If we are going to make business more ethical, we have to start with ourselves, and we should lead the way for others by our example. We can all develop our ethical character. Following are some guides that can help you make the right decisions. Are you familiar with the Jewish and Christian Biblical Golden Rule: “Do unto others as you want them to do unto you,” or “Don’t do anything to anyone that you would not want someone to do to you”?

Rotary International has a motto, “Service Above Self.” This is a great motto to live by because helping others, as opposed to the “What can you do for me?” mentality, will improve relationships. Under the stakeholders’ approach to ethics, when making decisions, you try to create a win-win situation for all relevant stakeholders so that everyone benefits from the decision. Before you act, use an ethical guide to discern if the behavior is ethical or not. If you are unsure whether a decision is ethical, talk to your boss, higher-level managers, and other people with high ethical standards.

Research shows that making a decision without using an ethical guide leads to less ethical choices. Using ethical guides at the point of making a decision helps keep you honest. If you want to maintain or improve your relationships, be ethical.