Ethical Reasoning

Studies have demonstrated that individuals who have lived their lives by ethical principles hold the greatest amount of respect and loyalty from their peers and colleagues. Living one's life by making decisions consistent with a set of core ethical principles can be both personally and professionally rewarding. Delta Chi helps to provide a framework for you through the Fraternity Ritual, but being a principle-centered leader also includes having an understanding of the importance of ethical and moral reasoning.

Now, that you have mastered some of the fundamentals in both Phase I and Phase II, you are prepared to focus on developing these more advanced skills and competencies. Principle-centered leaders make decisions that are consistent with their values, beliefs, and ethical prinicples. Clearly identifying the values you wish to use to guide your life and leadership is the first important step in making more ethical decisions. In the words of William George Jordan, "Into the hands of every individual is given a miraculous power for good or evil - the silent unconscious, unseen influence of his life. This is simply the constant radiation of what man really is, not what he pretends to be." In this Area of Mastery you will follow the below process in becoming a ethically centered leader:

• Learn
• Explore
• Discuss
• Practice

To achieve mastery over this area, complete the following four activities. Below each activity you are provided with sample options that you may utilize to fulfill the activity. Remember, these are only sample options, you may choose to come up with your own options that may better suit you or your chapter's needs. Follow up your accomplishments in your Learning Journal. Finally, once you have completed all activities within this Area of Mastery, finish the area by answering the concluding Critical Reflection questions within your Learning Journal.

Learn about values and ethics theory.

• Take a class in philosophy or ethics in which you identify your personal values and how they affect your life choices and decisions. Define some of your values and write a statement that describes this value to you.
• Read one of the following books on values and ethics: Principle-Centered Leadership or The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey, The Power of Ethical Management by Ken Blanchard, Managing By Values by Ken Blanchard, Credibility by James Kouzes and Barry Posner, or Synchronicity by Joseph Jaworski. Then write a review of the book. Include a summary and what you found interesting about the information.
• Participate or lead in a workshop on values and ethics with an emphasis on chapter decision-making. Your chapter advisor, campus Greek advisor, and other campus officials can provide educational resources. The Delta Chi Headquarters can provide you with materials from the Challenges & Choices educational program developed by the North American Interfraternity Conference or Values for Life, a presentation seminar on how your values relate to you, your chapter, and the fraternity.

Explore your own personal values and ethics.

• Develop a personal mission statement; using the Personal Mission Statement worksheet. Save a copy of this statement to guide your behavior. After one complete academic term evaluate your behavior against the statement. Continue to make revisions and evaluations with this work.
• Develop your own personal coat of arms. Just as each symbol in the Delta Chi coat of arms has special meaning about the values of the Fraternity so could your personal coat of arms. Use the Personal Coat-of-Arms form to design yours. Then write a description of the Coat-of-Arms which explains all of its symbolism. Hang the Coat-of-Arms somewhere where you can evaluate your daily behavior against the model.
• Participate in and/or lead a workshop on values and ethics with an emphasis on individual decision-making. Your chapter advisor, campus Greek advisor, other campus officials, and clergy will have educational resources on this topical area.

Discuss your values and ethics with others.

• Complete the Values Grid exercise. With several other members of the chapter who have also completed this exercise, compare and discuss what you found. Keep a record of this discussion in your Learning Journal.
• With others, participate in a game of Scruples or a discussion using questions from Gregory Stock's The Book of Questions. Afterwards, write down some of the questions you had difficulty answering and explain why. Then complete the Chapter Priorities exercise and/or the Values-Ful Quiz with several other members of the chapter who have completed this exercise, compare and discuss what you found. Share your findings with other members or your chapter.
• Identify 3-5 brothers, in your chapter, whom you respect. Meet individually with each one of them and ask him to give you constructive feedback on your commitment to the chapter and your contributions as a brother, as well as the values he associates with the way you conduct yourself as a brother and as a leader. Keep a log of these discussions, and set some personal goals based on the feedback received.

Practice ethical and moral reasoning as an individual and as an organization.

• In a gavel pass or fireside discussion format, identify how well your chapter's programs, activities, and efforts reflect the values of Delta Chi. Identify at least one tangible strategy to address each area where the chapter falls short in acting out the Fraternity's values. Write down this strategy and what actions you would take to follow through with this plan.
• Develop a chapter mission statement that clearly states the values you want the chapter to associate with the activities it engages in and the way brothers treat other members and others with whom they come into contact. At the end of one academic term, engage other members who have completed this activity in a discussion and evaluate how well the chapter lived up to this mission statement. Compare your chapter mission statement with theirs and identify strategies for better fulfillment in the next academic term. Make sure to take notes on this discussion and evaluation.