My Ethics
I strongly believe that businesses can be a force for good in the world where their focus and impact is clearly defined and carefully managed. Knowing the difference that we seek to make is the starting point for a positive impact on society. It also happens to closely align with the most important ideas that I promote on how to improve the experience of work in that having a clear purpose is an essential ingredient for building intrinsic motivation - our reason for wanting to get out of bed every day.
How we go about the day to day running of our business can also have positive and negative impacts on the world around us. As a dad to three boys, I feel that I have a strong vested interest in leaving the world in the best state that we can and I'm greatly alarmed about the catastrophic impact that we humans are having on both the climate, with the suffering that it will generate to peoples around the world, and the rest of the animal kingdom. Our businesses can be either a force for positive change or part of the problem and by not consciously managing our impact we are, in effect, choosing not to care.
Inspiring People HR and 'Blueprint for Business'
Where traditionally businesses have measured success primarily on the basis of profit, the most critical indicator of business survival after all, Inspiring People HR is a purpose-driven business founded on the principle of adding value to our society and the world around us. To guide my company I adhere to the Five Principles of Purpose Driven Business as set out by Blueprint for Better Business.
This format does need a little adjusting, though, to fit a sole trader like me. So these are my five principles for my purpose driven business.
Inspiring People has a purpose which serves society and respects the dignity of people
Operates true to a purpose that serves society and respects the dignity of people
Enables and welcomes public scrutiny of the alignment between its stated purpose and its actions
Inspiring People is always honest and fair with customers and suppliers
Seeks and builds lasting relationships with customers and suppliers.
Deals honestly with customers, providing good and safe services.
Treats suppliers fairly, pays promptly what it owes and expects its suppliers to do the same
Openly shares its knowledge to enable customer and suppliers to make better informed choices
Inspiring People is a good citizen
Considers each person affected by its decisions as if he or she were a member of my own community
Seeks and promotes access to opportunities for under-represented groups within my own organisation and across my client base
Makes a full and fair contribution to society by paying promptly all taxes that are properly due
Inspiring People promotes responsible and responsive employment with all of its clients
Guides clients to treat everyone with dignity and provide fair pay for all (hear about my support to the Living Wage campaign here)
Guides clients to enable and welcome constructive dialogue about their behaviour in keeping true to their purpose
Guides clients to foster innovation, leadership and personal accountability
Guides clients to protect and nurture all who work for it to ensure people also learn, contribute and thrive
Inspiring People is a guardian for future generations
Honours its duty to protect the natural world and conserve finite resources
Contributes knowledge and experience to promote better regulation for the benefit of society as a whole rather than protecting self interest
Invests in developing skills, knowledge and understanding in wider society to encourage informed citizenship
Professional Code of Conduct
As a Chartered Member of the Institute for Personnel and Development I am also fully committed to upholding the CIPD code of conduct.
