It’s a question that has been repeatedly asked: why don’t we teach ethical behavior in business? If ethics is the study of moral choices, it is an integral part of teaching every individual within any company or organization. Suppose you will work within, be affected by, or contribute to the success of organizations and businesses.
In that case, you have to have a basic understanding of what behaviors are right and wrong. Ethical behavior in management and business tackles the topic of ethical behavior in management and business as it relates to individuals and organizations. Here are some ethical behavior in management and business.
Ethical Behavior in Management and Business System
1. Obeying the Company’s Rules
Codes of ethics help guide the behavior of individuals in an organization. However, even without codes of ethics, it should be common sense for an individual to obey the rules and regulations a company has instituted. The reason is apparent. Failure to follow the rules leads to poor management, which in turn leads to poor performance and financial losses for the company or organization as a whole. There must be mutual respect and authority to maintain a positive relationship between management and employees.
2. Effective Communication
Effective communication is another topic that can be addressed in ethics education. There are several types of honest communication. The first and probably most apparent type of communication related to ethics, is precisely those situations where people break the rules without stopping to think about what their actions mean. Not every company has a policy on how often employees should communicate via e-mail, but some do. If a person is expected to send an e-mail more than once daily, it is unethical to send more than one. The need for effective communication becomes more critical as the size of the organization increases.
3. Taking Responsibility
Taking responsibility means that when you do something wrong, you take responsibility for it. If a person in an organization never takes responsibility for their actions, they are likely to cause problems and get themselves into trouble. Even if they don’t get into trouble directly, they may be causing other members of the company to lose trust in them. To maintain the integrity and reputation of your company, it is essential to prioritize taking responsibility over just doing another task/job/workload. Many people take responsibility for things that they have no control over. This can lead to an overall decrease in morale within an organization and may even result in a lawsuit against the company.
4. Accountability
Accountability is another aspect of ethical behavior that is often overlooked. Be accountable to your peers, your superiors, and yourself. This means showing up to work on time, paying attention when you are there, and doing your job correctly. You may find that if you prioritize being accountable for your actions daily, you’ll find it easier to be ethical on a larger scale. For example, if someone is told to complete a task by Friday but doesn’t get it done until Monday, they are being unethical.
5. Professionalism
Professionalism is an important yet often overlooked aspect of business and management. To be a professional, you need to do your job right the first time and complete it correctly. If you spend time polishing up your work, you’ll be able to avoid problems further down the line. You may find that increased professionalism comes with increased accountability and responsibility, which are also essential aspects of being a professional in any business or organization. Many top executives have to act professionally to make it to the top, and you’ll likely find that the same is true for other management positions.
6. Mutual Respect for your Colleagues at work
Mutual respect for your colleagues is essential to maintain harmony in your office or business. No one wants to work with someone who cannot get along with others. A negative work environment can quickly become hostile if the person brings their problems from the office to their home. The best way to have good working relationships with other people within your organization is through mutual respect’s abilities, talents, and skills. Respecting someone’s perspective and how they approach a problem will allow them to trust you more.
Conclusion
Ethical behavior in business and management can be approached in various ways. By becoming more ethical within your company, you’ll be able to get more work done faster and will provide a more positive experience for all those involved. By understanding the topics above, you’ll know what is right and wrong within the confines of your organization’s ethics policy. In addition, you’ll probably be able to get more work done and make better decisions within your company as you become more knowledgeable of what is ethical behavior in management and business. And who knows, maybe you’ll even learn something new and exciting.