Behavioural Compliance

1.- Is the person of integrity "naive", and is the "shrewd" one valued more?

The perception that being a person of integrity is "naive" while being shrewd is valued more may come from several causes:

Immediate results

Shrewdness is often associated with quick gains, whereas integrity may require more effort and time to deliver long-term results.

Competitive culture

In highly competitive settings, such as the workplace, shrewdness can be seen as a skill for surviving and standing out, while integrity can be seen as a disadvantage.

Social norms

Society sometimes celebrates those who break the rules if they succeed, which can discourage honesty and transparency.

Myths of success

Popular narrative often glorifies stories of people who "cheated" their way to the top, and that shapes public perception of what is valued.

Integrity, however, tends to build stronger, more sustainable relationships, along with a sense of personal and ethical satisfaction that shrewdness cannot offer.

2.- Features of collective ethical commitment

Shared responsibility

Every member is responsible for upholding and promoting these values in their daily actions.

Collaboration

It fosters an environment where people work together to address ethical issues and make decisions that benefit the community or the organisation.

Open communication

A space is created to discuss and reflect on ethical questions, so that concerns can be voiced and solutions sought jointly.

Long-term commitment

It goes beyond a statement of intent: it requires continuous effort from every member to live by the principles that have been set.

Positive impact

It promotes an environment that fosters the wellbeing of everyone involved, as well as respect for the environment and for society at large.

3.- Exemplary leadership

4.- So what does exemplary leadership depend on?

It refers to a leadership style in which leaders act as role models, demonstrating behaviours and values that inspire and motivate their team. Some key features of exemplary leadership include:

Integrity

Exemplary leaders are honest and consistent in their actions and decisions, which builds trust among their colleagues.

Effective communication

They foster an environment of open dialogue, where everyone feels heard and valued.

Empathy

They care about their teams' wellbeing, understanding their needs and supporting their personal and professional development.

Accountability

They take responsibility for their decisions and actions, fostering a culture of accountability.

Vision

They have a clear vision of the future and are able to inspire others to work towards that goal.

In short, exemplary leadership is not only about delivering results, but also about cultivating a positive, ethical environment that fosters the team's growth and commitment.

Behavioural compliance has to be a "culture".

By this we mean embedding ethics and regulatory compliance into an organisation's day-to-day work. It means that every member, from senior management to employees, takes a proactive approach to ethics and to complying with the rules.

"Behaviour is a mirror in which everyone shows their image." GOETHE

At Líderes Empresariales APLA we specialise in training and advising compliance officers, and in implementing money laundering, terrorist financing and proliferation financing prevention rules for the various obligated entities. If you need help, do get in touch.

A compliance culture is built with the team inside the company: this is how we run in-company training.