The role of ethos and values in a business is as important in business, as it is in our routine lives. No one ever wants to be associated with unethical practices deliberately, circumstances drives them to being unethical more often. Similarly, no one ever starts a business thinking they will resort to unethical means; however, circumstances arise where most businesses adopt the practice of being unethical. A business that is not built on a strong moral base is likely to fall prey to these circumstances.
It is in the hands of the entrepreneurs to make their company culture. If they instill ethical codes right into the very culture of the business, the organization will maintain ethical grounds come what may. This is how one can design an ethical foundation for the organization:
Being fair in all situations
The first and the foremost step in being an ethical enterprise, is to be fair under all circumstances, no matter how difficult it may seem. A fair organization is one, where both the customers and the company come ahead for making the business a successful model. Winning at the expense of the customers is surely lack of ethical practice in the organization.
An ethical business is where the company’s success is driven by the success of its customers. You are being unfair as on organization if your business’s success is derived by failure or loss of your customers. It is thus important that you are fair to the customers as well.
Advertising for the products/services in a truthful manner
If you are advertising about the products and services that you provide with the help of outright lies then you are drastically lacking on your business moralities. It is important that you advertise for you products in a straightforward and honest manner. Although, fabricating a little with some creativity in communication and presentation is totally acceptable. Remember, you can only win a temporary customer support with lie-based advertisements, long time customer support and positive feedbacks come only because of good value of your products and services.
Adding decency to business practices
It is your duty as an entrepreneur, to set decency standards in your business practices. If you are easily able to discuss about what you do and how you work, with your spouse, children, parents, grandparents etc you are doing good with the decency element in your business. The moment you start feeling hesitant about your ways of working, is the moment where you have somewhere compromised on ethical grounds. An ethical organization talks about its business and the practices openly and with pride.
Adopting to sustainability model of development
As the old quote goes, this earth is enough to satisfy everyone’s need but not everyone’s greed. It is important that businesses today adopt sustainable development. The resources and global commons today stand in a state of misery. Businesses have to focus on holistic development. One cannot just consume more than what he requires for his personal motives. This is serious lack of immorality.
We have always kept hearing about gluttony as a sin. It is time that we measure it as a sin in our business practices as well, and not just in our daily lives. It is time that we start being ethical organizations before it is too late. Sustainable development is a global responsibility and everybody needs to make an effective contribution for the same.
Being an ethical organization means long-term customer support and success. It means you are doing things right and benefitting the world in general, with special focus on sustainable business development.
Summary
Ethical business organizations are fair, truthful, decent and sustainable. Ethical standards play a vital role in company’s long-term success and helps holistic development. It offers a win-win situation for the company as well as the customers.
