(Part 5 of an ongoing series)
How can organizations infuse the purpose of ethics in a business? As a business ethics motivational speaker, business ethics personal consultant and business ethics author, I must be honest and say that to ask “What is the role that ethics should have in business?” it is essential that the team is first taught the role.
Business ethics does not come to an organization on an automatic basis. Whether the head of sales relates the message, the CEO or a remote working systems architect to her team, ethics must be incorporated into all aspects of the culture.
Understanding several aspects
To understand at least 7 aspects of this important message I will incorporate a few points from the sales website Drive Sales, plus several of my own.
- Every choice has a consequence – the choice is yours. To teach the concept of “What is the role that ethics should have in business?” it is essential to start with the most basic of ethical ideas: every choice an employee makes will have a ripple effect throughout the company. If there are no consequences, ethics will suffer and even cripple a company.
- Be outspoken, not a shrinking violet. Tell your team or workgroup or remote workers and vendors what is expected of them. State your values upfront and don’t shy away from taking the lead.
- Hire for ethical behavior. Obviously, no one has a crystal ball. However, as a business ethics motivational speaker, business ethics consultant and business ethics author I can virtually guarantee that if a company learns a potential hire was involved in past, unethical behavior, be especially careful in your hiring. Kindness, compassion and teamwork are important ethical qualities; arrogance, bullying and meanness are not – consider them indicators.
- Is there a code of ethics? If there is no written, stated code of ethics, it is virtually impossible to enforce a code of ethics. If ethics is to play a role in corporate social responsibility and the ethical reputation of the organization, then it must be stated.
- Is ethical behavior evenly applied? If a C-level executive leader commits workplace sexual harassment and has gone unpunished, but a low-level manager was fired or forced to leave for the same offense, it is not only unethical behavior but is legal action about to erupt. No one in the business organization is above the code of ethics.
- Who is protected? To determine what is the role that ethics should have in business, we might ask of HR, who is protected and who is not? Anyone with a legitimate ethical complaint must be able to approach HR and on a completely confidential, no retaliation basis, file a complaint – and expect consequences to the offending person. Unless these safeguards are in place, ethics has no current role. This is an extremely poor “look,” bound to come back in some form.
- Independent training. Ethics training ensures ethical behavior is incorporated into the very fabric of a company – and it must be reinforced. It cannot be thought of as an add-on, but ongoing and essential.
The role ethics has in business is central
The role that ethics should have in business is central. If, for no other reason, executive leaders must understand that scrutiny of their organizations has never been more intense. If anyone in the organization believes there can be hidden ethical missteps, it is a fatal flaw in thinking. Whether an intentional act of environmental dumping or discrimination or accounting fraud, chances are it will be discovered and possibly exploited.
To embrace the role of ethics in business has become more than a good idea, it is a part of everything the organization represents.
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