We say we believe in ethics, but do we demonstrate them? Use this challenge to Check Your Ethics.

Harvard Graduate School Professor of Cognition and Education, Howard Gardner, believes there are practices business leaders can engage in to take a "check" on the ethics of their efforts. Gardner states we should ask ourselves "What kind of a person, worker, and citizen do I want to be?" After examining the answer to that question, Gardner promotes doing the following four activities periodically to stay on the right track.

Try at least two of Gardner's suggestions. What did you learn about your work? What did you discover about you?

In order to stay on the right track, Gardner advises business leaders to:

1. Believe staying on the right track is essential for the good of the organization, especially during difficult times.

2. Take the time to step back and reflect about the nature of your work.

3. Undergo "positive periodic inoculations", being forced to rethink what you're doing.

4. Use consultants, which should include a trusted advisor within the organization, the council of someone completely outside the organization (an old friend), and a genuine independent board.