• What if…? – So an ethical situation has arisen. What do you do? Try these guidelines for dealing with an ethical situation:

• Gather the facts: Ask “How did the situation occur?” or are there any historical facts that you need.
• Define the ethical issues: Identify the conflict before jumping into solutions. Remember, there may be more than one ethical issue.
• Identify the stakeholders: employees, managers, customers, suppliers, financial institutions, community or the environment.
• Identify the consequences: Deal with those that have a high probability of occurring or those that would have a particularly negative outcome if they did happen.
• Think creatively: Is there only choice “A”? What about “B” or “C”? Sometimes the best solution is something totally different.

• Check your gut: Intuition can be a good source for decision making. If unsure, try the newspaper-disclosure rule—How would I feel if this were on the front page of the paper? How would I feel if my mother, father, sister, brother, child read this article about me? Another option is the kid-on-the-shoulder—What if my son/daughter is sitting on my shoulder viewing this? How would I feel about the situation from their perspective?

© 2005, Elaine T. Madden

Elaine T. Madden, Professor
Business Management
School of Business, Computing and Technical Studies
Anne Arundel Community College
etmadden@aacc.edu
410-777-2550

It is no secret that how you look or how your employees look has everything to do with making that first impression. In fact, research has shown that impression is made in the first 30 seconds upon meeting your potential client, customer or employee. Although every industry has standards for dress, here are a few things you might want to consider:

• Formalize your dress code policy. Put it in writing and make it a part of your employee handbook. Train employees on the policy and review it during the employee orientation program. Current employees may need a review as well.

• Live the part. You need to embrace whatever standards you set. If you require employees to wear a shirt and tie, then you need to do the same. As the manager, you must lead by example. It may be your business, and you may be the shorts and flip-flop kind of person, but nothing says the dress code isn’t important like the owner coming to work looking like he/she is spending a day at the beach.

• Watch fashion trends. Stick to the classic and timeless look as it never goes out of style. Watch body piercings and tattoos. You may think it is fashionable, but many of your clients don’t.

• Is it casual Friday yet? The workplace is becoming more casual, but do you want your employees showing up in jeans and a ripped T-shirt? Companies are finding that polo shirts with an embroidered logo are a great investment and way to solve the mystery of “What do I wear today?”

It is also subtle advertising, and the employees all look presentable.

• 24/7/365. You have groomed your business, but are trying to grow. You run into the grocery store after dropping your kids off at school and are wearing sweats, a dirty jacket, and bed head. The person checking out ahead of you is the client you have been trying to reach. As the owner/operator you are always “on stage” whether you want to be or not.

Regardless of the day or hour, whether you are in a store or at a game, you ALWAYS need to look the part. Business can happen when you least expect it!

© 2005, Elaine T. Madden
Elaine T. Madden, Professor
Business Management
School of Business, Computing and Technical Studies
Anne Arundel Community College
etmadden@aacc.edu
410-777-2550