Honesty in Conduct

Honesty is the bedrock of trust and trustworthiness. The moral command to be honest requires us to speak and act only in ways that engender and justify trust. That seems simple enough. But honesty is a broader concept than some realize. An honest person tells the truth, is sincere, doesn’t deceive, mislead, act devious or tricky, doesn’t betray a trust, …

Using the Six Pillars of Character to Get More From Your Organization

Michael Josephson explains how the Six Pillars of Character relate to everyday business operations and how they can be used to get more out of your organization.  Almost all companies are in what we call a compliance mode after the creation of rules and statutes like Sarbanes-Oxley. Compliance is the concept of rules and industry regulations creating the “laws” of …

Are you a Boss, Leader or Manager?

Writers on business leadership often point out the difference between a boss, a leader and a manager. Everyone vested with the authority to direct or supervise others is a boss. A boss has the responsibility and authority to lead; it’s a job title. The title turns into a verb when the boss “bosses” people around. Those who never progress beyond …

Including the Six Pillars of Character in Your Company’s Ethics Code

An ethical code of conduct must arise naturally from the company’s stated values and should provide detailed guidance for handling ethical challenges.  General principles without specific provisions risk being perceived by employees as just window dressing and may breed cynicism rather than commitment. Though provisions must be specific and clear, an ethics code should cover a lot of ground.  The …

Ten Benefits of Having an Ethics Code

“The single measure that would most improve corporate governance is the establishment by senior management of an ethical business culture.” – 2003 survey of corporate directors and general counsel Companies should have ethics codes to promote ethical behavior – not to enhance productivity, profits or public relations.  Still, a sound, well-administered code can benefit a company and its stakeholders in …

Unethical Behavior Worsens Productivity

“Nobody . . . should have any doubts of the linkages between poor ethics in the workplace and low productivity . . . When workers don’t trust each other and their supervisors, then morale is low, stress is high and output is undermined.”  – Kenneth C. Frazier (2003 National Business Ethics Survey) Consider: Companies without a code of ethics do …