By Bizna Brand Analyst
Most people believe that governments are corrupt. Actually ‘believe’ is a weak word to use. I’d say most people know that governments are corrupt. In Kenya, we have the perfect example of a corrupt government. Our country can be used as a case study for school kids in Switzerland who don’t know what corruption is. But companies whether big or small are no strangers to corruption either. SO many people are engaging in
Corruption on a smaller scale is much more likely to get swept under the rug. We are far more likely to tolerate corruption in our small businesses because it doesn’t seem to have any long-term ill effects. But “seem” would be the operative word here. Regardless of the size of your business, corruption—defined as the misuse of entrusted power for private gain via bribery, conflicts of interest, extortion, embezzlement and fraud—will damage your organization’s reputation and may even have severe operational, financial, legal and regulatory consequences.
If you’re an owner, it’s in your best interest to expose and root out corrupt activities before they sabotage your culture. Here are a few recommended action steps.
Adopt a no-nonsense attitude
As an owner or manager, it’s your responsibility to clearly communicate that unethical behavior will not be tolerated in your organization. If you are not actively on board, you cannot expect your employees to be serious about fighting corruption. Do you have staff in other locations? You’ll have to work doubly hard to make sure the message gets across—and stays there.
Assess your risk
Proactively open a discussion to determine the situations in which your organization is most at risk of corruption. For example, are there certain existing business partners or payouts that are suspicious? Are there issues that are especially prevalent in your industry or type of organization? Don’t be afraid to get everything out in the open—better you discover it now than a third-party later.
Look beyond the obvious
Corrupt individuals are creative, and certain activities may seem innocent at first consideration. Examine all of your organization’s operations through a strict ethical lens and make sure that everyone—from senior management down—is universally comfortable with how you are doing business. If there is disagreement, err on the side of caution.
Roll out an anti-corruption program
As the boss, you should design a program that specifically addresses each major corruption risk uncovered in your assessment. Detailed explanation of and training on this program for all staff (including brand new hires) is very important, as is the adjustment of internal processes to ensure they are in lock-step.
Reinforce, reinforce, reinforce
I suggest implementing sanctions so that employees understand that if they buck the policy, their jobs or promotion prospects will be in danger. You should also provide a help line that individual team members can call confidentially to ask for ethical advice. Finally, as with any company-wide initiative, your anti-corruption program should be subject to periodic review and adjustment so that it’s maximally effective.
