Why Every Executive Director Needs to Define Their Organization’s Ethos

I know I’ve talked about ethos before, and it’s become a buzzword in business lately. But do you know why you should clarify your organization’s ethos? The dictionary defines ethos as “custom” or “character,” and was originally used in ancient Greece by Aristotle; it referred to a man’s character or personality, especially as it balanced between passion and caution. Today, the term is used to refer to practices or values that distinguish a person, organization, or society from others. And here’s why ethos is so important.

Clarity. Does each and every employee know in his or her heart what ethical choices your company makes, or always has intentions of making? Having a clear set of values means that your entire team, from the top down, knows what your company stands for. Something I write about often is that presenting a united front is crucial for so many reasons—and this is another way to be unified and highlight your group’s cohesiveness. Not only will your own team have a clear awareness of your values, but it’ll be so evident, your customers will see it, too.

Avoiding a negative culture. Establishing what you stand for is, in itself, a constructive task rather than a destructive one. This favors positivity and avoids discussing negatives, which don’t even need to be acknowledged in order for your ethos to be upheld. Continue to take a look in the mirror to reflect on what you champion, endorse, promote—and don’t focus on what others may be doing out there that’s contrary to the good you’re trying to do. Just state your own value system and stick by it, and you’ll be less likely to get swept up in others’ drama.

Consistency from the inside out. Everyone on your team should embrace, if not embody, your company’s core beliefs—otherwise your organization could risk being perceived as hypocritical. At the very least, that’s not good for business and goes back to presenting a united front. More importantly, it is simply a matter of principle, isn’t it? When your team shares a belief system, those stated values become lived-out values, and a group ethos is echoed. Character is often said to be what happens when no one is looking. What’s going on in your organization when nobody’s looking?

So, how would you define your ethos? How would others define it? These are questions worth asking and answering—in business and in life.