When you bring this all together you see a company is composed of awareness of organizational ethics and organizational awareness and you can't leave that to default. You have to actually build a very conscious program around that.
Traditionally, general counsel are keepers of compliance, ensuring policies are followed to protect a company from risk. However, because of this role, employees tend to fear and even distrust their Legal and HR departments.
Chesnut suggested this stigma can be countered by Legal and a CEO leading with integrity, for example, enacting a human-centered program featuring authenticity and empathy.
Chesnut, author of Intentional Integrity, shared how Airbnb created a culture of ethics across its 2,000+ employees by employing the 6 C’s of Corporate Integrity and building an Ethics Advisors program.
Key takeaways
Here’s some really important things you should remember:
- CEO: If the CEO acts with integrity, then it will flow throughout the organization. The other 5 C’s won’t matter if you don’t have leadership demonstrating the values and intentional integrity.
- Code of Ethics: It needs to be authentic and include input from a diverse group of stakeholders. Additionally, the Code should adopt the unique language of the company. For example, Airbnb’s vision is “Foster belonging around the world” and its mission is to “help create a world where you can belong anywhere and where people can live in a place, instead of just traveling to it.” The resulting integrity program’s brand tagline is “Integrity belongs here.”
- Communicate the Code: Once you draft and finalize the Code, promote it company-wide.
- Clear reporting system: Identity ways people can report and talk about problems.
- Consequences: When the code is violated, you have to be able to follow up with clear and appropriate consequences regardless how important or powerful the person is.
- Constant Communication: Keep the communication drumbeat going so that it becomes part of the cultural fabric of your organization.
Leading with Integrity: An Ethics-Based Approach for Business Innovation and Growth
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Turn good intentions into action
- Volunteer programs
- Employee giving programs
- Providing PTO for volunteering
- Partnering with outside counsel
Ensure diversity and inclusion for in-house strategies & programs
- Law in Tech Diversity Collaborative
- Ironclad’s Contract Analyst Program
- AdvanceLaw
- Pay It Forward
Rise to the issues of great moment
- Call to Action Letter to Outside Counsel on D&I Practices
- Supporting BLM Seattle
- Supporting CA Anti-Chokehold Legislation
Ironclad is not a law firm, and this post does not constitute or contain legal advice. To evaluate the accuracy, sufficiency, or reliability of the ideas and guidance reflected here, or the applicability of these materials to your business, you should consult with a licensed attorney. Use of and access to any of the resources contained within Ironclad’s site do not create an attorney-client relationship between the user and Ironclad.
- Key takeaways
- Leading with Integrity: An Ethics-Based Approach for Business Innovation and Growth
- Dive into something interesting
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