Trust builds value in business ethics programs.

• Author: Hewson, Marillyn A.
• Position: Ethics Corner

* One of the first things people think when meeting someone for the first time is, "Can I trust you?" In business that question can mean the difference between success and failure.

Trust is built through ethical behavior. So, workplace ethics is serious business, with significant implications for reputation, recruiting, competitiveness, and at the end of the day, the bottom line.

People want to work for--and do business with--companies they believe in; companies that value integrity, accountability and doing the right thing. This is why, now more than ever, a robust ethics program is the critical foundation to any successful business plan.

Trust builds value--but first, employees have to demonstrate how much they value trust. Here are five tips for getting the most from a business ethics program.

First, establish an ethics program grounded in values.

Every ethics program starts with values. This is about more than words on a page. It's a chance to lay out everything a company stands for--and all the things it wants to strive for. Lockheed Martin's core values are non-negotiable: do what's right, respect others and perform with excellence. And these are the ideals that its ethics program stresses as well.

It's important to identify the values that guide a company, and then establish its ethics program around them. Employees are making moral and ethical decisions every day. Leaders can't just leave these kinds of decisions to chance. It's essential to create a well-defined ethics program with straightforward policies, procedures and processes--and to reinforce them through ongoing education, training and communication. Next, build a culture of communication.

The story of the emperor's new clothes is well known. The emperor is swindled by some cunning faux-tailors; they tell him they've made him beautiful garments that only wise and competent people can see. When the emperor marches out in front of his subjects, it takes a child to tell him he's naked. Everyone else is too worried about challenging authority, or looking bad in front of peers.

Building a culture of integrity and trust depends on people's willingness to participate. Everyone in an organization needs to know that they can raise doubts or express concerns without fear of retaliation--whether those concerns involve themselves, a coworker or someone else. It's critical to make that clear, to keep the lines of communication open, and to set up multiple reporting channels, including...