After much reflection on working with a client on transparency as a focal point of their value statement, I have come to this understanding of transparency, particularly as it relates to ethics. 1. There are people smarter than us out there so don’t underestimate them. – How much and how long can a person “hide” illegal/unethical business practices before someone “wises up” as to what is going on? Let’s not be stupid here. 2. What your credibility? Don’t people want to do business with people they trust? – It’s not what you say, but what you do that builds or destroys your credibility. 3. If trust is the basis of all relationships, then what are you doing to develop and keep it? -Trust is based on honesty, humility and service . 4. People will follow someone they truly believe in. – What do they need to believe in? Truth telling, being other-focused and accountable to all. 5. If there is no sense of pride in an organization, can there be employee loyalty? – Pride can either be an evil or a good. Pride in an organization is doing the right thing, at the right time for the right reason and communicating that process to all. 6. Transparency is just good business practice. – Transparency is a crucial to an organization’s reputation and a good reputation is always good for business. 7. You will sleep better at night. – Being dishonest is extremely stressful in that one needs to remember what one said or did that was not true and isn’t there enough stress in life without willfully adding more?
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