Business ethics: concepts and principles

All social relations are governed by certain rules and regulations. The code of these rules is called etiquette. In the business environment, just as in any sphere of public life, there are its own rules of conduct, which are denoted by two words - business ethics. Consider in more detail 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 observed.

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

Studies show 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 join the team, reduces the feeling of psychological tension in business relations.
• Providing social control. With the help of the rules and regulations in society, undesirable behavioral abnormalities that can harm normal relationships are prevented.
• The function of diplomacy, political struggle. Observance or non-observance of business etiquette allows the interlocutor or opponent to understand their attitude towards themselves. A deliberate non-observance of the rules speaks about the manifestation of ill will, the exact observance of all the rules can tell about respect and attitude towards a positive outcome of the negotiations.
• Identification with otherscreating psychological comfort. Business etiquette is, above all, a manifestation of corporate culture, corporate team spirit, it helps an employee to feel part of an organization.

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

Business etiquette is a relatively young area of ​​etiquette, but nevertheless it has a number of features that define business communication. 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 a company. Each manager must value his name, since in order to gain a reputation among partners and clients, it is necessary to put a lot of effort and time into it. Business etiquette plays an important role in the formation of reputation. An unethical manager or employee can easily drop a company's image. Therefore, it is extremely important to ensure that the whole team knows at least the basics of business etiquette.
• Concreteness and clarity - another important component of business communication. Goal setting is of particular importance in the activities of the organization, since for the sake of the goal, all its activities are carried out. Uncertainty in the formulation of the goal or inaccurate statement of it can lead to negative consequences. An organization that does not have a goal does not make sense, therefore it cannot exist for a long time.
• Mutually beneficial cooperation It 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 imply the notion of mutually beneficial relationships.

Do not underestimate the importance of business etiquette. If you show unethical behavior in everyday life or in secular society, then your reputation as an educated person is at stake.

In business etiquette, the following types can be distinguished:

• etiquette live communication with customers;
• electronic communication etiquette;
• etiquette phone calls;
• etiquette of the head.

The etiquette of communication with customers begins with the following basic rule: the customer is always right. Proper communication with customers involves extremely polite, friendly, respectful communication. You can not interrupt, raise your voice, get angry at the client. The employee must always remain calm and give equal attention to people, providing equal service. It is necessary to give the client an understanding of what is being listened to, his problem is important for the company. All these rules are achieved by employee intonation, 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 distance communications in the modern world. In the electronic correspondence follow the following rules:

• filling in all fields of the email;
• clear address and name of the sender;
• Mandatory indication of the subject of the letter;
• correspondence of the text of the letter to the rules of business correspondence;
• Mandatory response to an incoming business letter, with the exception of spam;
• Confidential information by mail can not be sent.

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

Also in the internal mail or in a letter to a familiar person, so-called emoticons can be used to add emotional coloring to a letter - graphic images of a person with different emotions. In business letters and letters to customers, smiles are not recommended, 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 laconic greeting;
• Introduce yourself and introduce the company;
• show respectful reaction to the questions and comments of the interlocutor;
• short and politely end the conversation.

The essence of the head etiquette is the art of communication with business partners, subordinates, senior management, and clients. The authorities must always be distinguished by calm, high composure and politeness. The leader must be able to listen and hear his subordinates, in difficult situations to meet them and help.

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

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

• Respectful attitude to the opponent: if you act only in your own interests, all partners and customers will quickly disappear. Opponent's opinion should be respected, even if it does not coincide with your point of view. Respect, without excessive altruism, is the key to successful deals and productive negotiations.
• Compliance with trade secrets It is also an important rule of business etiquette. Secret information will protect the organization from unfair competition, but leakage in the worst case can lead to bankruptcy of the organization.
• At work - work: give maximum effort to perform their duties. The ability to work will quickly grow into a take-off on the career ladder.
• Business gestures: closed poses, vanity, looking away will tell about you as a secretive, unreliable person. Watch your movements and postures - straight posture, confident look, lack of fussiness will tell about you as a person of business.
• Subordination It is also an important rule of official etiquette. This is almost the main characteristic of the employee, who cares for the bosses in all areas of activity.

Following the strategy of ethical behavior by all employees of the organization will lead to improved discipline in the company, individual climbing up the career ladder and new appointments within the organization, and at the external level the company will strengthen its ties and receive new opportunities. The knowledge of business fundamentals by a person plays an important role when it comes to recruiting and choosing among all the candidates exactly his person.

About what is business ethics, see the following video.