By Richard Slater
These days, ethics is a buzzword in corporate America. We host conferences touting it. We ask our students to read books describing it and we orientate our employees to practice it. Loosely translated, ethics are moral standards—in other words, rules of conduct dealing with what’s right and wrong. Universities and corporations do a fantastic job in teaching young people a profession, but sometimes they do not go far enough in teaching how to be professional. Ethics play an important role both in the success of a business and in our success as individuals. We should always remember that our behavior and actions will have some impact on our employer, directly or indirectly. So, if you feel like you shouldn’t be doing something, odds are you probably shouldn’t. Listed below are 10 simple ways that we can all ensure that we are practicing ethical behavior.
1. When in Rome, do as the Romans do. Embrace your company’s culture and values. Most companies have core values and codes of conduct that they cultivate. Know your role and responsibility.
2. Honesty IS the best policy. Your decisions have long-term effects on your career. It only takes one poor choice to taint your reputation. When it comes to vacation, sick time and reporting billable time, be as accurate as possible. Accept responsibility for your actions. If you make a mistake, own up to it and find a solution. No one likes the blame game.
3. Remember, company time is not your own time. In the Internet age, we are always connected. But your company’s culture plays a role in how acceptable it is to take care of personal business during business hours. Some employers don’t mind, as long as the work is getting done. In the case of social media sites, if you are on Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn during business hours, ask yourself why. Catching up on what Sally is eating for lunch or sharing your latest rant are most likely not the best uses of your time at work, nor are they benefitting your employer. Instead, use these sites to help advance your company’s mission. Sally will still be there when you get home.
4. Be aware of how you utilize social media. Be cognizant of what you post on these sites. You are certainly entitled to your opinion; however, be clear that you are expressing your own opinion and not that of the company. With that said, use common sense. And by the way, most potential employers will check you out on Facebook, so take advantage of the privacy settings and take down any inappropriate photos.
5. Zip your lips! Gossip in the workplace can be destructive and doesn’t help achieve team goals. Enough said.
6. Don’t misuse company resources. Have you ever taken a ream of paper home or used the company printer to make copies for the nonprofit for which you volunteer? When a need arises, let your manager know what you’re doing and what resources you need to do it. Just be honest and ask. Not asking for permission leaves both you and your company open to conflict.
7. Don’t take credit for others’ work. In many work environments, projects are a team effort. It’s important that you recognize the contributions of each team member. In the same respect, when you allow someone to do your work for you, it ultimately hurts you. What happens when that person leaves or you are asked to complete something because of your experience? Not only are you unprepared to do your job, but taking credit for work you didn’t do is simply stealing.
8. Do not misrepresent yourself—especially on your resume! A manager was conducting interviews to fill a position. On one resume, he noticed that the applicant said she chaired a committee in a volunteer organization on which he happened to be a board member. During the interview, the manager asked the applicant about her role within the organization. She explained that she led a project, not knowing that the manager himself had been involved in developing the very same project about which she was speaking. Needless to say, her transgression did not go over well with the hiring manager. Not surprisingly, she did not get hired.
9. It’s not all about you. One of the pitfalls young professionals fall into is focusing more on themselves than their clients. If you are worried too much about how things can improve your own agenda, you will fail to see the value in forging and cultivating relationships, both internally and externally. Being too self-absorbed can lead to a disconnection between what’s important to you and what’s important to the company. That, in turn, can cause your ethics to waver.
10. Seek guidance. If you find yourself faced with an ethical dilemma, seek out a mentor in whom you can trust and confide.
A strong foundation of professional ethics goes a long way in making you and your company someone and something of which we can all be proud. As noted management guru Peter Drucker is fond of saying, “Management is doing things right; LEADERSHIP is doing the RIGHT things.”
