According to Matt Brannelly, the most recent lesson on the importance of business ethics came with the Wall Street collapse, as once highly esteemed financial institutions made headlines for their bad choices and questionable behavior.

People with integrity value other principles, including honesty, respect, personal responsibility, compassion, and dependability. These qualities are integrated into the Six Pillars of Character, a nonprofit organization that develops and delivers services and materials to increase ethical commitment. The pillars are:

1) Trustworthiness

2) Respect

3) Responsibility

4) Fairness

5) Caring

6) Citizenship

The overriding principle that you have as an individual is you have to make the right decision, says Matt Brannelly, strategic advisor from Australia. That is sometimes very difficult because a decision may be easier, but it is not right. So it takes more of a personal challenge to do the right decision.