COMMON QUESTIONS

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This Code of Ethics Statement is intended to provide clarity for the HAF Advisory Board members over expectations, the spirit of relationships and a guideline to problem-solving during member involvement in advisory boards. A role in supporting and contributing to an organization’s advisory board requires careful consideration in upholding the reputation of the organization as well as individual professionals. In advisory roles, decisions are not made by advisors, ensuring practitioners treat others with respect. From the way practitioners work in the boardroom, to discussions with management, other advisors and networks – personal ethics are always a consideration.

IT’S DOING THE RIGHT THING

No guideline can address every issue or situation. It is not a substitute for good judgment, transparent communication and proper business conduct. The strength of the advisory board is the strength of the collective knowledge and sharing of relevant experience.

WORKING WITH THE ADVISORY BOARD CENTER

• Avoiding conflict of interest with other advisors and organizations that individuals are associated with
• Honoring the organization’s right to choose advisors that meet their need
• Managing relationships respectfully
• Participating in transparent communication

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However, there are some universal ethical principles that apply across all professions, including:

• honesty.
• trustworthiness.
• loyalty.
• respect for others.
• adherence to the law.
• doing good and avoiding harm to others.
• accountability.

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HAF BUSINESS CODE OF ETHICS STATEMENT

Abraham Lincoln described character as the tree and reputation as the shadow. Your character is what you really are; your reputation is what people think of you. Thus, your reputation is purely a function of perceptions (i.e., do people think your intentions and actions are honorable and ethical) .while your character is determined and defined by your actions (i.e., whether your actions are honorable and ethical according to the 12 ethical principles:

1. HONESTY. Be honest in all communications and actions. Ethical executives are, above all, worthy of trust and honesty is the cornerstone of trust. They are not only truthful, they are candid and forthright. Ethical executives do not deliberately mislead or deceive others by misrepresentations, overstatements, partial truths, selective omissions, or any other means and when trust requires it they supply relevant information and correct misapprehensions of fact.
2. INTEGRITY. Maintain personal integrity. Ethical executives earn the trust of others through personal integrity. Integrity refers to a wholeness of character demonstrated by consistency between thoughts, words and actions. Maintaining integrity often requires moral courage, the inner strength to do the right thing even when it may cost more than they want to pay. The live by ethical principles despite great pressure to do otherwise. Ethical executives are principled, honorable, upright and scrupulous. They fight for their beliefs and do not sacrifice principle for expediency.
3. PROMISE-KEEPING. Keep promises and fulfill commitments. Ethical executives can be trusted because they make every reasonable effort to fulfill the letter and spirit of their promises and commitments. They do not interpret agreements in an unreasonably technical or legalistic manner in order to rationalize non-compliance or create justifications for escaping their commitments.
4. LOYALTY. Be loyal within the framework of other ethical principles. Ethical executives justify trust by being loyal to their organization and the people they work with. Ethical executives place a high value on protecting and advancing the lawful and legitimate interests of their companies and their colleagues. They do not, however, put their loyalty above other ethical principles or use loyalty to others as an excuse for unprincipled conduct. Ethical executives demonstrate loyalty by safeguarding their ability to make independent professional judgments. They avoid conflicts of interest and they do not use or disclose information learned in confidence for personal advantage. If they decide to accept other employment, ethical executives provide reasonable notice, respect the proprietary information of their former employer, and refuse to engage in any activities that take undue advantage of their previous positions.
5. FAIRNESS. Strive to be fair and just in all dealings. Ethical executives are fundamentally committed to fairness. They do not exercise power arbitrarily nor do they use overreaching or indecent means to gain or maintain any advantage nor take undue advantage of another’s mistakes or difficulties. Ethical executives manifest a commitment to justice, the equal treatment of individuals, tolerance for and acceptance of diversity. They are open-minded; willing to admit they are wrong and, where appropriate, they change their positions and beliefs.
6. COMPASSION. Demonstrate compassion and a genuine concern for the well-being of others. Ethical executives are caring, compassionate, benevolent and kind. They understand the concept of stakeholders (those who have a stake in a decision because they are affected by it) and they always consider the business, financial and emotional consequences of their actions on all stakeholders. Ethical executives seek to accomplish their business objectives in a manner that causes the least harm and the greatest positive good.
7. RESPECT FOR OTHERS. Treat everyone with respect. Ethical executives demonstrate respect for the human dignity, autonomy, privacy, rights, and interests of all those who have a stake in their decisions; they are courteous and treat all people with equal respect and dignity regardless of sex, race or national origin. Ethical executives adhere to the Golden Rule, striving to treat others the way they would like to be treated.
8. LAW ABIDING. Obey the law. Ethical executives abide by laws, rules and regulations relating to their business activities.
9. COMMITMENT TO EXCELLENCE. Pursue excellence all the time in all things. Ethical executives pursue excellence in performing their duties, are well-informed and prepared, and constantly endeavor to increase their proficiency in all areas of responsibility.
10. LEADERSHIP. Exemplifies integrity, honor, morals, and ethics. Leaders remain conscious of the responsibilities and opportunities of their leadership position. They are committed to express these leadership codes in all actions, both verbal and non-verbal conduct. Their purpose is to help create an environment in which moral, compassionate, honorable and ethical decisions are designed to benefit all.
11. REPUTATION AND MORALE. Build, protect, sustain and fulfill the company’s good reputation and the morale of employees. Human-centric values and integrity maintain higher human-values in every work, action and practice. Proper duty of care is taken for all words or actions that that might undermine respect and they take affirmative steps to correct or prevent inappropriate conduct of others.
12. ACCOUNTABILITY. Be accountable. Ethical executives acknowledge and accept personal accountability for the ethical quality of their decisions and omissions to themselves, their colleagues, their companies, and their communities.

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