Ethical blind spots risking your reputation?

More so than ever before, operating ethically is essential to your brand success and employee morale. Because public sentiment can shift dramatically against your organization with revelation of an ethical lapse, it is smart to build strong ethical controls – not just principles – into your organizational culture proactively.

Contrary to popular assumption, ethical failures are not limited to rogue employees. A phenomenon called “ethical blindness” is often the cause of catastrophic results. A fast-paced or high pressure work environment without proper offsetting supports can obscure obscure ordinary good judgment of even the best-intentioned team members, particularly in close-call gray areas of decision.

Clearly articulated internal standards that are observed throughout your organization and actively supported by managers at every level make it easier on employees and protect against serious reputational damage.

Ethical questions are also more complex when conducting business in countries that have different norms and expectations of what is appropriate. The Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, for example, constrains payments that can be made when conducting business outside the US.

The Conscious Business model adds a further dimension of ethical leadership. This is an orientation toward humanitarian activities and away from activities that, however otherwise profitable, do harm to people or the planet.

Assessment of your organization’s business ethics program effectiveness and potential areas of weakness. Solutions to quickly address any identified weaknesses.
Development and internal marketing of customized values and standards.
Crafting initiatives and communications to enrich the ethical environment of your business, including customized company intranet content and resources for ethical decision making and business practices.