When you think of business growth and expansion, the many things that come to mind include sales performance, incorporating more efficient operations, and establishing partnerships with opportune businesses. Business ethics is probably one of the last things you gloss over if you weren’t already wrung dry of all the ideas that came first and appear more enticing on paper.
However, corporations, organizations, and the vast business landscape’s role in the world have been transforming over the past few years. These entities are no longer seen as mere profit-making machines but perceived as corporate citizens with apt societal responsibilities. And while the rest of the world is still recovering from the past two years, many firmly believe that today’s market is everyone’s best shot at reinventing their brand image and improving company perception.
Growing Out of Strict Profit Maximization
To put things into context, it’s no secret that the strict profit maximization theory has been serving businesses worldwide very well since its inception. While it’s been through its fair share of criticisms and fixes, its rationale remains valid today. However, what’s changed is that profit maximization isn’t the only thing fixated on people’s minds when they’re on the job. Companies are now exploring the legal implications of business decisions, impact on public image, safety risks for employees and target audience, and any material effects of business behavior:
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Understanding the Legal Implications of Business Decisions
The law can be a pretty tricky adversary to navigate through. Without the right team of legal professionals and trusted process servers, you can easily wind up in a lawsuit. As a result, understanding the legal implications of specific business decisions that comply with employee regulations, partnership contract terms, and many others is essential to maintaining safety. That’s where business ethics swoops in. This concept helps keep you on the side of integrity and accountability with your decisions.
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Impact on Public Image and Relations with Good Governance
Apart from the legal side of things, businesses are more aware and cautious of the effect of governance and business management on public image and relations. And suppose a company dances around their brand message a bit too haphazardly. One wrong word or action can easily hurt reputation and connection with their audience. As a result, business ethics helps align projects and programs with messages that reflect good corporate citizenship.
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Safety and Loyalty Risks for Consumers and Employees
Business ethics isn’t about putting on a pretty facade for everyone in the world to see but is more concerned with promoting responsible decision-making skills and encouraging inclusiveness. Customers and employees prefer brands that make them feel safe. Their loyalty is reciprocated with good service and meaningful value. And that explains the critical role ethics plays in the grand scheme of things because strong principles are the foundation of smart actions.
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Financial Effects of Right and Wrong Business Behavior
Lastly, everything circles back to financial implications, and even if ethics should be the last possible thing that can influence money matters, ethical requirements and considerations are good for protection. Plus, with forecasts eyeing the US dollar’s slump, you’re going to need every bit of cash and liquidity. You’ll need to brace for any untoward event or incident holding you back again.
Creating A More Ethical Workplace And Brand Representation
Likewise, it can be difficult for up-and-coming startups to instantly shift some of their resources and appropriate them for other use cases wherein they can practice business ethics to its fullest. Therefore, you want to slowly work your way up to more impactful innovative strategies by starting with engagement in corporate social responsibility efforts and routing out toxicity from the work environment.
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Engage in Corporate Social Responsible Efforts
Although corporate social responsibility gives off a vibe that only a select few people can achieve, it’s not that hard to engage with people you’re serving in the community. And by simply contributing to community-led programs and projects, you’re already doing your part as a corporate citizen while maximizing your efficiency.
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Rooting Out Toxicity from the Work Environment
When dealing with business ethics, you shouldn’t only worry about external factors and decisions made after the fact. Internal control and overseeing the workplace are equally important. As a result, you can start by routing out some of the well-documented toxic behavior present in your work environment and aiming for a happier office space.
In conclusion, business ethics is a lot more impactful than people give it credit for. Given its universal nature and application, the same vital takeaways can work in different scenarios. So don’t underestimate what you can achieve with a bit of respect and honesty by your side.
