The standard we should expect from EVERY consultant
Consulting has a reputation problem. The draft ConsultantCafé Code of Conduct sets a practical baseline for integrity, transparency and rebuilding trust. Download it now and provide your feedback.
I’m ashamed to say the consulting sector has a reputation problem. This is something we collectively need to own and do something about!
Most consultants do the right thing every day, but over the last few years there have been some really poor failures, breaches of integrity, or conflicts of interest that our sector has paid for with its reputation.
Rebuilding our sector's reputation requires authentic, positive action every time, consistently, over time.
Ethics, integrity and radical transparency in consulting shouldn't be a competitive advantage. They should be the baseline.
When a firm's point of difference is that it's honest, transparent and acts with integrity, that's not an endorsement of the firm. It's an indictment of the sector.
Following a wonderfully robust and particularly passionate discussion at a ConsultantCafé open forum on ethics and integrity in consulting in July, I have now developed a draft ConsultantCafé Code of Ethics and Conduct for Consultants. I hope it’s a practical code intended for individual consultants, regardless of whether they work independently or within a larger firm.
The code is freely available to use, modify and adopt. My hope is that it helps spark a broader conversation about the standards we should expect of ourselves and each other, and plays a small role in rebuilding confidence in our profession.
I'd welcome feedback. What's missing? What's unrealistic? Where can it be strengthened? Put your comments below or drop me a line.
Trust is rebuilt one decision at a time.
Forward to a friend; sharing is caring.
Anything else? Hit reply to send us feedback or say hello. I don't bite!
