Tweet

The Ethical Road to Success

Guest post by: Betty Penny

Article Overview: Do you remember the old Sunday school discussions on being fair and having ethics? Today, ethics may seem to have gone by the way side but most businesses do have a code of ethics written right into their mission statements, as well as into their corporate literature. Public confidence is achieved through codes of ethics when they are shared in company literature such as brochures or sales and promotional materials.

The Ethical Road to Success

When we build an organization, we are really building our own beliefs and values into our company structure. Our organizations are, after all, a reflection of ourselves.As such, we wouldn’t go around stomping on our competition, bad-mouthing or bullying the smaller companies and destroying potential client relationships would we? Do you remember the old Sunday school discussions on being fair and having ethics?Today, ethics may seem to have gone by the way side but most businesses do have a code of ethics written right into their mission statements, as well as into their corporate literature.If they do not, it should be the responsibility of the owner, CEO, Board or by hiringa business consultantto establish a code of ethics.Usually codes of ethics reflect the nature of the corporation’s business.

A code of ethics is actually established through an examination of the company, its mission statement and its employees.It can be long and extensive in its approach or short and to the point.The choice is really up to the business owner.A code of ethics or standards of conduct and similar statements of corporate policy and value have actually become more common in today’s working world.Today, over 90% of all major corporations carry some form of public policy or code of ethics standards.The reasons for this is clear when one considers that codes of ethics help companies to increase public confidence, stem the tide of regulations, improve operations and even respond to transgressions.

Public confidence is achieved through codes of ethics when they are shared in company literature such as brochures or sales and promotional materials.Potential clients feel they can trust the company more when they see statements of ethical business built right into the literature of the company.Aside from just saying it, the company must also literally “live up” to it.It is hoped that when a code of ethics is written, and the business educates its employees as to its practice, that it becomes a self-regulating mechanism.

So how does a code of ethics stem the tide of regulation?With a code of conduct achieved, validity to the government is also achieved by demonstrating that the organization is on the “up and up”.Few businesses adopt a code of ethics without having proved the code to be true first.In this way the government is more apt to stem the tide of regulations surrounding the particular industry, if the industry shows the government that they are ethical and fair to customers.

Larger organizations require a code of ethical behavior simply because they have outgrown the days of openly discussing how employees treat customers, shareholders, potential clients, fellow employees and the general public.Many organizations have become more decentralized and they require a central and consistent message across the organization about what the organization stands for – thus a code of ethics.Even if you are a company experiencing growth, it is worth developing a code of ethical behavior as it keeps the message clear to new and old employees.

Having an ethical message is extremely helpful when a company comes under fire for some action or when a miscommunication happens.As a response to transgressions having a code of ethics offers defense in the face of either internal or external forces transgressing. Ethics will aid in the response.The caution is of course, to be truthful and honest, and ensure what you are stating is true.

Aside from ethics, social responsibility dictates that the smallest family unit to the largest corporation is responsible for the behavior of its members and will be accountable for their misdeeds. Like the old adage states, “What goes around, comes around”.Many organizations now have social committees, participate on community based projects, and actively demonstrate their “social responsibility”.

All of this is of course, for the betterment of society and the longevity of the business.For without ethics and social responsibility, as Ralph Emerson would say “the lengthened shadow of an organization would be much shorter indeed”.

Related Articles
  A Better Way to Live
  Ethical Transformation of a Leader
  Nine Commitments That Will Emphasize Business Ethics and Company Core Values Are Extremely Crucial To Your Business
  Business Ethics Guidelines: An Ethical Action Test From Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach
  “Building An Environment of Ethical Behavior. Ten Tips From Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach ”
  6 Tips on building an ethical company: Actions speak louder than words
  Things You Must Master on Your Road to Success! ~INSTANT CASH SECRETS
  Accepting Responsibility and Making Ethical Decisions
  Ten Commitments to Ethics and Personal Conduct For Business Coaches – From Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach
  Ethical and Honest Business Practices
  “BUSINESS ETHICS MUST BE PRESENTED, PRESERVED AND PROMOTED”
  Decisions Decisions Decisions
  How To Drive Your Business
  Sales Training – Salespeople, Let Me Sell You a Bridge!
  SMEs - supply chain and ethics
  Working with Ethical Gray Areas
  The Road to Balance
  5 Things you Need To Be a Successful Bookkeeper
  Managers Where Are Your Ethics?
  The Critical Importance of Business Ethics For Effective Leadership, According To Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach

Article Tags: codes of ethics, ethics today



Related Forum Posts
Re: New member from the USA - [quote="Ethical":cf54b60n][quote="Mal Tindle":cf54b60n]Hi Ethical, Welcome to the forum, it's good to see new people getting involved in any forum and you have picked one of the very best. I haven't been a member too long but am a regular now because of the support and resources available here which are most impressive. I see you work in the recycling of ink cartridges and I wish you well with that and attracting traffic to your site. best wishes, Mal.[/quote:cf54b60n] Thanks for your welcome,Mr.Mal,are you located in the USA,or the UK o'GB.or some other locale?,and if may I have your permission to ask,What kinda(kind of) entrepreneurship are you involved with?,as anything in life,education,and correct info...is the key to success,and Profesional forum attendance,is enlighting.Thanks again for your welcome.[/quote:cf54b60n] Hi Again Ethical, Thank you for your reply, I live in the UK and don’t have a product as such to sell like you but I am an Internet Marketer and owner of the ‘Work From Home Gems’ site below. I specialise in finding and recommending different ways to make money on the internet as an affiliate. I very much enjoy working in this sector and hope to work full time from home in the future. Don’t forget to set up your signature as recommended by GT above as this is a simple way to ad the URL of your website and this will show on every post you make, best wishes, Mal.
Re: New member from the USA - Hi Ethical, Welcome to the forum, it's good to see new people getting involved in any forum and you have picked one of the very best. I haven't been a member too long but am a regular now because of the support and resources available here which are most impressive. I see you work in the recycling of ink cartridges and I wish you well with that and attracting traffic to your site. best wishes, Mal.
Re: THE SECRET TO SUCCESS IS ALL IN YOUR HEAD...RIGHT NOW!!! - Success = Thinking (Head) + Heart (Feeling / Interest) + Hand (doing/ action). Success - H3 Robert
Re: New member from the USA - [quote="Mal Tindle":3s6v9kvh]Hi Ethical, Welcome to the forum, it's good to see new people getting involved in any forum and you have picked one of the very best. I haven't been a member too long but am a regular now because of the support and resources available here which are most impressive. I see you work in the recycling of ink cartridges and I wish you well with that and attracting traffic to your site. best wishes, Mal.[/quote:3s6v9kvh] Thanks for your welcome,Mr.Mal,are you located in the USA,or the UK o'GB.or some other locale?,and if may I have your permission to ask,What kinda(kind of) entrepreneurship are you involved with?,as anything in life,education,and correct info...is the key to success,and Profesional forum attendance,is enlighting.Thanks again for your welcome.
Re: Rumor Has It! - Thanks been there since the late 70's when the market was IBM and Victor. Road the Victor while IBM went though 286's and 386's. Do a lot of cannibalization to keep my Victors going A year ago lost my workstation's hard drive and more recently my operating system due to lightning strikes. Have bought a few computers and modems due to lightning. Take me about a week to recover a hard-drive Lessons learned: regularly backup your programs and data When I grow up I hope to get a what u call it "Power Interuptus Device"


Share this article with your friends. Fund someone's dream.

Leave a comment below or share on the left and you'll help support entrepreneurs in Africa through our partnership with Kiva. Over $50,000 raised and counting - Please keep sharing! Learn more.

Newsletter

Get advice & tips from famous business
owners, new articles by entrepreneur
experts, my latest website updates, &
special sneak peaks at what's to come!

Name:
Email:

Popular Articles

BUILDING A HIGH PERFORMING TEAM

Rumor Has It

Unspoken Yet Important Rules for Book Proposals

Suggestions

Email us your ideas on how to make our
website more valuable! Thank you Sharon
from Toronto Salsa Lessons / Classes for
your suggestions to make the newsletter
look like the website and profile younger
entrepreneurs like Jennifer Lopez.