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Five Challenges of Ethical Leadership What values do you want to operate your company by? Use these guidelines to develop an effective code of ethics. Keep the focus on business practices There are certain issues that every business will want to codify; conflicts of interest, accuracy of financial statements, harassment and discrimination, workplace safety, and rules and regulations related to standards of professional conduct. While the way people live their everyday lives may have an impact on their work performance, you cannot regulate that aspect in your code. But you can create clear guidelines for the values you want to encourage within your company. Institutionalize ethics Be sure to train your staff on what it means to be ethical. Employees need to know what your code means and how it applies to a typical workday — in other words, take the time to make it real. Schedule classes, seminars and other sessions where these issues can be taught, reviewed and reinforced. Organize challenge sessions where you solve different scenarios using the business code of ethics document as a guideline for all actions and decisions. Be wary of zero-tolerance Most people have ethical lapses, but those that are truly ethical will admit the error, attempt to make amends and learn from the experience. Be aware that ethical issues are not always clear-cut; many professional quandaries exist in a gray area and you and your employees may need to determine the appropriate way to act. Try to recognize ethical episodes as they arise. With the appropriate facts, these predicaments can be resolved. Encourage healthy dissent There are few things less effective than a code of ethics sent down by executive mandate. Issues and values often need to be debated and can only be done in an environment that is open to divergent opinions. Encourage people to stand up for their beliefs, and create opportunities for them to bring important issues to the table. Set clear expectations by understanding that debate of issues and ideas must be continually encouraged and opinions need to be respected. At the same time, employees need to support the decision made by the group as passionately as they do their own opinions. Remember that it takes enormous courage to disagree, and that kind of behavior is critical to your success. Live by your code No one person in your company — least of all a leader — can appear to be above your code of ethics. You must be an ethical role model for your entire organization; otherwise, your code will appear to be nothing more than window dressing. Periodically examine your own behaviors to ensure that you are staying on the ethical track. Strong, open corporate governance demonstrates integrity, trust, predictability and transparency. These are the cornerstones of running your business ethically. |
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