Creating a culture of ethics and compliance goes beyond just detecting and preventing violations. It involves promoting a company’s business or organisations’ mission, values, and definition of success. While there may be differing opinions on what “success” means, it is clear that companies with a strong ethical culture and corporate mission perform optimally due to engaged, productive, and committed employees. To achieve this, leaders must demonstrate a strong commitment by promoting a vision for success, emphasizing the company mission, and recognizing the importance of corporate culture in achieving shared goals. These leaders prioritize mission-driven behaviors and actively respond to and address employee concerns with empathy and action. While words are crucial, it is the actions taken by these leaders that truly show their understanding and dedication to employee morale. Having a vibrant ethics and compliance function is essential for companies of all sizes and in every market. Some may debate whether ethics and compliance create or reflect a company’s corporate culture, but in reality, they are interdependent and grow together. To succeed, both must be nurtured and maintained. By implementing these principles of ethical leadership and fostering a strong ethical culture, companies can ensure their long-term success, employee satisfaction, and stakeholder interests.
