Business Ethics Cannot Ignore the 800# Gorilla
Business Ethics Cannot Ignore the 800# Gorilla
As a business consultant and sales coach, I have witnessed this same issue in small to larger organizations and even within individuals. People still confuse symptoms with problems.
In 2008, I wrote a column for a local newspaper in Northwest IN about how I observed a local businessman who paid for one paper and took two. This is the problem. This is "800# gorilla" in the room that everyone continues to walk around and ignore. We continue to give the "Wink and a Nod" to business ethics and individual behaviors.
The writing has been on the wall for many years from declining work ethics to the increase in white-collar business crime. Even within our own government, a bill starts as a few pages and ends up as 400 pages because of all the pork that has been added. Sure the pork may help one community, but overall, it does not help the country. In business it is no different. Executives add pork to the budget for their own personal greed and the company suffers. A prime example is insurance giant, AIG, that was given a bailout and then their executives received a golden parachute.
I believe that well over 95% of all adults know what is right and what is wrong. Yet, individuals in all roles in all types of organizations continue to engage in the “Wink and the Nod” behaviors knowing full well what they are doing is wrong.
During the last couple of decades in the U.S., we have experienced countless examples of what happens when positive core values and ethics are missing in the individuals involved in private and public organizations. Organizational examples include Arthur Anderson and Enron. Individual instances can be read any day of the week from fraudulent business people to politicians.
However, these behaviors can be reversed, but to be honest it is difficult. For individuals will have to be committed to doing what is right and not what is easy. In effective and authentic leadership, this is called making good choices and tough decisions. Watch the classic movie, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, to understand that being true to your core values, those non-negotiable behaviors, does challenge your head (thoughts), your heart (beliefs) and your hands (behaviors).
TAKE ACTION: Sit down and revisit the Values Statement within your strategic business action plan. Be able to clearly describe the behaviors that you and your employees will demonstrate in all interactions with both internal and external customers. If you do not have a Values Statement, write one. Then read it each and every day. Be prepared to accept the consequences that may include turning down business because your know it is not right even if it is profitable.
Business Ethics Cannot Ignore the 800 Gorilla - To learn more about this author, visit Leanne Hoagland-Smith's Website.
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Pick up any newspaper, watch any television network, listen to any radio station or scan the Internet and you can learn a myriad of reasons about why the U.S. is in its current economic crisis. After hearing or reading hundreds of economists to political pundits, I have yet to hear the real problem why our economy is in its current fix.
As a business consultant and sales coach, I have witnessed this same issue in small to larger organizations and even within individuals. People still confuse symptoms with problems.
In 2008, I wrote a column for a local newspaper in Northwest IN about how I observed a local businessman who paid for one paper and took two. This is the problem. This is "800# gorilla" in the room that everyone continues to walk around and ignore. We continue to give the "Wink and a Nod" to business ethics and individual behaviors.
The writing has been on the wall for many years from declining work ethics to the increase in white-collar business crime. Even within our own government, a bill starts as a few pages and ends up as 400 pages because of all the pork that has been added. Sure the pork may help one community, but overall, it does not help the country. In business it is no different. Executives add pork to the budget for their own personal greed and the company suffers. A prime example is insurance giant, AIG, that was given a bailout and then their executives received a golden parachute.
I believe that well over 95% of all adults know what is right and what is wrong. Yet, individuals in all roles in all types of organizations continue to engage in the “Wink and the Nod” behaviors knowing full well what they are doing is wrong.
During the last couple of decades in the U.S., we have experienced countless examples of what happens when positive core values and ethics are missing in the individuals involved in private and public organizations. Organizational examples include Arthur Anderson and Enron. Individual instances can be read any day of the week from fraudulent business people to politicians.
However, these behaviors can be reversed, but to be honest it is difficult. For individuals will have to be committed to doing what is right and not what is easy. In effective and authentic leadership, this is called making good choices and tough decisions. Watch the classic movie, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, to understand that being true to your core values, those non-negotiable behaviors, does challenge your head (thoughts), your heart (beliefs) and your hands (behaviors).
TAKE ACTION: Sit down and revisit the Values Statement within your strategic business action plan. Be able to clearly describe the behaviors that you and your employees will demonstrate in all interactions with both internal and external customers. If you do not have a Values Statement, write one. Then read it each and every day. Be prepared to accept the consequences that may include turning down business because your know it is not right even if it is profitable.
Business Ethics Cannot Ignore the 800 Gorilla - To learn more about this author, visit Leanne Hoagland-Smith's Website.
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David BarrDavid Barr is the President of Venture Opportunities, Inc. David has been a professional business broker/intermediary since 1980 focusing on General Business Brokerage and Mergers and Acquisitions representing client transaction value from $400,000 to $20,000,000. Mr. Barr has handled the sale of over four hundred and fifty companies. David earned a university degree from the State University of New York majoring in economics and business. David holds the Mergers and Acquisition Master Intermediary and the Certified Business Intermediary designations from the International Business Brokers Association. He is also a Senior Business Analyst and a Texas licensed Real Estate Agent. For more information about David and Venture Opportunities, visit www.bizdealmaker.com. - Visit David Barr's Website |
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Anne BarrAnne Barr has over 26 years experience in sales and marketing, six years as a franchisee. She has assisted over 367 business owners and purchasers to achieve their goals in career change, transition and exit strategy. She holds the designation of Certified Franchise Executive from the International Franchise Association, Certified Business Intermediary from the International Business Brokers Association and Board Certified Broker from the Texas Association of Business Brokers. Anne is active in professional organizations, networking groups and volunteers for non-profit entities. As owner/operator of four successful businesses, Anne has proven people skills and enjoys helping clients find the right "fit" in business ownership. Visit www.FranchiseOpportunitySpecialist.com for more information about me and my company. - Visit Anne Barr's Website |
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David AchesonDavid Acheson is the founder of DCJA Consultancy. DCJA Consultancy is a management consultancy business specialising in B2B sales consultancy. They offer bespoke and packaged sales consultancy including Sales Optimisation Review, Interim Sales Management, Sales & Marketing Review, 1:1 Sales & Management Staff Analysis, Management Training, Solution Sales Training, Creation of New Pay Plan, KPI's, run Customer Feedback Campaigns, assist with Recruitment, Coaching, Appraisals and set up Strategic Marketing Campaigns. David spent his early career in accountancy and then moved into sales in 1982, working in Office Equipment, IT, Advertising, Training, Outsourcing and Consultancy. He has held many Senior Positions in SMBs and Global Organisations including Head of Sales Operations & Head of Business Development. His knowledge, skills and great experience of the Sales Industry has led to David making keynote speeches and running educational sessions to key businesses through organisations including The Chamber of Commerce and Business Link. - Visit David Acheson's Website |
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Leanne Hoagland-SmithAre your sales where you want them to be? Will you be one of the few who achieves sales or business success or one of the many who have failed to change? Are you tired of being told you are like everyone else? Then you may find my first book on sales of interest. Be the Red Jacket in the Sea of Gray Suits, The Keys to Unlocking Sales available at Amazon or at http://www.processspecialist.com/red-jacket.htm. This book is a reflection of my no-nonsense approach to improving sales to overall business results. If you are truly committed to making sustainable changes, then I can help you secure a positive return on your investment because I focus on executable solutions not telling you the problems you already know you have. From training to corporate (group) coaching to executive one on one coaching, my approach is to assess, create awareness, build a goal driven action plan and then execute. The bottom line question is "Not do you or your employees know it, but do you or they want to do it?" Please call for a free strategy session at 219.759.5601. - Visit Leanne Hoagland-Smith's Website |
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Cheryl MatthynssensCheryl is a life skills coach, licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor and a 20 year entrepreneur. Cheryl's dedication to achieving a life of balance led to her expanding her teaching from the simple managing of life's daily challenges to adding financial well being as well. A direct marketer with DrinkACT, she is gaining ground in the online community with her concepts of making sure business owners, entreprenuers and employees have well rounded life styles. She opened up a small affiliate site - The Balance Guide- to help others find resources for mental and emotional well being. Visit Cheryl's blog to see more of the diversity beyond business she has began offering online at www.thebalanceguide.blogspot.com - Visit Cheryl Matthynssens's Website |
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