ALL YOU HAVE IS YOUR INTEGRITY: WHY LEAVE IT TO CHANCE

Right Vs Wrong
Everyone knows right from wrong. Right? Wrong. People disagree about the definition of right and wrong all the time. That is why the topic of business ethics is currently front and center in the media and in office break rooms. And, as our world becomes more complex, sometimes the right answer, the one that meets the needs of the most stakeholders: employees, customers, potential employees, and board members, lies somewhere in the middle. We encounter tricky ‘middle path situations’ in almost all organizations. Are these "bad people" or "good people" making questionable ethical choices? Do they even consider whether the choices they are making are ethical? So, before we relegate the subject of business ethics to the touchy-feely, head-in-the-clouds worlds of philosophy, religion, or academia, consider the potential positive impact on your organization of a working code of business ethics.

Institutionalizing Code of Business Ethics
Developing a code of business ethics will not stop unethical behavior but it will give people something to think about, a measurement against which to assess their behavior. We can develop a written code of business ethics that guides the decision making and actions of all of your stakeholders. Our reputation and track record for ethical behavior and integrity are vital for establishing the trust that is the basis for all successful relationships we sustain including those with our customers, employees, community and stock holders. Once we have developed your code of business ethics, the critical component in making it an effective tool is using the code, daily, if possible. Develop a universally applicable code of ethics and make it live in your organization by organizing interactive challenge sessions across the organization at all levels. We then should use the document as a measurement or guideline for all actions and decisions in the company. After all, the organization’s reputation and integrity are too important to leave to chance.

-Anshumali Saxena www.soilindia.net