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 BUSINESS ETHICS GUIDELINES AND RESOURCES

Home > 'Little Things' Mean A Lot

Business ethics involves a lot more than compliance with company policies, laws and financial regulations. These are major concerns with high visibility. It makes headlines when these are not obeyed. For those reasons, most organizations do not have problems with these issues. Instead, it's the "little things" that cause problems.

For most business people, it is the day-to-day, seemingly insignificant actions and behaviors by individuals that represent the largest area for ethics problems - and the greatest opportunity for ethics improvement.

The little things that we do every day are often forgotten by us. However, they can make a significant impact on people who see a certain behavior. Remember, your behavior sets an example. Even if you are not the boss, there is always someone else who watches you for cues on how to act in certain situations - for good and bad. These observers may be your fellow workers, neighbors, your spouse, or your children. What messages are you "sending" by your actions, words and attitudes?

To help you examine your personal ethics and see where you stand and where you need to improve consider the following ...

• "Little white lies" you don't (or do) tell;
• Jokes you share with others;
• Way you treat and talk about co-workers;
• Things you say to make a sale;
• E-mails you write and forward to others;
• Way you handle customer complaints (including the number of people they get passed to);
• What you put on your billing sheets, time sheets, and expense reports;
• Office supplies you don't (or do) take home;
• Commitments you make and keep (or don't keep);
• Personal business you don't (or do) conduct at work;
• "Unimportant" work rules you follow (or break);
• Things you reproduce on the copy machine;
• Standards you set for yourself;
• Level of quality you put into whatever you do;
• Credit you appropriately share (or don't share) with others.

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This information is compiled and provided by George S. May International Company.
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