What can we apply training wise from our military that would help businesses practice better business ethics?
The first thing we can do is actually take the time to train our employees and emphasize the importance of personal ethics and doing the right thing. Business ethics can’t exist without the formation and practice of personal ethics.
According to a friend of mine who is a Colonel in the Army Reserve and responsible for over three thousand men, the military trains all the time.
It isn’t just the repetition of the training that makes our military successful. It is the emphasis on caring about the men and women who serve that is the key. Colonel Pete says that is impossible to create a trusting environment if leaders don’t take an interest in their colleagues.
Listen up executive leaders. Are you directing, mandating, and managing by numbers? Or do you care and welcome input from your troops that improve communication, increase loyalty, and increase productivity?
The majority of employees don’t trust you and don’t believe you are ethical. This means you aren’t practicing good values that leads to good business ethics.
Right now our companies mostly hide behind their words that encompass mission statements, values, and codes of conduct. Why aren’t they taking the time and spending the money to survey their greatest asset- their own employees?
It is a good question and one that isn’t easily answered.
The lamest excuse I hear is “We are all set. We have a code of conduct, mission & values statement, and governance/compliance programs in place that work.”
My response back to these executives is you are off to a good start but scraping the surface of what is possible. Words are a place to start, but failure to create working teams where ideas and input are encouraged is the kiss of death.
Organizations who hide behind written words tend to practice poor personal ethics and business ethics.
They tend to be stagnant and not growing. Companies who practice good personal and business ethics are more profitable period.
Leadership is entrenched for the wrong reasons and this increases the divide between upper management and the common worker. Companies have plenty of cash on hand to invest in employee training at all levels.
It is time to step up to the plate and smell the signals from the workforce. They are the key to increased growth and profits.
I can promise that if you promote and practice a values based business culture, the corresponding results will be better personal and 
.
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