Business Ethics Must Be Presented, Preserved and Promoted
Posted on June 5, 2008
Business ethics are an almost daily topic in the news, in business schools, in the workplace and in our homes. I pay close attention to business ethics and what is written about them in my daily life as a strategic thinking, planning and business coach. I am still astounded at the remarks of major corporations a few years ago when they said they waived or suspended the ethics code or requirements. I am still at a total loss at how anyone can suspend or waive ethics. While I may not be able to explain the suspension or waiving of ethics, I do hope to provide some solid advice on what business and other organizations need to do today to present, preserve and promote ethics in their organizations. Here are ten action items I would recommend:
1. Present ethical behavior as a requirement, not an option. Major business corporations are standing trial, literally and figuratively, for very strong violations of ethics. Acting unethically means that eventually you will be caught. Today is a very opportune time to take advantage of the current business environment to present ethical behavior as a requirement, not an option.
2. Present ethics in all daily interactions with internal and external stakeholders. Unfortunately too many people perceive that ethics only need to be presented to "bad" companies that need to reform. Well, my experience indicates just the opposite. Companies with strong track records of ethical, responsible behavior have the most to gain from a well thought out system to assure the cultivating of ethical corporate culture. Every action by every employee in an ethical culture will reinforce and further the companys positive reputation.
3. Present the desired ethical behavior in an ethics code of conduct. Ethical conduct of each employee must become a habit of every minute of every hour of every day. No exceptions, no waivers and no suspensions of the ethics code!
4. Preserve ethics to let everyone know ethics is here to stay. While there may be newcomers to embracing ethics in business, ethical and responsible conduct have always been the standard at many companies. Even when ethical conduct may fail to improve the bottom line as strongly as desired, the alternative of operating unethically is not a viable option. This commitment will preserve and extend the reputation that has been earned through consistent ethical conduct over time.
5. Preserve an ethical culture that serves as a foundation. If you are not put to a test, then it is easy to say you act ethically. However, what do you do when you are faced with the tough ethical decisions? A very positive affirmation that your ethics program is a success is when there is an embedded culture where people will make the right choices, even when those choices are difficult, inconvenient, or adverse to the short-term interests of the individual or company.
6. Preserve an ethical culture that perpetuates ethics. Consistent compliance with a strong code of ethical conduct will be a major stimulus to having ethics become self-perpetuating. A reversal of behaviors will also occur in that those who speak out against unethical behavior will be the majority, instead of the majority being those who simply ignore and do nothing when they observe unethical behavior. A true ethical culture will evolve into a self-regulating basis on a peer-to-peer level.
7. Promote ethics and their benefits. Too many companies will always look at the cost of something, without looking at the benefits. The same goes for ethics. Too many companies sadly will only look at embracing and enforcing a code of ethics in terms of what it costs, rather than the benefits it will gain. Ethical behavior and a culture of ethics will result in many benefits, including: improved employee relations, enhanced worker productivity, positive morale and an enhanced company image.
8. Promote ethics from the top. If you read Greek history and mythology, you may have come across a well-known Greek saying that a fish rots from the head. In todays business world, the saying is applicable. The message, spoken and unspoken, from the top is critical to reinforcing positive, responsible, ethical conduct. If top executives and top executive management say one thing but do another, the message of ethical behavior gets very confusing. Top executives need to use their positions in the company to insist on and promote ethical conduct. The top executives must walk the talk and hold themselves to the same high standards of ethics they expect of others and demonstrate those high standards in everything they say and do.
9. Promote a company culture where ethics is for everybody. Ethics is not just reserved for your management. It is for everyone, every day. Everyone in your company needs to be trained and persuaded to act ethically. No exceptions!
10. Present, preserve and promote ethics by rewarding ethical behavior. Develop a compensation system that provides a component of benefits and rewards for ethical behavior integrated with performance-based incentives. People who consistently demonstrate they are driven by ethical behavior need to be recognized and celebrated. There must be a clear connection between ethical conduct and potential career advancement. The consequences of a persons unethical behavior need to be discussed immediately and be accompanied by an alteration to their career advancement within the company.
Business Ethics Must Be Presented, Preserved and Promoted By: J. Glenn Ebersole, Jr., Chief Executive of J. G. Ebersole Associates and The Renaissance Group
Do you have a code of ethics at your company or organization? If you do, is it followed on a consistent basis? Is there a system of rewards and consequences at your company for unethical behavior? Please contact Glenn Ebersole through his website at http://www.renaissanceman4u.com or by email at jgecoach@aol.com today to share an ethical dilemma you face or that your company faces and that you believe you could use a facilitator, guide and coach to assist in dealing with that challenge.
Business Ethics - Inside and Outside the Box
There are all kinds of companies out there that claim to have the best-trained individuals on the planet, like those individuals with their Masters De...
Are Your Business Ethics a Quart Low?
One definition of Business Ethics is conformance to accepted professional high standards of conduct.Most businesses have prepared, documented, and pub...
Business Ethics Training - Why Important?
Many people wonder if business ethics is just a buzzword that has been tossed around lately, due to some of the aggressive tactics we have seen them a...
Ethics In The Workplace
Workplace Ethics is a subject that we have all heard of. In fact, the subject of Ethics in general is something that most people are familiar with. An...
Putting Ethics Before Business
Some people believe that ethics is of little concern to business people. Ethics is ethics and business is business. When faced with an ethical dilemma...
Business Ethics and Social Responsibility
Business ethics is a form of applied ethics that examines just rules and principles within a commercial context; the various moral or ethical problems...
Work Ethics in America on the Decline
Some say that work ethic in America is in decline, but is it really or are Americans simply getting too over weight and feel more lackadaisical when p...
Business Ethics and Unethical Practices
The study of business ethics and its implications for different stakeholders have seen tremendous growth in the past few decades. There has also been ...
Ethics? How To Take the Measure Business
When asked to write a small piece pertaining to ethics and integrity in the business world, my first inclination was to draw on personal experience.Ev...
Business Ethics - High Ethical Standards In Business 100% Of The Time - 5 Principals Of Success
Business ethics maintained as a high standard in your business 100% of the time should not be an option, it should be your rule, a rule never to be br...
Lack Of Business Ethics In Online Marketing
It seems that whenever internet marketing is discussed, business ethics and moral issues form background issues. Starting an online business is well w...
Government Regulatory On-going Education Tests With Unethical Questions on Ethics
The government is requiring more and more businesses to comply with on-going education and yet we see that amongst these tests are tests in every indu...
The Critical Importance of Business Ethics For Effective Leadership
How important are business ethics to being an effective leader? According to the American Management Association, it is an important characteristic o...
What is Business Ethics?
The word ethics comes from the Greek word ethos meaning conduct, customs or character. Ethics addresses the implementation of concepts such as respons...
Handling Ethics With Employees
How do small business owners deal with the real world situation when employees suddenly up and quit their posts? It frequently happens with little or ...
» Filed Under
Business Ethics Courses