Leadership Through Ethics
Each year, the TCMA Ethics Committee selects a theme for the Ethics Corner in the monthly newsletter. This theme is an overarching guide that the committee members who volunteer to write articles throughout the year use to approach their writings. This year’s theme is “Leadership Through Ethics” and I don’t think that there is a more appropriate approach to our ethical discussions over the next 12 months.
While local government management has always come with its challenges, it seems that with each passing moment, there are more obstacles to maneuver and landmines to avoid. Division amongst our stakeholders and negative public sentiment can have a significant effect on our ability to do our jobs and can create significant stress as we face difficult decisions. ??
As rewarding as public service can be, what we do is also messy and even the best decisions will likely be met with negative opinions from portions of our communities. Relying on our ethical standards and using them as our guide can help us navigate these challenges as we lead in our communities and organizations. ??
The TCMA Code of Ethics is the same as the ICMA Code of Ethics which is 100 years old. For the last 100 years, our profession has been able to point to a set of tenets and guidelines that allow us to tell our elected officials, community members, and employees that “this is what we are all about” and “these are the standards by which I will lead.”
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Over the past couple of years, there has been robust discussion about the Code of Ethics as well as the role that it plays in our profession. As a profession, we should welcome these discussions and seek to ensure that our tenets, guidelines, and implementation practices are relevant to the current environment in which we lead. ??
I believe that the Code of Ethics plays a vital role, and it gives us the best shot at navigating our challenges in a way that stays true to the origins of our profession. The more we are willing to discuss the Code and review it, the more relevance it has in our daily lives.
How we view our Code of Ethics and talk about it is important. I don’t believe that the primary purpose of our Code of Ethics should be to enforce a set of “thou shall nots” that allow us to clutch our pearls and pass judgment on our peers whenever they do something wrong. Members of ICMA and TCMA do commit to the Tenets and Guidelines of the Code of Ethics when they join either organization; however, rather than simply and negatively viewing the Code of Ethics as a set of rules not to be broken, members should perceive the Code as a positive call to ethical servant leadership and stewardship.
We are faced with daily decisions that live in the grey area where small nuisances can make all the difference. Relying on our Code of Ethics and continuing to hold it in high regard will allow us to effectively lead in a principled and professional manner during very complicated times.
City Manager at Highland Village
5 个月Great article Matt. Our personal and professional ethics should always be in the forefront of our mind, particularly in these challenging times. Thanks to you and the Ethics Committee for all you do!
Excellent thoughts, Matt. Early in my career I was offered some ethics guideposts by a mentor that became the bedrock of my ethical thinking: 1. If asked why I did something or made a particular decision and I have to pause to answer the question, then I better rethink my decision immediately. 2. If I would be embarrassed if my momma or friends read about what I did in the newspaper, don't do it! 3. If I feel a need to have someone else take an action because I am hesitant to have it attributed to me, slow down and think through my decision making process. 4. If my plan would violate laws or ethics, I am already in trouble. Look for another job outside of honoring the public trust. 5. Finally, does my decision treat all involved and impacted with dignity and respect, STOP! NOW!