Ethical Business Decisions

One of my CEO leadership coaching clients knows that for his company’s strategic plan to be sustainable he needs to create a work environment with the highest ethical standards. I am consulting with the CEO to provide ethics education for his senior leadership team.

The CEO knows that for the company to thrive depends on all company leaders to create a work environment where leaders have the highest integrity and employees are fully engaged. He is empowering his senior executive team to create a culture of trust and accountability. Human Resources is partnering with the CEO to create a culture where there is a mindset of questioning unethical behavior. Our current executive coaching and leadership consulting work is focused on helping leaders at all levels model ethical behavior in making business decisions.

There are a number of ethical dilemmas one may face in the workplace such as sexual harassment, product safety and discrimination. These problems have no clear right or wrong answers. The following twelve questions may help you solve them.

Twelve Questions for Examining the Ethics of a Business Decision

1. Have you adequately defined the problem?
2. How would you define the problem if you stood on the other side of the fence?
3. How did this situation occur in the first place?
4. To whom and to what do you give your loyalty, as both a person and a member of the corporation?
5. What does your intuition tell you about making this decision?
6. How does this intention compare with the probable results?
7. Whom could your decisions or action injure?
8. Can you discuss the problem with the affected parties before you make your decisions?
9. Are you confident that your position will remain valid over the long term?
10. Could you disclose, without qualms, your decisions or actions to your boss, CEO, board of directors, family and society as a whole?
11. What is the symbolic potential of your action, if understood? If misunderstood?
12. Under which conditions would you allow exceptions to your stand?

Are you working in a company or law firm where leaders model integrity and high ethical standards? Does your company or law firm provide leadership coaching and leadership development to help leaders earn employees trust? During tough economic times, leaders need to fully engage their people in building a culture of trust and accountability.

One of the most powerful questions you can ask yourself is “Am I a leader with integrity who inspires people to make ethical business decisions?” Emotionally intelligent and socially intelligent organizations provide executive coaching and leadership development for leaders who want to create a work environment where employees are fully engaged and trust that company leaders will make ethical business decisions.

Working with a seasoned executive coach and leadership consultant trained in emotional intelligence and incorporating assessments such as the Bar-On EQ-i CPI 260 and Denison Culture Survey can help you create an organizational culture based on leaders who will do the right thing. You can become a leader who models emotional intelligence and social intelligence, and who inspires people to become fully engaged with the vision, mission and strategy of your company or law firm.

I am currently accepting new executive coaching, career coaching, and leadership consulting clients. I work with both individuals and organizations. Call 415-546-1252 or send an inquiry e-mail to mbrusman@workingresources.com.