Management Integrity in Today's Economy
Dennis AuBuchon
March 09, 2009
With the current economic crisis in our country and the world the issue of integrity seems to present itself. There are many companies who made bad decisions but there are also companies that are affected by the bad decisions of others with which they work. This not only affects the company but also the employees who work for them. Granted the current economic crisis did not happen overnight as it was a domino effect of decisions made years before. The solution is also not going to be a fast one as many individuals have stated. Integrity can play a part in the recovery of our economy and the world.
Every decision we make as individuals and as management of companies can affect the bottom line. Decisions made must involve integrity principles in making the right decisions based on proper analysis of the current environment. There have been many instances identified in the news with companies needing bailout money from the government. I wish to state there are countless others who continue to work and make the right decisions for themselves, their company and their employees. This fact seems to get lost in the reported news. All we seem to hear is that things are bad in the economy but there are positive things that seem to get ignored.
The last statement in the previously paragraph is not meant to downplay the present crisis. I know there are millions of individuals who have lost their jobs or are in fear of losing it. This creates difficult situations with difficult decisions to be made by all of us. Management of companies can help in making the right decisions for their company, their employees and their families. I once heard a statement that rings true today. It was said that downsizing is easy but making it work is the hard part.
Many companies today are facing reduced income as a result of people spending less. Today even with the present environment there are millions of people still working. Restaurants still seem to be busy which in itself contradicts the present situation. The media is right to identify conditions which are hurting individuals today but they should also identify the positive aspects. As things continue to evolve how we react to the issues before us and how government is reacting or not reacting plays a critical part in how we perceive our individual situations.
The decisions that companies are facing today are not easy. It is time for companies to care more about their employees and the impact decisions they make will have on them and their families. This statement is not meant to be a criticism of all companies as there are many who do care about their employees and show it every day. This perspective can present itself in the perception the public has of various companies. We as individuals talk and we hear from people who work for various companies and how they feel about their work and the company they work for. It is important for companies or organizations to have employees that project a positive image to the public about their organization. This can only be obtained through treating each employee with respect not only for the work they do but as individuals. In the past employees who were good workers could count on having a job for years but this is not the case in today´s world. It seems with the ever changing business environment that many individuals change jobs at the drop of a hat so to speak. This can be for various reasons, many personal. Part of these decisions can be based on how they are treated by their organizations and the pay for their responsibilities.
Many individuals perform valuable functions in many companies and these companies must understand their needs and work to keep them. There is a term pay for performance. This statement is used many times in the business environment. Employees who do well in completing their responsibilities/tasks should be adequately rewarded. Management and owners of companies/organizations must treat their employees with respect and integrity. Companies need to be loyal to their employees by being honest with them when situations surface that may affect their jobs. Employees need to be loyal to their employers and do their jobs to the best of their abilities. Each of these scenarios involves the principles of integrity.
Integrity can go a long way in projecting a positive image to the public who may be interested in the product or service you produce. There seems to be many who are out to make the sale but do not have the customer in mind. It is important for companies to have good customer relations. This helps to keep customers and get new ones. When people are dissatisfied with the way they are treated they generally go to competitors of companies with which they have done business. This is especially true where there is competition for the products or services a company offers. Customers appreciate being treated fairly by companies. When they have issues they expect them to be corrected.
The last point to make about management integrity is that it must not only be spoken but evidenced in the way they conduct business. If company management or owners instill integrity in the policies to which they operate this must be evident in the perception customers or potential customers have. A company that operates with integrity principles and cares about their employees and customers will succeed. Employees who are happy can exhibit that atmosphere when they communicate to customers. The environment we currently have and the impact it has on companies will in my opinion be reduced if it is evident that they are committed to the principles of integrity. The key word in this aspect is communication. Communication must exist between management and employees. This not only helps the flow of information but is an aid in communicating management philosophy in the workplace. Lack of communication affects how a company operates and how functions properly get accomplished. Miscommunication or the lack of it can lead to errors in the workplace. A company that has an established communication process will succeed if their products or services are needed by consumers.
Communication must also exist between a company, their employees and their customers. Employees must understand what customers want and work to provide it. This must be evidenced not only during face to face communication but also telephone and in writing where necessary. Customers want to be appreciated as they can go other places such as competitors if they are not satisfied with the products or customer interaction they receive. This involves not only employees of a company but the management. Customers sometimes have problems with products they have ordered and when this occurs and they feel the need to contact management, they should respond and not delegate action to a subordinate. Granted delegating authority may be acceptable in some cases but not if the customer is unsatisfied with the actions or inactions they have received.
Management must project that customers are important and deserve respect and actions for their concerns or problems. Some companies have a statement that customer service is an important philosophy but these words must be backed with action. Customer service in any organization can make or break a company in its effort to be successful. A company with a good product or service will fail in my opinion if they have poor customer service. Operating with integrity principles must come from the top down and management is a key ingredient in making sure these principles are in place. Actions or inactions by management project an image to employees. That image must be positive with regard to integrity principles. If management displays integrity principles in their actions not just words, employees will see it and know that these principles are important to the company. One last point to make is the statement of do as I say not as I do. This philosophy will not work in today´s environment.
Every decision we make as individuals and as management of companies can affect the bottom line. Decisions made must involve integrity principles in making the right decisions based on proper analysis of the current environment. There have been many instances identified in the news with companies needing bailout money from the government. I wish to state there are countless others who continue to work and make the right decisions for themselves, their company and their employees. This fact seems to get lost in the reported news. All we seem to hear is that things are bad in the economy but there are positive things that seem to get ignored.
The last statement in the previously paragraph is not meant to downplay the present crisis. I know there are millions of individuals who have lost their jobs or are in fear of losing it. This creates difficult situations with difficult decisions to be made by all of us. Management of companies can help in making the right decisions for their company, their employees and their families. I once heard a statement that rings true today. It was said that downsizing is easy but making it work is the hard part.
Many companies today are facing reduced income as a result of people spending less. Today even with the present environment there are millions of people still working. Restaurants still seem to be busy which in itself contradicts the present situation. The media is right to identify conditions which are hurting individuals today but they should also identify the positive aspects. As things continue to evolve how we react to the issues before us and how government is reacting or not reacting plays a critical part in how we perceive our individual situations.
The decisions that companies are facing today are not easy. It is time for companies to care more about their employees and the impact decisions they make will have on them and their families. This statement is not meant to be a criticism of all companies as there are many who do care about their employees and show it every day. This perspective can present itself in the perception the public has of various companies. We as individuals talk and we hear from people who work for various companies and how they feel about their work and the company they work for. It is important for companies or organizations to have employees that project a positive image to the public about their organization. This can only be obtained through treating each employee with respect not only for the work they do but as individuals. In the past employees who were good workers could count on having a job for years but this is not the case in today´s world. It seems with the ever changing business environment that many individuals change jobs at the drop of a hat so to speak. This can be for various reasons, many personal. Part of these decisions can be based on how they are treated by their organizations and the pay for their responsibilities.
Many individuals perform valuable functions in many companies and these companies must understand their needs and work to keep them. There is a term pay for performance. This statement is used many times in the business environment. Employees who do well in completing their responsibilities/tasks should be adequately rewarded. Management and owners of companies/organizations must treat their employees with respect and integrity. Companies need to be loyal to their employees by being honest with them when situations surface that may affect their jobs. Employees need to be loyal to their employers and do their jobs to the best of their abilities. Each of these scenarios involves the principles of integrity.
Integrity can go a long way in projecting a positive image to the public who may be interested in the product or service you produce. There seems to be many who are out to make the sale but do not have the customer in mind. It is important for companies to have good customer relations. This helps to keep customers and get new ones. When people are dissatisfied with the way they are treated they generally go to competitors of companies with which they have done business. This is especially true where there is competition for the products or services a company offers. Customers appreciate being treated fairly by companies. When they have issues they expect them to be corrected.
The last point to make about management integrity is that it must not only be spoken but evidenced in the way they conduct business. If company management or owners instill integrity in the policies to which they operate this must be evident in the perception customers or potential customers have. A company that operates with integrity principles and cares about their employees and customers will succeed. Employees who are happy can exhibit that atmosphere when they communicate to customers. The environment we currently have and the impact it has on companies will in my opinion be reduced if it is evident that they are committed to the principles of integrity. The key word in this aspect is communication. Communication must exist between management and employees. This not only helps the flow of information but is an aid in communicating management philosophy in the workplace. Lack of communication affects how a company operates and how functions properly get accomplished. Miscommunication or the lack of it can lead to errors in the workplace. A company that has an established communication process will succeed if their products or services are needed by consumers.
Communication must also exist between a company, their employees and their customers. Employees must understand what customers want and work to provide it. This must be evidenced not only during face to face communication but also telephone and in writing where necessary. Customers want to be appreciated as they can go other places such as competitors if they are not satisfied with the products or customer interaction they receive. This involves not only employees of a company but the management. Customers sometimes have problems with products they have ordered and when this occurs and they feel the need to contact management, they should respond and not delegate action to a subordinate. Granted delegating authority may be acceptable in some cases but not if the customer is unsatisfied with the actions or inactions they have received.
Management must project that customers are important and deserve respect and actions for their concerns or problems. Some companies have a statement that customer service is an important philosophy but these words must be backed with action. Customer service in any organization can make or break a company in its effort to be successful. A company with a good product or service will fail in my opinion if they have poor customer service. Operating with integrity principles must come from the top down and management is a key ingredient in making sure these principles are in place. Actions or inactions by management project an image to employees. That image must be positive with regard to integrity principles. If management displays integrity principles in their actions not just words, employees will see it and know that these principles are important to the company. One last point to make is the statement of do as I say not as I do. This philosophy will not work in today´s environment.