So how will you take your ethical culture to the next level?

What does all that has gone on with the leadership of FIFA, of Military generals, Congressmen resigning over ethics issues,to name a few, have to say about the leadership training all received? Who/What provides the “checks and balances?”
How about taking the time to do an “ethics check” to help pinpoint some of issues that cause these types of things to keep occurring?
Here’s an “ethics check,” to help evaluate what may need your focus and commitment.
1. Is the study of ethics an integral component of your compliance/ethics training program?

2. In what ways, is the importance of ethics and emphasis on ethical behavior communicated and encouraged and reinforced?
3. Do you have a code of ethics that is different from your code of conduct? If not what does that say to your people?

4. Are there plans for an ethics reinforcement program for your Board of Directors?
5. Are the ethics training initiatives for ALL employees from the top down?

6. In what ways is your ethical culture being perceived and marketed as a business advantage?

7. Are compliance and ethics clearly understood as being complementary and not synonymous?

8. Is the training budget for ethics training separate from the compliance training and is it funded proportionately and equally?

9. Are ethics programs perceived as an expense or as an investment?

10. What is training being planned and implemented this summer to take your ethical culture to the next level?

It’s only June and there is plenty of time to use these questions as a springboard for a very productive summer. Take some time this week to start the process. If not now, when?

fbucaro

Like you, business ethics and ethical leadership expert, Frank Bucaro has seen the challenges and problems of corporate leadership, particularly over the past few years in regards to poor decision-making, SEC violations, and record breaking financial settlements in a number of different industries. With over two decades of executive training, speaking, writing and with real life experiences, his view and approach to ethics in the workplace is uniquely different. He emphasizes that ethics is a moment-to-moment choice and has little to do with position, titles, personalities or education. Ethics is everybody’s responsibility from the top down. His goal is to help organizations to: a. Strengthen their ethics training initiatives in order to significantly decrease the odds of an ethical/compliance violation. b. Energize, train and motivate employees to understand the value of consistent “high road” behavior as a business advantage. c. Support individuals and thereby the organization by contributing to its success by quality, ongoing values based leadership development. Frank is known for his very practical, slightly irreverent, yet somewhat humorous approach to ethics and leadership development. His conversational style and real life stories connect with his audience in a personal, intense and practical level. Companies such as Bayer Healthcare, BP, ReMax International, EnMax Energy, Danone, etc. have partnered with Frank when they want to proactively stress the message, tools, insights and practical applications that good ethics IS good for business!