Workplace values, like ethics, are an essential aspect of any work environment. Whether you work from home or need to be in an office, employees need to adhere to certain unspoken standards of work ethics.
In other words, workplace values can be considered as a set of guiding principles that will help to shape the way you and your colleagues work together. When specific values are shared to be expected in order to work together in a professional setting, fewer misunderstandings will occur.
A happier, more cohesive and understanding environment will grow out of such a nurturing environment. And that’s got to be a win-win situation for everyone.
With all that being said, what are some of these workplace values that can help to improve the overall quality of your work environment?
In this article, you will be able to find out more about the workplace value of ethics and 3 ways you can practice ethics at your office.
What is ethics?
Sure, you and I know what the term generally asks of anyone in a social setting. However, what exactly does it mean?
According to Lexico.com, ethics refers to “a set of moral principles, especially ones relating to or affirming a specified group, field or form of conduct”.
When placed into the context of a working environment, ethics can take on many forms at the workplace. As with any workplace value, we use ethics as a guiding principle to help us make better decisions as a colleague, and more importantly, as an individual.
How then we can apply it at the workplace? Read on to find out 🙂
How to practice ethics at the office?
Practicing the workplace value of ethics at the office doesn’t actually call for much effort! Meaning to say, that it does not need to be big or outlandish gestures.
We practice ethics through the simple, and daily acts of our everyday lifestyle. As such, here are 3 steps you can take to start practicing ethics within your own office space.
Practice punctuality
Practicing punctuality at work is one of the first steps you can take to practice ethics at the workplace. That’s right, it’s perhaps the foremost practice that should arise from your end when working! Why, you wonder?
Develop the habit to show up on time, regardless of whether it is at your own office or if it’s during meetings with others. By arriving ahead of time, you would be providing yourself with the chance to learn and connect with others. It’s also a sign of respect you will be demonstrating to your co-workers, clients and others.
Practicing punctuality expresses how importantly you think of others. And when you treat others a certain way, they’d be inclined to returning the same mode of treatment too!
Thus, practicing punctuality is one way to practice the workplace value of ethics in the office.
Develop professionalism
One can also foster ethics at the workplace simply by developing professionalism when working with your colleagues.
Oftentimes, individuals work so hard at the office to check tasks off their lists that they completely forego the importance of developing professionalism. However, developing professionalism calls for the activation of numerous soft-skills.
Some of these soft skills include leadership, problem-solving abilities, teamwork and communication skills. Such soft skills that can contribute to building one’s professional character is one way you can uphold the value of ethics at your workplace.
So, developing professionalism at work is one way to further foster the workplace value of ethics!
Embrace your mistakes and failures
The third, but perhaps, the most effective way you can practise the workplace value of ethics is by embracing your mistakes and failures.
Embracing failure is one of the first steps you can take to practice ethics at the workplace. Making mistakes is part of the learning process. When we go about our daily routines and juggle multiple projects, mistakes are bound to happen. As such, it is important we realise we are only human.
Failures are an essential part of learning curve too. In one’s attempts to succeed, failures are necessary checkpoints for all of us. They provide us with the opportunity to reflect and re-strategise.
Learn to embrace your mistakes and failure. Learn to grow from these experiences. Ensure you put in place strategies to avoid repeating such errors. As Elbert Hubbard once said, “The greatest mistake a man can ever make is to be afraid of making one”. Differentiate between right and wrong.
And so, learn to embrace your mistakes and failures. That’s one way to practice the workplace value of ethics.
What's next?
And there you have it – a piece on an absolutely critical workplace value of ethics. We hope the information in this article has helped you get a clearer idea of how you can better practice ethics at the workplace.
Instilling workplace values, like the above, at your office can rake in numerous benefits for every employee. Remember, a little effort can go a long way to ensure a happy and successful workplace for everyone!
Keep a lookout for other workplace values we will be discussing as part of this series soon! Searching for a new workplace that practices these workplace values? On the hunt for a new job?
If you’re on the lookout for jobs within other industries that are nonetheless located in Singapore, here’s an article that shares with you the top 19 job portals in Singapore.
No matter the industry or the position, remember to visit GrabJobs to find a job opportunity in Singapore easily!
