What’s Important to you?

 

If you think having a personal motto (Code of Conduct) seems like a good idea but sounds difficult, think again. It is not.

 

I have spent much of my career getting people to support Codes of Conduct. I have also developed and written them for companies. Here are some tips for your personal motto or formulating your ethical compass.

 

A Word on Codes and Mottos

Early in the twentieth century, companies realized that they needed people to understand how they operated and their moral ground. Enter the Code of Conduct. Although it started as very operational, it has become more focused on addressing ethical principles such as fairness, safety, trust, and cooperation.

 

A company’s Code of Conduct is the foundation of every ethics and compliance program. It is a document that defines a company’s values and principles. Nowadays, it is a mandatory component of any ethics and compliance program.

 

Do you have a personal motto or code of conduct that you live by? Something that reflects how others see you or how you would want others to see you?

 

Are you like many companies that boast about their excellent code but fail to promote it within their organization?

 

Has it become a good ‘catch line,’ which, like other companies, is just a marketing logo, but the company does not practice what it preaches?

 

Make it short and sweet.

When Codes of Conduct emerged in business, the goal was a comprehensive, candid statement of a few pages. They had many limitations, and no one wanted to read and understand them. The best codes are no more than 100 or 200 words that succinctly say what the company believes and how it goes about its business.

 

Surveys show that employees prefer simple, clear language in business. They will comply better with codes that have a simple intent.

As a company of one employee, your code only needs to be a personal motto of one or two points.

 

For example, you might say that your motto is:

 

“Always help others” or “Don’t judge people before you know them.”

 

If it’s short and to the point, you have a much better chance of achieving something meaningful.

 

If you are going to use it, you had better believe it.

It was also noted early on that companies didn’t care if you followed their code; it was just there for show.

 

Many companies faced backlash for ‘false advertising.’ Their actions were unlike their Codes. They paid the price with damage to their reputation. This happens when their actions don’t match their promises.

 

A survey late last year by LRN of Code of Conduct showed, perhaps alarmingly, found the lowest ethical behavior among the government, education, non-profit, healthcare, medical, and biotech industries. These industries used their codes 10% less than finance, construction, and software, where about 64% of employees regularly referenced their code.

 

This is surprising given the expected high standards of their codes of conduct. They provide a good example of how you need to practice what you preach or not do it all.

 

If you are going to the trouble of having a personal motto, you may as well use it. You don’t have to tell everyone unless you want to; it is personal. Refer to it when daily issues challenge you. Use it as your guiding light.

 

Put it into practice on every occasion.

Last year’s survey on Codes of Conduct found that 90% of senior managers believed their organization’s leaders followed the code. This is better than 81% of middle managers and 69% of front-line workers. What is wrong with these numbers?

 

They are inflated. Senior managers in companies don’t want to believe that no one uses their Code of Conduct, and middle managers want to appear supportive of senior management (It is good for their careers!). Individual workers are likely to hold the true value of the company. Codes of conduct should apply to everyone in an organization and across all activities.

 

Your motto should be something you can practice every day. You should not have to debate whether it is right or wrong, good, or bad. It is your default setting, and it should become something you do as second nature without thinking too much about it.

 

If you have to have a personal debate about your code or motto every time you exercise it, it probably needs re-framing.

 

Make it reflect what you do.

As a final point, make it count for what you do. A motto, “I will always try to save lives,” while very admirable, is pointless if you only get the chance to do so twice in your life.

 

A motto that says “I will never cheat” is irrelevant if you are not in an environment that demands honesty. You could say, “I will never speed when driving because it could cause an accident for me or, even worse, for someone else.” This has the same intent but greater relevance.

 

So, after all this discussion, you may wonder what my personal motto is.

 

I have a two-part motto. The first is a hangover from my working days but still relevant to my life today. The second part is relevant to trying to change.

 

“Never ask anyone to do anything you haven’t done or are not prepared to do yourself.”

&

“If you always do what you have always done, then you will always get what you have always got.”

 

Most genuine people who care about how they live and conduct themselves usually have some form of motto or personal code that they live by.

So, what will your personal code of conduct or motto be?

 

It is a new year and a great time to put one in place.

 

I would love to know.

 

Till next time,

Calvin