Define Professional Value and Ethics

Professional Values and Ethics Where do values and ethics come from? Many people believe that values develop from the day we are born to the present-day. Our lives experiences of family, childhood friendships, adolescence, and adulthood are the areas said to be the main contributor to the formation of our personal values. Ethics are also instilled in us from various sources with the difference being “that personal ethics act as the foundation for your moral compass; the internal guide that tells you what’s right and wrong” (Scivicque, 2007). Therefore, the relationship among professional values, ethics, and career success provide many answers and approaches which are intricately connected. Defining values and ethics one would have to consider each word individually as well as together, and identify how to perceive each term as it pertains to professionalism and career success. A value is a principle, standard, or quality regarded as worthwhile or desirable. Webster’s dictionary defines ethics as “principles of right or good conduct and a system of moral values” (1996). In a profession many workers use values and ethics in decision-making to solve issues or set standards. Because of differences in personal backgrounds, a high standard of values and good ethics and moral principles may prove helpful in establishing the conduct of a workplace. The first step in determining the influence of professional values and ethics on an individual’s career must be to establish what a person’s values and ethics are. Establishing and maintaining professional values and ethics is an important part of our effectiveness and can dramatically enhance performance or negatively affect our potential to succeed in our chosen career field. Ethical conduct is an indicator regarding what can reasonably be expected of an individual in any given situation whether that conduct is personal or professional.

References: Scivicque, C. (2007). Developing personal ethics. Suite101.com. Retrieved from http://personalethics.suite101.com/article.cfm/developing_personal_ethics (1996). Webster 's II new riverside dictionary (Revised edition). Boston, MA: Houghton Mifflin Company.