security (permanence against contractual, pension, and retirement
benefits)
Cultural and social development (leisure, hobby, and happiness)
Welfare (soc al work)
Environment (anti-pollution activities) and
Offer opportunities for all, according to their abilities, but without
discrimination.
Work ethic is the most important component of being successful – KLIFF
KINGSBURY No ethic is as ethical as the work ethic – JOHN KENNETH
GALBRAITH

Many complex social problems exist in the industrial/business scenario,

because:
1. Meaningful work is worth doing for the sense of personal identity and the self-
esteem it holds.
2. Economic independence: Work is the major instrumental good in life.
3. Pay as well as the pace of work should be in commensurate with the expertise
required, acquired, and utilized in the persons.
4. Privacy (personal freedom) of the employee, including women, is to be
Protected. Mutual trust and loyalty both ways play major roles in this aspect.
5. Security during job and upon retirement.
6. Recognition to non-work activities, such as leisure, paid holiday on the day of
visit of a dignitary, social service, and other developmental activities.
7. Hard work and productivity are very essential for the success of an industry.
8. Employee alienation: Absence of or inadequate recognition and reward system
and grievance redressal system, lack f transparency in policy implementation,
factions in trade unions etc. lead to ethical problems, affecting the work ethics.
Participative management, quality circles, job rotation, and flexible working
hours are some of the measures to counter this situation.
9. A different view of work ethics: Work is considered as a necessary evil. It is a
thing one must do in order o void worse evils, such as dependency and poverty.
10. As per the Protestant Work Ethics, the financial success is a sign that is
favoured by God.
To work (job), is not for monetary considerations only. Human beings believe that it
is good to work. Work is good for the body and mind. It promotes self-respect, self-
esteem, good for the family, and obligation to the society and allow the world to prosper.
Work lays moral and meaningful foundation for life. That is why, work ethics affirm that,
the work perse is worthy, admirable and valuable at personal and social levels. It
improves the quality of life and makes life purposeful, successful, and happy.
Keep Integrity and your work ethic intact. So what if that means working a little
harder; an honourable character is your best calling card, and that’s something anyone
can have –KATHY IRELAND
 By work ethics, duties to the self, family, society, and nation are fulfilled. Rights of
the individuals are respected and nourished. Values and virtues are cultivated and
enjoyed by all human beings. Further, the quality of life is improved and the environment
protected. On the other hand, unemployment and under-employment lead to frustration,
social tensions, and occasional militancy. For a developing economy and society, like
ours, we need to promote work ethics, at all levels, to flourish as developed nation.
There are 7 things that will destroy us: Wealth without Work, Pleasure without
Conscience, Knowledge without Character, Religion without Sacrifice, Politics without
Principle, Science without Humanity and Business without Ethics – M. K. GANDHI
SERVICE LEARNING
Service learning refers to learning the service policies, procedures,norms, and
conditions, other than ‘the technical trade practices.
The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others – M.K.
GANDHI
The service learning includes com
The characteristics of the work, basic requirements, security of the job, and
awareness of the procedures, while taking decisions and actions.
Helps the individuals to interact ethically with colleagues, to effectively
coordinate with other departments, to interact cordially with suppliers as well as
the customers, and to maintain all these friendly interactions.
Alternatively the service learning may be defined as the non-paid activity, in
which service is provided on voluntary basis to the public (have-nots in
the community), non-profitable institutions, and charitable organizations.
It is the service during learning. This includes training or study on real life
problems and their possible solutions, during the formal learning, i.e., courses of
study. In the industrial scenario, adoption, study, and development of public
health or welfare or safety system of a village or school is an example of service
learning by the employees. The engineering student analyzing and executing a
socially-relevant project is another example of service learning.
Tell me and I forgot. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn – BENJAMIN
FRANKLIN
The service learning a methodology falling under the category of experiential
education. It s one of the forms of experiential learning and community service
opportunities. It is distinguished in the following ways:
1. Connection to curriculum: Integrating the learning into a service project is a key
to successful service learning. Academic ties should be clear and built upon
existing disciplinary skills.
2. Learner’s voice: Beyond being actively engaged in the project, trainees have the
opportunity to select, design, implement, and evaluate their service activity.
3. Reflection: Structured opportunities are created to think, talk, and write about
the service experience. The balance of reflection and action allows the trainee to
be constantly aware of the impact of their work.
4. Partners in the community: Partnership with community agencies are used to
identify genuine needs, provide mentorship, and contribute input such as labor
and expertise towards completing the project.
 “Community service provided to the curriculum is referred to as service learning,
which enriches students by providing opportunities to use their academic
knowledge and skills in real – life” – UNKNOWN
VIRTUES
Virtues are positive and preferred values (Good qualities or Assets of Life).

“Liberty without virtue would be no blessing for us” – BENJAMIN RUSH

Virtues are desirable attitudes or character traits, motives and emotions that enable
us to be successful and to act in ways that develop our highest potential. They energize
and enable us to pursue the ideals that we have adopted.
Virtues are tendencies which include, solving problems through peaceful and
constructive means and follow the path of the golden mean between the extremes of
excess and deficiency‘. They re like habits, once acquired, they become characteristics of
person.
“Be virtuous and you will be happy. Do not sell virtue neither for wealth, nor
freedom, nor wealth” – BENJAMIN FRANKLIN
Moreover, a person who has developed virtues will naturally act in ways consistent
with moral principles. The virtuous person is the ethical person.
Honesty, courage, compass on, generosity, fidelity, integrity, fairness, transparency,
self-control, and prudence are all examples of virtues.
There is no greater wealth than virtue, and no greater loss than to forget it.
Virtue alone is happiness; all else is else, and without praise –
THIRUVALLUVAR

CIVIC VIRTUES

Civic virtues are the moral duties and rights, as a citizen of the village or the
country or an integral part of the society and environment.
It is the state which educates its citizens in civic virtue, gives them a consciousness
of their mission and welds them into unity – BENITO MUSSOLINI
An individual may exhibit civic virtues by voting, volunteering, and organizing
welfare groups and meetings.
The duties are:
1. To pay taxes to the local government and state, in time.
2. To keep the surroundings clean and green.
3. Not to pollute the water, land, and air by following hygiene and proper garbage
disposal.
For example, not to burn wood, tyres, plastic materials, spit in the open, even
not to smoke in the open, and not to cause nuisance to the public, are some of
the civic (duties) virtues.
4. To follow the road safety rules.
On the other hand, the rights are:
1. To vote the local or state government.
2. To contest in the elections to the local or state government.
3. To seek a public welfare facility such as a school, hospital or a
community hall or transport or communication facility, f r the residents.
4. To establish a green and safe environment, pollution free, corruption free, and to
follow ethical principles. People are said to have the right to
breathe in fresh air, by not allowing smoking in public.
5. People have in alienable right to accept or reject a project in their area. One has
the right to seek legal remedy, in this respect, through public interest petition.
 If parents in still a sense of civic mindedness – and there is no better way to do that
than by example – their children will probably follow – SANDRA DAY O’CONNOR
George Washington embodied the civic virtues as indispensable for a self-
governing administration. These virtues are divided into four categories:
1. Civic Knowledge
Citizens must understand what the Constitution says about how the government
is working, and what the government is supposed to do and what not to do.
2. Self-Restraint
For citizens to live in free society with limited government each citizen must be
able to control or restrain himself; otherwise, we would need a police state—that is, a
dictatorial government to maintain safety and order.
3. Self-Assertion
Self-assertion means that citizens must be proud of their rights, and have the
courage to stand up in public and defend their rights.
4. Self-Reliance
Self-reliant citizens are free citizens in the sense that they are not dependent on
others for their basic needs. Only a strong self-reliant citizenry will be able to enjoy fully
the blessings of liberty. These civic virtues, applicable to local, state, and central
governments, nourish freedom and civil liberty at the root of democracy.
Without civic morality communities perish; without personal morality their
survival has no value – BRETRAND RUSSELL
A constitutional democracy is in serious trouble if its citizenry does not have a
certain degree of education and civic virtue – PHILLIP E. JOHNSON
RESPECT FOR OTHERS
Respect for Others is a basic requirement for nurturing friendship, team work, and
for the synergy it promotes and sustains.
A child who is allowed to be disrespectful to his parents will not have true respect
for anyone – BILLY GRAHAM
The principles enunciated in this regard are:
1. Recognize and accept the existence of other persons as human beings,
because they have a right to live, just as you have
2. Respect others ideas (decisions),word, and labour (actions). One need not accept
or approve or award them, but hall listen to them first. One
Can correct or warn, if they commit mistakes. Appreciate colleagues and
subordinates on their positive ac ions, Criticize constructively and encourage
them, are bound to improve their performance, by learning properly and by
putting more efforts.
3. Show goodwill on others. Love others. Allow others to grow which will
facilitate co linearity, focus, coherence, and strength to achieve the goals.
Treat people the way you want to be treated, talk to the people the way you want to
be talked to. Respect is earned not given – UNKNOWN
Respect is for those who deserve it, not for those who demand it –UNKNOWN
 LIVING PEACEFULLY
To live peacefully, one should start install peace within (self). Peace comes
from within Do not seek it without – BUDDHA
When you find peace within yourself, you become the kind of person who can live at
peace with others – UNKNOWN
Charity begins at home. Then one can spread peace to family, organisation where
one works, and then to the world, including the environment. Only who are at peace can
spread peace. You cannot gift an article which you do not possess. The essence of
oriental philosophy is that one should not fight for peace. It is oxymoron. War or peace
can be won only by peace, and not by wars!
If we are to have peace on earth... our loyalties must transcend our race, our tribe, our
class and our nation; and this means we must develop a world perspective – MARTIN
LUTHER KING.

One should adopt the following means to live peacefully, in the world:
Nurture
1. Order in one‘s life (self-regulation, discipline, and duty).
2. Pure thoughts in one‘s soul (loving others, blessing others, friendly, and not
criticizing or hurting others by thought, word or deed).
3. Creativity in one‘s head (useful and constructive).
4. Beauty in one‘s heart (love, service, happiness, and peace).
Get
5. Good health/body (physical strength for service).
Act
6. Help the needy with head, heart, and hands (charity). Service to the poor is
considered holier than the service to God.

The factors that promote living, with in earn and external peace:
1. Conducive environment (safe, ventilated, illuminated and comfortable).
2. Secured job and motivated with ‗recognition and reward‘.
3. Absence of threat or tension by pressure due to limitations of money or
time.
4. Absence of unnecessary interference or disturbance, except as guidelines.
5. Healthy labour relations and family situations.
6. Service to the needy (physically and mentally-challenged) with love and
sympathy.
Peace is not absence of conflict; it is the ability to handle conflict by peaceful
means
7. Not hurting and torturing others pysically, verbally, or mentally.
CARING
Caring is feeling for others. Caring is nothing but showing respect to the feelings
of others. Caring is respecting and preserving the interests of all others concerned.
Live so that when your children think of fairness, caring and integrity, they think of you
– H. JACKSON BROWN
Caring is a process which exhibits the interest in, and support for, the welfare of
others with fairness, impartiality and justice in all activities, among the
employees, in the context of professional ethics.
Caring includes showing respect to the feelings of others, and also respecting and
preserving the interests of all others concerned.
Caring is reflected in activities such as friendship, membership in social clubs and
professional societies, and through various transactions in the family, fraternity,
community, country and in international councils.
We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give – WINSTON
CHURCHILL In the present day context, caring for the environment (including
the fauna and flora) has become a necessity for our very survival. If we do not
care for the environment, the environment will scare us. Caring influences
Sharing.
Three keys to more abundant living: Caring about others, daring f r others,
sharing with others – WILLIAM ARTHUR WARD
SHARING
Sharing is a process that describes the transfer of knowledge (teaching, learning,
and information), experience (training), commodities (material possession) and facilities
with others. The transfer should be genuine, legal, positive, voluntary, and without any
expectation in return. However, the proprietary inform tion it should not be shared with
outsiders.
Sharing is caring – Teaching our chi ren to share is teaching them compassion and
love – KEVIN HEATH
Shared joy is a double joy; shared sorrow is half a sorrow – UNKNOWN
Gaining knowledge the first step to wisdom. Sharing it, is the first step to humanity
– UNKNOWN
Through this process of sharing, experience, expertise, wisdom and other benefits
reach more people faster. In short, sharing is charity.
Sharing is voluntary
Sharing cannot be driven by force
Sharing also motivated successfully through ethical principles
Sharing must be practiced from childhood onwards.
The more we share, the more we have – LEONARD NANCY
Sharing knowledge is the most fundamental act of friendship, because it is a way
you can give something without losing something – ANONYMOUS
For the humanity, sharing is a culture. The happiness and wealth are multiplied and
the crimes and sufferings are reduced, by sharing. It paves the way for peace and obviates
militancy.
Philosophically, the sharing maximizes the happiness for all the human beings.
 In terms of psychology, the fear, divide, and distrust between the ‗haves‘ and ‗have-
nots‘ disappear. Sharing not only paves the way to prosperity, early and easily, and
sustains it.

Economically speaking, benefits are maximized as there is no wastage or loss, and

everybody gets one‘s needs fulfilled and satisfied. Co metrically speaking, the profit is
maximized.
Technologically, the productivity and utilization are maximized by
sharing. In the industrial arena, code-sharing in airlines f r bookings on air travels and the
common Effluent Treatment Plant constructed for small-scale industries in the industrial
estates, are some of the examples of sharing. The co-operative societies for producers as
well as consumers are typical examples of sharing of the goods, profit and other social
benefits.
Thousands of candles can be lighted from single candle, and the life of the
candle will not be shortened. Happiness never decreases by being shared – BUDDHA
HONESTY
Honesty refers to a facet of moral character and connotes positive and virtuous
attributes such as integrity, truthfulness, straightforwardness, including
straightforwardness of conduct, along with the absence of lying, cheating, theft, etc.
Honestly also includes being trustworthy, loyal, fair, and sincere.
Honesty is the first chapter of book wisdom – THOMAS JEFFERSON
No legacy is so rich Honesty – WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE
Honesty is a virtue, the quality of being truthful and it is exhibited in two aspects
namely, (a) Truthfulness and (b) Trustworthiness.
Truthfulness is to face the responsibilities upon telling truth. One should keep one‘s
word or promise. By admitting one‘s mistake committed (one needs courage to do that!),
it is easy to fix them. Reliable engineering judgment, maintenance of truth, defending the
truth, and communicating the truth, only when it does ‗good‘ to others, are some of the
reflections of truthfulness.
But, Trustworthiness is maintaining integrity and taking responsibility for personal
performance. People abide by law and live by mutual trust. They play the right way to
win, according to the laws or rules (legally and morally). They build trust through
reliability and authenticity. They admit their own mistakes and confront unethical actions
in others and take tough and principled stand, even if unpopular.
We must make the world honest before we can honestly say to our children that
Honesty is the best policy – GEORGE BERNARD SHAW
Honesty is mirrored in many ways. The common reflections are:
(a) Beliefs (intellectual honesty).
(b) Communication (writing and speech).
(c) Decisions (ideas, discretion).
(d) Actions (means, timing, place, and the goals). And
(e) Intended and unintended results achieved
A lie can travel halfway around the world while the truth is putting on its shoes. If
you tell the truth, you don’t have to remember anything – MARK TWAIN
As against this, some of the actions of an engineer that leads to dishonesty are:

1. Lying: Honesty implies avoid once of lying. An engineer may communicate

wrong or distorted test results intentionally or otherwise. It is giving wrong
information to the right people.
2. Deliberate deception: An engineer may judge or decide on matters one
 is not familiar or with insufficient or proof, to impress upon the customers or
employers. This self-deceit.
3. Withholding the informant on: It means hiding the facts during communication
to one‘s superior or subordinate, intentionally or otherwise.
4. Not seeking the truth: Some engineers accept the information or data, without
applying their mind and seeking the truth.
5. Not maintaining confidentiality: It is giving right information to wrong people.
The engineers should keep information of their customers/clients or of their
employers confidential and should not discuss them with others.
6. Giving professional judgment under the influence of extraneous factors such as
personal benefits and prejudice. The laws, experience, social welfare, and even
conscience are given a go-bye by such actions. Certainly this is a higher-order
crime.
Anyone who doesn’t take truth seriously in small matters cannot be trusted in
large one either – ALBERT EINSTEIN.
COURAGE
Courage is the tendency to accept and face risks and difficult tasks in rational ways.
Self-confidence is the basic requirement to nurture courage. Courage is
classified into three types, based on the types of risks, namely
(a) Physical courage,
(b) Social courage, and
(c) Intellectual courage.
All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them – WALT DISNEY
In physical courage, the thrust is on the adequacy f the physical strength, including
the muscle power and armaments. People with high adrenalin, may be prepared to face
challenges for the mere ‗thrill‘ or driven by a decision to ‗excel‘.
The social courage involves the decisions and actions to change the order, based on
the conviction for or against certain social behaviours. This requires leadership abilities,
including empathy and sacrifice, to mobilize and motivate the followers, for the social
cause.
The intellectual courage is inculcalated in people through acquired knowledge,
experience, games, tactics, education, and training. In professional ethics, courage is
applicable to the employers, employees, public, and the press.
Have the courage to follow your heart & intuition, they somehow know you truly
want to become – STEVE JOBS
Look before you leap. One should perform Strengths, Weakness, Opportunities,
and Threat (SWOT) analysis. Calculate (estimate) the risks, compare with one‘s
strengths, and anticipate the end results, while taking decisions and before getting into
action. Learning from the past helps. Past experience (one‘s own or borrowed!) and
wisdom gained from self-study or others will prepare one to plan and act with self-
confidence, succeed in achieving the desired ethical goals through ethical means.
Opportunities and threat existing and likely to exist in future are also to be studied and
measures to be planned. This anticipatory management will help anyone to face the future
with courage.
Success is never final, Failure is never fatal, it’s the courage that counts – JOHN
WOODEN The expressions of courage are
Facing the criticism
 Owning responsibility, and
Accepting the mistakes or errors when committed and exposed
Courage is resistance to fear, mastery of fear, not absence of fear – MARK TWAIN

He who is not courageous enough to take risks will accomplish nothing in life
MUHAMMAD ALI
The courageous people own and have shown the following characteristics, in their
professions:
a) Perseverance (sustained hard work),
b) Experimentation (preparedness to face the challenges, that is,
unexpected or unintended results)
c) Involvement (attitude, clear and firm resolve to act), and
d) Commitment (willing to get into action and to reach the desired goals by any
alternative but ethical means)
I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph ver it – NELSON
MANDELA

VALUING TIME
Time is rare resource .Once it is spent,it is lo t forever. It cannot be either stored or
recovered. Hence, time is the most perishable and most valuable resource too. This
resource is continuously spent, whether any decision or action is taken or not.
The history of great reformers and innovators have stressed the importance of time
and valuing time. The proverbs, Time and tide wait for nobody and Procrastination is the
thief of time ampay illustrates this point.

The two most powerful warriors are patience and time – LEO TOLSTOY ,
The trouble is, you think you have me – BUDDHA

An anecdote to highlight the value of time is as follows:

o To realize the value of one year, ask the student who has failed in the
examinations
o To realize the value of one month, ask the mother who has delivered a
premature baby
o To realize the value of one week, ask the editor of weekly; to realize the value
of one day, ask the daily-wage labourer
o To realize now the value of one hour, ask the lovers longing to meet
o To realize the value of one minute, ask a person who has missed the train
o To realize the value of one second, ask the person who has survived an
accident
o To realize the value one milli second, ask the person who has won the bronze
medal in Olympics
o To realize the value of one micro second, ask the ISRO team of scientists
o To realize the value of one nano-second, ask a Hardware engineer!

If you have still not realized the value of time, wait; are you an Engineer?
Until you value yourself, you won’t value your time; Until you value your time, you
won’t do anything with it – [Link] PECK

DON’T SAY THERE IS STILL TIME or MAYBE NEXT TIME because there is
also the concept of IT’S TOO LATE – UNKNOWN

Time is really the only capital that any human being has, and the only thing he
can’t afford to lose – THOMAS ALVA EDISON
COOPERATION
Co-operation is activity between two persons r sectors that aims at integration of
operations (synergy), while not sacrificing the autonomy
of either party. Cooperation is the willingness to understand others, think and act
together and putting this into practice
It is a team-spirit present with every individual engaged in engineering. Further,
working together ensures, coherence, i.e., blending of different skills required, towards
common goals.
I suppose leadership one time me ns muscles, but today it means getting along with
the people – M. K. GANDHI

It is literally true that you can succeed best and quickest by helping others to
succeed – NAPOLEAN HILL
Cooperation promotes
Collinear ty
Coherence (blend)
Co-ordination (activities linked in sequence or priority) and
The synergy (maximizing the output, by reinforcement).
The whole is more than the sum of the individuals. It helps in minimizing the input
resources (including time) and maximizes the outputs, which include quantity, quality,
effectiveness, and efficiency.
According to professional ethics, cooperation should exist or be developed, and
maintained, at several levels; between the employers and employees, bet een the
superiors and subordinates, among the colleagues, between the producers and the
suppliers (spare parts), and between the organisation and its customers.
The codes of ethics of various professional societies insist on appropriate
cooperation to nourish the industry. The absence of cooperation leads to lack of
communication, misinformation, void in communication, and undue delay between
supply, production, marketing, and consumption. This is likely to demoralize and
frustrate the employees, leading to collapse of the industry over time and an economic
loss to the society.
Coming together is a beginning, keeping together is progress, working
together is success – HENRY FORD
The impediments to successful cooperation are:
1. Clash of ego of individuals.
2. Lack of leadership and motivation.
3. Conflicts of interests, based on region, religion, language, and caste.
4. Ignorance and lack of interest.
Competition – Law of Jungle, Cooperation – Law of Civilization – PETER
KROPOTKIN
Mutual understanding cooperation can be developed and also sustained
by careful planning, motivation, leadership, fostering and rewarding team work,
professionalism and humanism beyond the divides, training on
appreciation to different cultures
Cooperation is about unity, joining force, willing to share experience and learning –
BHAGAVAD GITA
COMMITMENT
Commitment means alignment to goals and adherence to ethical principles during
the activities.
To succeed in your mission, you must have single – minded devotion to your goal –
A.P.J. ABDUL KALAM
There’s a difference between Interest & Commitment. When you’re interested in
doing something, you do it only when t’s convenient. When you’re committed to
something, you accept no excuses, only results – KENNETH BLANCHARD
Commitment as the riving force to realize success is attained by
Believing in one‘s action performed
Expected end results (confidence)
Holding sustained interest and firmness
Fervent attitude and hope that one will achieve the goals Commitment is that
transforms a promise into reality – ABRAHAM LINCOLN This is a basic requirement
for any profession. For example,
A design engineer shall exhibit a sense of commitment, to make his product or
project designed a beneficial contribution to the society.
Only when the teacher (Guru) is committed to his job, the students will
succeed in life and contribute ‗good‘ to the society.
The commitment of top management will naturally lead to committed
employees, whatever may be their position or emoluments. This is
bound to add wealth to oneself, one‘s employer, society, and the nation at
large.
Education is a shared commitment between dedicated teachers, motivated
students and enthusiastic parents with high expectations – BOB BEAUPREZ
Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is
always to try just one more time – THOMAS ALVA EDISON

EMPATHY
Empathy is social radar, sensing what others feel about, without
their open talk. Empathy begins with showing con ern, and then obtaining and
understanding the feelings ofothers,fromothers‟point of view.
Empathy is about finding echoes of another per on in yourself – MOHSIN
HAMID.
Empathy is also defined as the ability to put one’s self into the psychological
frame or reference or point of view of another, to know what the other person
feels.
Imaginative projection into other‟s feelings and understanding of other‟s
background such as parentage, physical and mental state, economic situation, and
association includes EMPATHY to develop good human relations and transactions.
Empathy is about standing n someone else’s shoes, feeling with his or her heart,
seeing with his or her eyes. Not only is empathy hard to outsource and automate, but it
makes the world a better place – DANIEL H. PINK
To practice ‗Empathy‘, leader must have or develop in him, the following
characteristics
1. Understanding others: It means sensing others feelings and perspectives, and
taking active interest in their welfare.
2. Service orientation: It is anticipation, recognition and meeting the needs of the
clients or customers.
3. Developing others: This means identification of their needs and bolstering
their abilities. In developing others, the one should inculcate in him the
 ‗listening skill‘ first. Communication = 22% reading and writing + 23%
speaking + 55% listening.
One should get the feedback, acknowledge the strength and accomplishments,
and then coach the individual, by informing about what was wrong, and giving
correct feedback and positive expectation of the subject‘s abilities and the
resulting performance.
4. Leveraging diversity (opportunities through diverse people): This leads to
enhanced organizational learning, flexibility, and profitability.
5. Political awareness: It is the ability to read political and social currents
in an organization.
Anyone who has experienced a certain amount of loss in their life has empathy for those
who have experienced loss – ANDERSON COOPER
The benefits of empathy include:
1. Good customer relations (in sales and service, in partnering).
2. Harmonious labour relations (in manufacturing).
3. Good vendor-producer relationship (in partnering.)
The path to gaining respect is paved with knowledge and empathy – EVAN
BROWN Through the above three ,we can maximize the output and profit, as well
as minimizing the loss. While dealing with customer complaints, empathy is very
effective in realising the unbiased views of others nd in admitting one‘s own
limitations and failures. According to Pe er Drucker, purpose of the business is not
to make a sale, but to make and keep a customer. Empathy assists one in
developing courage leading to success!
Empathy is a quality of character that can change the world – BARACK OBAMA

SELF-CONFIDENCE
Certainty in one’s own capabilities, values, and goals, is self-confidence. These
people are usually positive thinking, flexible and willing to change. They respect others
so much they respect themselves.
Self-confidence is positive attitude, wherein the individual has some positive and
realistic view of himself, with respect to the situations in which one gets involved.
All power is within you, you can do anything & everything – SWAMI
VIVEKANANDA
Mastering others is strength, Mastering yourself is true power – LAOTZU
The people with self-confidence exhibit courage to get into action and unshakable
faith in their abilities, whatever may be their positions. They are not influenced by threats
or challenges and are prepared to face them and the natural or unexpected consequences.
Self-confidence in a person develops a sense of partnership, respect, and
accountability, and this helps the organization to obtain maximum ideas, efforts, and
guidelines from its employees.
 Confidence and hard work is the best medicine to kill the disease called Failure. It
will make you a successful person – APJ ABDUL KALAM
The best way to gain self confidence is to do what you are afraid to do
ANONYMOUS The people with self-confidence have the following
characteristics:
Positive thinking, flexible (adopt) & willing to change
Respect others efforts and willing to listen & learn from others to give due
credits
Exhibit courage to get into action & Frank to speak the truth
Unshakable faith in their abilities regardless of their positions
Not influenced by threats/challenges & prepared to face the natural/unexpected
consequences
Self-assured standing
Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do
better – MAYA ANGELOU
On the contrary, some leaders expose others when failure occurs, and own the credit
when success comes.
The factors that shape self-confidence in person are:
1. Heredity (attitudes of parents) and family environment (elders),
2. Friendship (influence of friends/colleagues),
3. Influence of superiors/role models, and
4. Training in the organization (e.g., training by Technical Evangelists at Infosys
Technologies).
One important key to success is self – confidence. An important key to self – confidence
is preparation – ARTHUR ASHE
The following methodologies are effective in developing self-confidence in a person:
1. Encouraging SWOT analysis. By evaluating their strength and weakness, they
can anticipate and be prepared to face the results.
2. Training to evaluate risks and face them (self-acceptance).
3. Self-talk: It is conditioning the mind for preparing the self to act, without any
doubt on his capabilities. This make one accepts himself while still striving for
improvement.
4. Study and group discussion, on the history of leaders and innovators (e.g., Sam
Walton of Wal-Mart, USA)
Self – confidence is the first requisite to great undertakings – SAMUEL JOHNSON
CHALLENGES IN THE WORK PLACE
The biggest workplace challenge is said to be the employee‘s work ethics:
Showing up to work every day (interest in work and attendance),
Showing up to work on time (punctuality),
Taking pride in the quality of their work,
Commitment to the job, and
Getting along with others.
This situation demands inculcation of good character in the workplace by
employees.
CHARACTER
Character is the expression of the personality of a human being. Character is a
characteristic property that defines the behaviour of an individual.
Character is determined by the expectations of society which are directed by
prevailing habits, fashions, belief , attitudes, opinions and values of the society.
Nearly all the men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man’s character,
give him power – ABRAHAM LINCOLN
Character implies certain unity of qualities with a recognizable degree of
constancy in mode of action. Character includes
Pattern of virtues (morally-desirable features)
Attributes that determine a person‘s moral and ethical actions and
responses.
Conduct exhibit on which morals and values blossom.
Watch people do their most common actions; these are indeed the things that
will tell you the real character of great person – SWAMI VIVEKANANDA
People are divided into several categories, according to common tendencies such
as
Ruthless,
Aggressiveness, and ambition,
Constricting selfishness,
Stinginess, or cheerfulness,
Generosity and
Goodwill.
Most people say that it is the intellect which makes a great scientist. They are
wrong; it is character – ALBERT EINSTEIN.
Individuals vary not only in the type of their character but also in the degree.
Those whose lives are determined and directed by the prevailing habits, fashions,
beliefs, attitudes, opinions and values of the society in which they live have at best a
developed social as opposed to an individual character.
Character is how you treat those who can do nothing for you – ABRAHAM
LINCOLN
The character is exhibited through conduct. Character is determined by the
expectations of society. Many act and live within its norms, refusing to fall below the
required social minimum, failing to rise above the maxi um expected of a normal
member of the group.
 Character is like a tree & Reputation is like a shadow. The shad w is what we
think of it; the tree is the real thing – ABRAHAM LINCOLN
Character is the expression of the personality of a human being, and that it
reveals itself in one‘s [Link] this sense every human has a character. At the same
time only human beings, not animals have character: it implies rationality.
Every man has three characters, which he exhibits, which he has and that which
he thinks he has – ANONYMOUS
Character has been defined as natural temperament completely fashioned by
the will; in fact it is a resultant of our acquired habits with our original disposition.
Temperaments are the early indications of personality.
Weakness of attitude becomes weakness of character – ALBERT EINSTEIN
Temperament is an and dual’s characteristic level of emotional excitability or
intensity & is typically recognized within the first few weeks after birth. Temperament
or personalities/person‘s overall personality born with genetically inherited
behavioural tendencies, part of DNA combinations forming basic behavioural
disposition.
From the times of Hippocrates, they distinguished four main types of
temperaments: the Sanguine, the Choleric, the Phlegmatic, and the Melancholic.
Character is in fact the outcome of a series of volitions, and it is for this reason e
are responsible for our characters, as we are for the individual habits which go to
constitute them.

Personality begins where compassion ends – KARL LAGERFELD

Humility is no substitute for a good personality – FRAN LEBONITZ
TYPES OF CHARACTER:

From the four fundamental temperaments, various classifications of character have been
adopted by different psychologists. The intellectual, the emotional, and the volitional or
energetic are the chief types with A. Bain. M. Pérez, based on the phenomenon of
movement, distinguishes characters as lively, slow, ardent, and well-balanced. M. Ribot,
with more subjective division and excluding indefinite types ‗characterless‘, recognizes
the forms as:
(a) The sensitive (humble, contemplative and emotional,
(b) The active (great and the mediocre),
(c) The apathetic (purely apathetic or dull),
(d) The intelligent.
Ethics and Character
Whilst psychology investigates the growth of different types of character, ethics
considers the relative value of such types and the virtues which constitute them. The
problem of the true moral ideal is a question of the relative value of different types of
character. The effect on the person‘s character of a particular form of conduct is a
universally accepted as a test of its moral quality. Different systems of ethics
emphasize different virtues in constituting the ideal moral character. With the
utilitarian, who places the ethical end in the maximum. Happiness for the whole
community, benevolence will form the primary element in the ideal character. For the
stoic, fortitude and self-control are the chief excellences.
In all conceptions of ideal character, firmness of will, fortitude, constancy in
adhering to principle or in pursuit of a noble aim are held important. A man of
character is frequently equivalent to being capable of adhering to a fixed purpose.
Another essential is the virtue of justice, the recognition of the rights, duties, and
claims of others. The richer the culture of the ind, the larger the intellectual horizon,
the broader the sympathies, the more will the character approximate to the ideal of
human perfection.
When wealth is lost, nothing is lost; when health is lost, something is l
st; when character is lost, all is lost – BILLY GRAHAM
Education and Characters
The aim of education is not only the cultivation of the intellect but also the
formation of moral character. Increased intelligence or physical skill may as easily be
employed to the detriment or benefit of the community, if not accompanied by
improved will. It is the func ion of ethics to determine the ideals of human character.
The theory and science of education are to study the processes by which that end may
be attained.
Knowledge will give you power, but character respect – BRUCE LEE
BUILDING CHARACTER IN THE WORKPLACE
Managers have to influence an employ creative means of stressing the
importance of good character n the workplace, in the following ways:

1. Employee Hiring, Training, and Promotion Activities

(a) Institute and adopt an organization policy statement to positive character in
the workplace. For example, commitment to civility pledges. This may be
communicated through printing on the back of the business cards of the employees.
(b) Prominently and explicitly include character considerations in recruiting
procedures, during interviews and in the hiring deliberations.
 (c) Emphasize the importance of character and adherence to the ‗six pillars‘
of character in orientation, initial job training, and during in-service training. The six
pillars of character are the ethical values, such as: trustworthiness, respect,
responsibility, fairness, caring and citizenship. Respect means showing high regard
for self, others, authority, property and country. It includes showing appreciation for
cultural diversity by valuing all people as human beings.
Responsibility is being accountable for one‘s actions, being dependable in
carrying out obligations and duties, being reliable and consistent in word and action,
and being committed to community development.
Integrity or fairness means showing the inner strength and courage to be
truthful, trustworthy, fair and honest in all things. It includes acting justly and
honourably. Caring means being kind, considerate, courteous, helpful, friendly and
generous to others, and being compassionate by treating others as you would like to
be treated. Citizenship means accepting and adopting civic rights and duties as a
citizen of the country.
(d) Include evaluation of fundamental character values such as honesty,
promise keeping, accountability, fairness, and caring, in appraisals/reviews.
(e) Institute recognition and reward system for the employees who exemplify
the positive character. For example, awards and medals.
(f) Think of your employees, especially the younger ones, as people whose
personal and work values will be influenced by what you expect of them and how you
treat them.
(g) Think of your employees s present or future mentors, coaches, and
volunteers.
The content of your character is your choice day by day, what you choose,
what you think & what you is who you become – HERACLITUS
2. Internal Communication
Use internal communication channels to create a friendly environment that
praises positive role modeling the workplace and in the community by encouraging
voluntarism, and mentoring, e.g., through Internal newsletters, Workplace posters in
canteens and recreation rooms, Mailers, and Electronic mails.
How a person treats their family says a lot about their character – UNKNOWN
3. External Communication
In relations with customers, vendors and others, consciously communicate
affirming messages about character and ethics, such as Advertise and market
honouring consensual values (the six pillars), Assure that none of your products and
services undermines character building, Include positive messages about voluntarism
and celebrate, and ‗Character counts‘ week in advertising, billings and other mailers.
Character is the result of two things: mental attitude & the way we spend our
time – ELBERT HUBBARD.

4. Financial and Human Resources

 (i) Support local and national ‗character‘projects and the activities of the
members by encouraging staff members to get involved. Offer incentives such as
paying employees for the time they contribute at a local youth-service organization.
(ii) Sponsor ‗character‘movement through financial support. Habits change into
character – OVID
5. Community Outreach
(i) Use public outreach structures to encourage entering and other character-
building programs.
(ii) Encourage educational and youth organizations to become active in
character building. commerce, conference boards, and Rotary club and other to
support
(iii) Use corporate influence to encourage business groups (chambers of
character‘ building.
Character is a journey, not a destination – BILLCLINTON
Remember that your character is your destiny – ANONYMOUS
SPIRITUALITY:
Spirituality is a way of living that emphasizes the constant awareness and
recognition of the spiritual dimension (mind and its development) of nature and
people, with a dynamic balance between the material development and the sp ritual
development.
Spirituality is motivation it encourages the colleagues to perform better.
Spirituality functions fertilizer for the soil ‗character‘ to blossom into values and
morals. Spiritual ty also energy and flexibility as well.
Spirituality includes
Creativity,
Communication,
Recognition of the individual as human being (as opposed to a life-less
machine),
Respect to others, acceptance (stop finding faults with colleagues and
accept them the way they are),
Vision (looking beyond the obvious and not believing anyone blindly),
and
Partnership (not being too authoritative, and always sharing
responsibility with others, for better returns).
You have to grow from the inside out. None can teach you, none can make you
spiritual.
There is no other teacher but your own soul – SWAMI VIVEKANANDA
Spirituality doesn’t come from the religion, it comes from the soul – UNKNOWN
Spirituality in the Workplace
Building spirituality in the workplace: Spirituality is promoted in the workplace
by adhering to the following activities:
1. Verbally respect the individuals as humans and recognize their values in all
decisions and actions.
2. Get to know the people with whom you work and know what is important to
them. Know their goals, desires, and drea s too.
3. State your personal ethics and your beliefs clearly.
 4. Support causes outside the business.
5. Encourage leaders to use value-based discretion in making decisions.
6. DemonstrateCivildatasyourownself-knowledgeand spirituality in all your
actions.
7. Do unto others you would have them do unto you.
You are a spiritual being with human experience. You’re are not a human being
with spiritual experience – DEEPAK CHOPRA
Spirituality for Corporate Excellence
The spiritual traits to be developed for excellence in corporate activities are
listed as follows:
1. Self-awareness — Real zat on of self-potential. A human has immense
capability but it needs to be developed.
2. Alertness in obser ation and quickness in decision making, i.e., spontaneity
wh ch ncludes quick reflexes, no delay but also no hasty decisions
3. Being visionary. and value based — this includes an attitude towards future
of the organization and the society, with clear objectives.
4. Holism — Whole system or comprehensive views and interconnected ith
different aspects. Holistic thinking, which means the welfare of the self, family,
organization and the society including all other living
beings and environment.
5. Compassion — Sympathy, empathy and concern for others. These are
essential for not only building the team but also for its effective functioning.
6. Respect for diversity — it means search for unity in diversity i.e., respect
others and their views.
7. Moral Autonomy — it means action based on rational and moral
judgment. One need not follow the crowd or majority i.e., band-wagon effect.
8. Creative thinking and constant reasoning — think if we can do something
new and if we can improve further?
9. Ability to analyse and synthesize — Refrain from doing something only
traditional.
10. Positive views of adversity — Make adversities one‘s source of power—a
typical Karma yogi‘s outlook! Every threat is converted into opportunity.
11. Humility — the attitude to accept criticism (it requires courage!) and willing
to correct. It includes modesty and acknowledging the work of colleagues.
12. Sense of vocation — Treat the duty as a service to society, besides your
organization..
Your profession is not what brings home your weekly paycheck, your profession
is what you’re put here on earth to do, with such passion & such intensity that it
becomes spiritual in calling – VINCENT VANGOGH
YOGA FOR PROFESSIONAL EXCELLENCE
Yoga is one of the six foundations of Indian philosophy & has been used for
millennia to study, explain and experience the complexities of the mind & human
existence. The yoga way of fe encompasses the philosophy of
 Karma yoga (path of detached action)
Janana yoga (knowledge of self)
Bhakthi yoga (trust in supreme order)
Raja yoga (asana, pranayama, kriyas, mudras, bandhas, meditation etc
,)
Hatha yoga practices like asanas (i.e., posture), pranayama (i.e., breathing
practices intended to influence vital forces), kriyas (i.e., cleaning process), mudras
(i.e., certain internal attitudes) and bandhas (i.e., neuro muscular locks) are mostly
taught as physical practices.
Originally developed for personal spiritual growth, yoga offers a well
formulated approach to planned changes and the emperical studies revealed that the
long-term practitioners of yoga had acquired a remarkable voluntary control over
there autonomic process which helped them in coping with psychological stress.
Yoga has significant effect on managing stress and enhance work performance
by boosting health, harmony, morale, work motivation, commitment, performance
and productivity at individual and organizational levels.
From the centre of mindfulness in medicine, health care and society at the
university of Massachusetts Medical schools, a yoga based program named
mindfulness based stress reduction program (MBSR) used for stress reduction which
also enhance functional status and well being with reduced physical
Meditation is also a form of yoga dealing mentally combatto stress and
symptoms and psychological distress which helps to have long term beneficial effects.
In today stress prone environment, these techniques will be highly effective
for enhancing the effectiveness, efficiency, performance and cultivating right attitude
among employees (professional excellence) and reducing workplace stress.

MEDITATION FOR PROFESSIONAL EXCELLANCE

Meditation is as kill tool for life enhancement, work place efficiency, and stress
management, emotional and spiritual fulfillment.
Meditation procedure:
Choose a word or phrase (such as peace, om, amen)
Sit in a comfortable position
Close your eyes, relax your muscles and allow yourself to breath
slowly and naturally
As you exhale, repeat the word or phrase
Do this for 10 to 20 minutes once or twice a day

Once you follow the procedure, you may notice that your stress drifting away
along with your exhalation. Meditation that cultivates mindfulness is particularly
effective reducing stress, anxiety, depression and other negative emotions. It helps in
balancing mind and body and increasing mental alertness, concentration resulting in
clarity of decision making

The act of meditation has made its way into the corporate environment and is
one of the best ways to reduce stress in the workplace. It is a skill that can be easily
learning and can be anywhere, anytime stress occurs walking down the hall, at a
orkers desk or in a stressful meeting
 Meditation is a useful and practical relaxation technique to continuously relax
your body and focus your thoughts on one thing for a sustained period. This occupies
your mind, diverting it from the problems that are causing you stress and gives your
body a time to relax and recuperate and to clear way stress hormones.

Even a few minutes of meditation done throughout the day can make a huge
difference in a workers attitude, productivity and effectiveness.

STRESS MANAGEMENT
S no Causes Consequences of distress

1. Work related stressors Physiological

Interpersonal stressors Heart diseases
Role related stressors Ulcers
Task control stressors High blood pressure
Organizational-physical Head aches
environment stressors Sleep disturbances
Increased illness

2. Non work stressors Psychological

s
Time-based Job dissatisfaction
Strain based Low commitment
Role based conflict Exhaustion
Depression
Moodiness
burnout

3. Individual differences Behavioural

Personal health More accidents
Knowledge sk Faculty decisions
Coping skills Higher absenteeism
Reliance work holism Workplace aggression
Turnover/absenteeism
Causes and consequences of workplace stress
Stress management is important for both individual and from the point of
view of the organization. Effective management of job stress can only be achieved
under t o conditions:
Individual workers must be able to recognize stressor and understand
their consequences.
Organizations must develop stress prevention, as well as stress
reduction techniques
Organisations have to arrange a stress management program that focuses on
different categories of employees at all hierarchical levels. Stress management is
important for both individual and from the point of view of the organisation. There
are two basic approaches to cope with stress i.e., individual oriented approach and
organisational oriented approach.

INDIVIDUAL ORIENTED STRATEGIES FOR COPING WITH STRESS

Sole active – reading, writing, photography, art, playing a musical instrument,
collection of different things, running, hobbies, vacation
Group activities – sports, games, eating out, vacations
Solo-passive/group-passive – television, movies, shows and theatres, listening
to music, concerts, operas, sporting events and vacations
Yoga and meditation

ORGANISATIONAL ORIENTED STRATEGIES FOR COPING WITH STRESS

The corporate body has also a moral responsibility to practice healthy work
culture and environment. Each corporate policy makers must analyze their
environments. Evaluate alternative contingency strategies for likely future scenario.
Yoga, meditation and humour are the best antidote for workplace stress.