This morning, I read about a company using on-line auctions to defraud customers. Last week, I consulted on an ethics complaint where a business coach betrayed client confidentiality. And, recently a doctor was convicted of insider trading based on information from a patient, a violation both business ethics and his professional ethics.
Business ethics are the key to profits. If clients and customers do not trust you and your business ethics, which does not do business with you. Would you buy from a company does not have faith? Of course not!
Business ethics have become a hot-button issue. There are often ethical conflicts between making money and doing what is right. there can be dilemmas of doing what is best for your employer, what it is best for their career, and what is best for the customer. Business ethics is to negotiate these minefields. Here are my Top 10 Principles for Positive Business Ethics:
1. Business Ethics built on personal ethics. There is no real separation between what is right in the business world, and play fair, tell the truth and be ethical in your personal life.
2. Business Ethics are based on fairness. It would be a dis-interested observer agree that both parties are treated fairly? Both sides are negotiating in good faith? Has every transaction take place on a "level playing field"? If so, the basic principles of ethics are being met.
3. Business Ethics requiring integrity. Integrity refers to whole-ness, reliability and consistency. Ethical businesses treat people with respect, honesty and integrity. They back up their promises, and they keep their commitments.
4. Business Ethics require telling the truth. The days when a business could sell a defective product and hide behind the "buyer beware" defense are long gone. You can sell products or services that have limitations, defects or that are obsolete, but not as a first-class new goods. Truth in advertising is not only the law, business ethics require it.
5. Business Ethics require reliability. If your company is new, unstable, about to be sold or gone out of business, ethics requires that you let customers and clients know it. ethical companies can be relied upon to be available to solve problems, answer questions and provide support.
6. Business Ethics require a Business Plan. the ethics of a company are built on his image of himself and his vision of the future and its role in the community. Business ethics do not happen in a vacuum. The clearer plan of the company for growth, stability, profits and service, the stronger its commitment to ethical business practices.
7. Business Ethics apply internally and externally. Ethical businesses treat customers and employees with respect and fairness. Ethics of respect in the conference room, negotiating in good faith, keeping promises and obligations for staff, employers, suppliers and customers. The scope is universal.
8. business ethics requires a profit. Ethical companies are well run, well managed, have effective internal controls and clear expectations of growth. Ethics is about how we live in the present to prepare for the future, and a business without profits (or plan to create them) does not meet their ethical obligations to prepare for the future well-being of the company, its employees and customers.
9. Business Ethics is based on values. The law, and professional organizations, should develop standards that are inflexible and universal writing. While they may talk about "ethics", these documents are usually prescriptive and refer to minimum standards. Ethics is about values, ideals and aspirations. Ethical companies do not always live up to their ideals, but they are clear about their intent.
10. Business Ethics are coming from Boss. Leadership sets the tone in each business area. Ethics are both critical to the way a business functions, or they are not. Executives and managers is to open the way, or communicate that cutting corners, deception and dis-respect are acceptable. personal line will always rise, or sink to the level of performance they see modeled above them. Business ethics begins at the top.
Ethics is about the quality of our lives, the quality of our service, and ultimately the bottom line. An unhappy customer complains with an average of 16 people. Treat employees, customers, suppliers and the public in an ethical, fair and open is not only the right thing, in the long run, it is the only way to stay in business.
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