Loading ...
Every once in a while you hear the big breaking news. The goodwill of a corporation is tumbling down on the bourses due to some unethical activity. And who did it? Either it is one of the most trusted employees or the owner himself.
Whether it’s America with Bernard Madoffs or India with Ramlinga Rajus, the news remains fresh in our minds. While thinking about these incidents a sudden question popped up in my mind, can ethics be really taught?
How do we ensure ethical behavior? Are we tackling the issue in the right manner? Whether it is a startup or a well established enterprise ethics is something that forms the part of the organizations character and simply can’t be compromised with!
How are ethics driven in the organizations?
It’s quite unfortunate but most of us either are not bothered about driving ethics in the organization or are just driving ethics in traditional ways. Ways in which we drive almost anything and everything.
Ask a sudden question to any employee about how ethics are driven? The answer would be about processes which are in place, mails that he or she receives and many other ideas basis the industry the employee is in.
Now ask him what special is the organization doing or he is doing (if he is at a superior role or is an entrepreneur) to ensure ethical business. Things that are done only to drive ethics. Which can ensure results? The answer many a times is zilch.
How organizations should ensure ethical behavior
So are we satisfied with it? We know a six sigma process in place will guarantee almost zero defects. Is there a Six Sigma in ethics?
Let me be upright in mentioning that there is no magic wand with me. Nor I believe in any super quick formula that can drive business ethics. But I do have some ideas which I can share and I am open to the thought of having a healthy discussion on this.
Ideas for driving ethical business
- Hire ethical people: This might come as a surprise but do we really pay attention whether the person coming on board is ethical. While interviewing, do we ask questions related to ethics. Probe on things which might raise some pointers. Ethics is not a skill which can be taught, it’s like the attitude which is hard to change. Have a proper background check, interview well and remove the shaft from the grains before you get someone in.
- Trainings are secondary: We always have trainings on various topics that drive ethical behavior. At times I really doubt this. Do employees do it to understand importance of ethics? Or are they completing yet another mandatory training. Will the training assist in anything? I believe ethics should be discussed and driven in meetings by the seniors. Trainings then are secondary and a follow-up to these discussions. Also trainings need to track the changes post they are done. Else its utter waste of time.
- We die for family – We need to understand why people are unethical in workplaces. Why do they do - what they do? Will they behave the same at home? Will they steal stuff from their own family members? Apparently most of them wont. If workplace becomes a family in the true sense ownership will flow in. Will it guarantee zero forgeries? May be not but it will ensure that others will not join the party to suck up the corporations resources.
- Company can change the world – No I am not talking about the companies we work in. I am taking about the company we have. The people we are surrounded with and the topic we discuss have a great effect on our human mind. If the enterprise can ensure that people gel up with others in the right manner and there’s no group left out in the dark cubicles to plan something malicious, this can help a lot. Right company can work wonders, not just in ethics but even in business development.
- Whistle blowing policy is GOD – I learnt about whistle blowing policy via newspapers and a detailed study in one of my MBA subjects. I believe we are not utilizing whistle blow policy the way we should. Are there any statistics that we derive from it? Do we even have data? The answer simply justifies why we have more Enrons and BPs in our world today.
These are a few pointers that I had in my mind. Could have done a good research and posted a hundred more thoughts about ethics, but that was not the purpose. I believe listing points that I have genuine faith in would be way better than Googling about it!
In case if you have any thoughts on this. Any incidents that you would like to share, feel free to comment below.
“Integrity is doing the right thing, even if nobody is watching.”
