Leading an Ethical Corporate Culture? Apply Seven Lessons from the U. S. Marines

Robert D. Perkins

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Leading an Ethical Corporate Culture? Apply Seven Lessons from the U.S. Marines

Robert D. Perkins

Mercer University, USA

Volume 9: 2012, pp. 281-308: ABSTRACT

The United States Marine Corps (USMC) trains 40,000 recruits in ethical conduct each year. The Marines operate under highly stressful conditions and are perceived as moral exemplars. This study investigates their recruit training practices at Parris Island, SC and suggests applications consistent with ethical and psychological research that offer potential for building ethical corporate cultures and improving ethical behavior. The lessons were: 1) select values that fit the business, 2) use organizational-derived "hero stories", 3) socialize members with conviction and repetition, 4) utilize line leaders to conduct the training to provide specific guidelines for behavior, 5) closely monitor and reward ethical behavior, 6) add emotional control to the cognitive training, and 7) train with realistic business simulations. The seven lessons from the USMC can help business leaders earn a reputation for trustworthy leadership, a vital corporate asset.