Business ethics: concepts and principles

All social relations are regulated by certain rules and norms. The set of these rules is called etiquette. In the business environment, as well as in any area of ​​public life, there are rules of conduct, which are denoted by two words - business ethics. Let's take a closer look at what it is.

Business ethics is a set of moral and moral principles and rules that should be inherent in a business person. They must be strictly observed.

Business ethics arose from a mixture of secular and military etiquette. In the context of the globalization of economic relations, in order to avoid misunderstanding between representatives of different cultures, they tried to make the code of business ethics common for all participants in business relations, regardless of their culture, nationality, religion. Every self-respecting businessman is obliged to know and apply the principles and rules of business ethics.

Research shows that modern business etiquette performs a number of functions.

• Informational. Etiquette is primarily aimed at informing a person about the rules and norms of behavior in society.
• Standardization of models of individual and group behavior. Knowledge of the rules gives us the opportunity to act in accordance with the regulations in each specific situation, makes it easier to integrate into the team, reduces the feeling of psychological tension in business relations.
• Ensuring social control. With the help of rules and norms in society, unwanted deviations in behavior that can harm normal relationships are prevented.
• The function of diplomacy, political struggle. Compliance or non-compliance with business etiquette allows the interlocutor or opponent to understand the attitude towards themselves. Deliberate non-observance of the rules indicates a manifestation of hostility, the exact observance of all the rules can indicate respect and a mood for a positive outcome of the negotiations.
• Identification with otherscreating psychological comfort. Business etiquette is, first of all, a manifestation of corporate culture, corporate team spirit, it helps the employee to feel part of the organization.

Like any information system, business ethics has its own structure - it consists of macroethics and microethics. Business macroethics implies the interaction of organizations at the state and international levels.

Business etiquette is a relatively young direction of etiquette, but nevertheless it has a number of its own features that define business communication. Let's consider these features in more detail.

• The importance of reputation in business communication. Losing your reputation in the business world practically means the collapse of the company. Each leader should value his name, as it takes a lot of effort and time to gain a reputation among partners and clients. Business etiquette plays an important role in building a reputation. An unethical manager or employee can easily damage the company's image. Therefore, it is extremely important to ensure that the entire team knows at least the basics of business etiquette.
• Specificity and clarity is another important part of business communication. Goal setting is of particular importance in the activities of the organization, since all its activities are carried out for the sake of the goal. Uncertainty in the formulation of the goal or its inaccurate statement can lead to negative consequences. An organization that has no purpose has no meaning, so it cannot exist for a long time.
• Mutually beneficial cooperation is also an important element of the art of business communication. Every successful businessman knows that mutually beneficial cooperation is the best way to a profitable partnership. Business relationships always mean the concept of mutually beneficial relationships.

The importance of business etiquette cannot be underestimated. If you show unethical behavior in everyday life or in secular society, then your reputation as a well-mannered person is at stake.

In business etiquette, the following types can be distinguished:

• etiquette of live communication with clients;
• etiquette of electronic communication;
• phone call etiquette;
• leader etiquette.

Etiquette of communication with clients begins with the following fundamental rule: the client is always right. Proper communication with customers requires exceptionally polite, friendly, respectful communication. You can not interrupt, raise your voice, get angry at the client. The employee must always remain calm and give people the same attention, providing equal service. It is necessary to give the client an understanding that they are listening to him, his problem is important for the company. All these rules are achieved through the intonation of the employee, gestures, facial expressions.

The development of the network gives us more opportunities for communication. Electronic communication etiquette is one of the main types of business remote communications in the modern world. The following rules apply to email correspondence:

• filling in all fields of the email;
• understandable address and name of the sender;
• mandatory indication of the subject of the letter;
• compliance of the text of the letter with the rules of business correspondence;
• a mandatory response to an incoming business letter, with the exception of spam;
• confidential information cannot be sent by mail.

The requirements for the text of the letter itself are approximately the same as for oral speech - politeness and courtesy. But, in addition, there is a certain specificity. For example, you can not write words in the "caps lock" register, this can be perceived as a shout.The rule of good form will be the presence of an electronic signature. You also need to specify several ways to contact you (phone, fax, e-mail)

Also, in internal mail or in a letter to a friend, to give an emotional coloring to a letter, you can use the so-called emoticons - graphic images of a face with different emotions. It is not recommended to use emoticons in business letters and letters to clients, so as not to give the impression of a frivolous person.

The protocol of a telephone business conversation involves the following sequence of actions:

• think over the topic of conversation in advance;
• start with a concise greeting;
• introduce yourself and introduce the company;
• demonstrate a respectful response to questions and comments of the interlocutor;
• end the conversation briefly and politely.

The essence of managerial etiquette lies in the art of communicating with business partners, subordinates, senior management, and customers. The authorities should always be distinguished by calmness, high self-control and politeness. The leader must be able to listen and hear his subordinates, in difficult situations to meet them halfway and help.

There are not so many rules of business etiquette, but their observance is an open door to concluded deals and new partners.

• Time is money: a business person must master the basics of time management, save both his own and the time of his business partners. Violation of the rule of punctuality in the business environment leads to breaks in business ties, to the rejection of new contracts and termination of agreements.
• Dress code: surrounding people always form their first opinion about you in appearance - business style in clothes, accessories, hairstyle will tell about you as a person who has a status and position in society.
• Desktop: maintaining order on the desktop is an important component of the image of a business person. All items must be in their places. Remember: the mess on the desktop is the mess in the head.
• Literacy: business literate speech in essence should be an indispensable quality inherent in every businessman.

• Respectful attitude towards the opponent: if you act only in your own interests, all partners and customers will quickly disappear from you. You should respect the opinion of the opponent, even if it does not coincide with your point of view. Respect, without being overly altruistic, is the key to successful deals and productive negotiations.
• Compliance with trade secrets is also an important rule of business etiquette. Secret information will protect the organization from unfair competition, but its leakage, in the worst case, can lead to the bankruptcy of the organization.
• At work - work: do your best to fulfill your duties. The ability to work will quickly develop into a rise up the career ladder.
• Business gestures: closed postures, fuss, looking away will tell about you as a secretive, unreliable person. Watch your movements and postures - a straight posture, a confident look, lack of fussiness will tell about you as a person of business.
• Compliance with subordination It is also an important rule of office etiquette. This is perhaps the main characteristic of an employee that worries bosses in all areas of activity.

Following a strategy of ethical behavior by all employees of the organization will lead to improved discipline in the company, to individual career advancement and new appointments within the organization, and at the external level, the company will strengthen its ties and gain new opportunities. A person's knowledge of the basics of business ethics plays an important role in hiring and choosing among all candidates exactly his person.

For more information on business ethics, see the following video.