The most ethical organizations consistently utilize building blocks leading to their success. Much akin to assembling Legos they systematically place building blocks in patterns that result in strong and unshakable foundations.
America’s pastime, baseball, has an achievement for batters called hitting for the cycle. What does that mean? A batter hits a single, double, triple, and a home run in one game. It is indeed a rare feat; but these players prove that they can consistently hit a baseball with some pop. While perhaps not comparably as rare, building values based organizations that are ethical has proved to be more challenging than imagined.
What are the essential building blocks for ethical organizations?
✅ Recruit personnel that have values, are ethical, and culturally fit. All too often organizations focus on a candidate’s past experiences and achievements in hopes of alignment with the requirements of the position. Unfortunately, they overlook a person’s values that usually drive performance.
✅ Commit significant resources for on board training. Organizations have unrealistic expectations of new personnel “hitting the ground running.” It is a cliche that ought to be flushed down the nearest toilet. In addition, we often see a lack of a formal & lengthy training programs that assist people at all levels so they can fit it and contribute.
✅ Continue to train and make retention a strategic priority. Employees favorably respond to organizations that take a consistent interest in their people. I believe that most people wish to improve their skill sets and learn new ones. Most organizations under train leading to workers eventually disconnecting and becoming dissatisfied.
✅ Mentoring is one of the most underutilized yet powerful initiatives any organization can embark on. In the purest sense it reflects what purposeful leadership should be and look like. Mentoring can provide meaningful feedback, direction, and point to new opportunities that might not normally occur. It is an essential building block.
My friends please remember this: respect, consideration, and courtesy matter a lot. Treat others fairly, decently, and equally.
Build your moral compasses carefully and always monitor them daily.
You know the battle cry: do your best each day. No one can ask more or less from any of us.
All the best / blessings, Mark
