The Ethics Factor

Some leaders think about the optics of good ethics in the work place.  They may have great ethics or they may not.  The ones that do not will often try putting on a facade for a customers or a supplier.  Do not forget to continually communicate ethics to your work force.  

If you fail to communicate to employees that might not have exposure to senior leadership, you are at risk to losing some of them.  There is only so much of a trickle down affect that occurs in an organization before it gets watered down completely.

The best way for a leader to connect with their employee base is to obviously let their actions speak for themselves.  Engagement from employees as a result of ethics is the highest with employees that see the following from their corporate leaders:

1.  A commitment to treating people fairly but also clearly communicating the goal of needing to make money

2.  Leaders that don't just restate the governing laws but communicating the need to go above what is the average.

3.  Leaders demonstrate character. Show moral awareness and competence through policies as well as actions.  4.  Leaders display empathy and caring for others 5.  Leaders that help others in need or putt aside time for mentoring employees 6.  Environmental ethics.  It is sometimes seen as window dressing but there are initiates like reducing packaging and waste that show an effort on behalf of the company. 

You can't teach good ethics to someone but for those that have it, use it to your advantage in retaining your employees.  For those with poor ethics, at least be aware that your actions are more visible than you would probably like them to be for all to view.  Farewell, Mike