Constructive Ethics - Positive Work Environment

Ethical practices which are positive, encouraging, affirming and consistent will entice performance at a high level because the team will feel challenged, appreciated, comfortable and excited about the organization.

I have worked in several different retail environments and been successful at developing into management at most of them. Two organizations in particular had quite different ethical standards and as such different levels of performance.

In one environment there was no encouraging, team building going on. There was only ridicule and personal attacks for not reaching goal or making a sale. There was no opportunity for advancement because the organization believed in hiring those with experience rather than developing someone into a leader. This environment contributed to a very uncomfortable and unproductive work setting because everyone was a competitor to each other for sales and the manager knew none of us would move up to his job so he didn't care.

The other organization was as opposite as it could be. From day one with the company you were told about all the possibilities for advancement, you were rewarded with in-store recognition for doing your job well and treated with respect as a fellow co-worker. The General Manager once told me that his and the organizations intention was for managers to train up new leaders in the organization to be better at the job than they were. Everyone gave 110% because they were appreciated and we all knew we were working towards the some goals.