Shared business ethics and values make everyone’s performance as individuals or teams much easier. People know what they can and what they cannot do, what is acceptable and what is not acceptable. So where does one begin?
Having strongly communicated business ethics within a values statement is the first place to begin. This values statement must be communicated and internalized by everyone within the company or the organizations.
Companies without values statements usually suggest that these same companies may not have strategic plans in place. Maybe this is why so many companies fight the strategic planning process?
For when you commit specific business ethics to writing, now you must enforce those same values. This is what I believe is the real integrity issue that keeps many businesses from writing a strategic business plan.
After you commit the business ethics and values to writing, then you must make sure that everyone is actively engaged in modeling the desired behaviors. Policies must be reviewed and procedures analyzed to ensure that these same policies and procedures do not violate the newly adopted values statement.
For example, if customer service is number one, then sales team chasing out customers at closing time is not a good behavior. Or maybe the call center team is mandated to keep calls no longer than 3 minutes. This might be a problem if customer satisfaction is a team value.
Beyond the policies and procedures, what happens when a team member violates the values statement? This is where the rubber meets the road, again an issue of commitment and integrity to uphold the values statement.
If no action is taken, the overall performance of the team will suffer. Remember back in school when the teacher’s pet did something wrong and was not challenged by the teacher? The same integrity principle applies here.
The values statement must be uniformly enforced if the team is to truly functional at the highest level possible. If you team is not performing where you think it should be, then return to your values statement as your first step to create a culture of high performance where integrity is first and foremost.
Are you interested in learning more about how to master success? Then you may find this combination e book and e workbook of interest, Three Missing Pieces of Organizational & Personal Success. Visit http://www.processspecialist.com/e-books.htm to learn more about goals, attitudes and self leadership skills as you travel the road to success.
Call me, Leanne Hoagland-Smith, the Business Coach for People & Companies that want improved results, at 219.759.5601 or visit at http://www.processspecialist.com to explore everything from how my solutions double results to articles and resources including the Simply Speaking series.
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