Above and Beyond Ethics Retreat For Ethics Administrative and Support Staff
"Leading From Where You Are"
Wednesday, August 31, 2011

The NIH Ethics Office (NEO) sponsored the first Above and Beyond Ethics Retreat for Ethics Administrative and Support Staff with the theme "Leading from Where You Are," planned by a committee of ethics assistants/administrative support staff and NEO staff. The purpose of the retreat was to provide concentrated training for their role in the ethics function. The goal is to enhance skills and increase their perspective regarding the importance their role plays in the ethics office.

Keynote Speaker Blanche Williams, CEO of Greatness by Design, reinforced the theme with the quote "Nothing conclusively proves a man's ability to lead others as what he does from day to day to lead himself " by Thomas J. Watson. Williams described what it means to lead from where you are, enlisting the active participation of attendees. Each of the "12 Team Guideposts" were introduced by one of the attendees and group discussion expanded the concept. The 12 Team Guideposts are: Understand Our Mission, Commit to Excellence; Accept Accountability; Lead From Where I Am; Apply Critical Thinking; Support Positive Morale; Uphold Mutual Respect; Promote Professionalism; Participate in Workplace Pride; Sustain Productive Attitude; Work as a Team; and Exceed Expectations.

The workshop entitled Sink or Sail? Building Teamwork for Team Success, featured an exciting and competitive adventure learning exercise to use the guideposts discussed earlier. Participants split into teams and worked through the scenario of having collectively purchased a luxury sailboat, named the Lady Christa, to undertake a 10-day around the world sailing competition with a cash prize of $500,000. Participation was designed to strengthen team skills of communication, preparation, problem solving, decision making, and cooperation. Teams were provided a logbook, sailing competition rules, details of a luxury sailboat, crew member roles and responsibilities, world and trade winds map, the list of 12 guideposts, pre-launch instructions, and sealed envelopes containing ten challenges to overcome during the sailing adventure. Upon completion of the sailing competition, teams discussed their biggest challenge, what they learned about one another, and what they learned about themselves.

The workshop entitled Are You Indispensable? Do You Want To Be? implemented guideposts into the NIH work place. Participants were assisted to identify areas where they could apply the concepts and be proactive in their own ethics office. If participants want to be viewed as indispensable, they need a basic understanding of ethics rules and why information is important, and the ability to identify issues and propose solutions. Scenarios provided an opportunity to understand the interplay between basic ethics knowledge and office functions, such as why specific information on an employee form is relevant and important. Participants reviewed the scenarios and options for action. Participants were able to identify and discuss ways in which they could be proactive, such as steps to quickly identify and fix inaccurate data. In addition, discussion included ways to improve one's marketability, such as good time management skills, excellent writing skills using correct grammar and proper vocabulary, and strategies for dealing with demanding or difficult employees.

At the end of the day, the "Above and Beyond Award" was presented by the NIH Deputy Ethics Counselor and the Director of the NIH Ethics Office. Six individuals were chosen by the committee. The award nomination and selection criteria were: 1) demonstrated commitment to service "above and beyond" expectations, and 2) demonstrated contribution to functioning of the office "above and beyond" expectations.

Keynote Activities

Workshop: Sink or Sail

Above and Beyond Award