What does preparing to run a half-marathon have to do with operationalizing an ethics and compliance program? Maybe a bit more than you think, Amy Landry says.
I recently started training to run my first half-marathon. It is something I have toyed with for many years but felt it was out of my comfort zone, so instead I focused on running 5Ks and 10Ks. With a milestone birthday coming up at the same time as the Princess Half-Marathon in Disney World, I figured there was no time like the present to try my hand at running a half-marathon.
As I decided to put my plan into motion, I started to see similarities between the half-marathon process, which included figuring out how to register, setting up my training plan and tackling race day, and what we do to operationalize our ethics and compliance (E&C) programs each and every day.
I started with choosing how to register. I could join RunDisney, the official organizer of the races, to get the opportunity to register before everyone else; I could try my luck with general registration; or I could sign up to run with one of the various charities. There are pros and cons for each to weigh out (e.g., stress, time, budget).
The same goes for our E&C programs. We have to weigh out what tools and resources we need: Do we need a training vendor or can we do this in-house? If we do it in-house, do we have a resource who can help, or do we need to hire someone? Do we need a hotline, policy or third-party risk management platform? If so, do we have resources currently who can operate them, or do we need to hire someone? Of course, we will need to pay and spend time on all that.
I decided to go the charity route, as there was a guaranteed entry to the race as long as I met the fundraising goal that was part of my registration. This is like asking for a budget for our programs. We have to explain to our leadership what the value or ROI is to the organization for spending the money we are requesting for that new vendor, tool or resource.
Then there is creating a training plan. How will I go from running 3.1 or 6.2 to 13.1 in just 20 to 24 weeks? I determine how many days per week, planning for (and scheduling) short runs, medium runs and long runs. And then I plan what to do on my non-run days.
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Read moreDetailsThis is like creating a plan to roll out a new or updated component of our program, such as launching an updated code of conduct. We have to figure out where we are right now. What is our baseline? What shape is our code in right now? What do we need to update? How long will it take? What individuals do we need to assist? And crucially, what is our end date, so we know what our pace should be.
Along with creating a training plan, I need to evaluate my plan to measure how I am performing. Am I sticking to my training plan? Am I logging enough miles to be ready on race day? Am I resting, eating and recovering enough? How does my body feel? Am I running at a good pace to finish within the race timeline? How can I evaluate that? I can use an app to help me log my miles, and I can schedule a few races along my training plan to gauge my pace with other runners and the pace clock.
The same goes for our programs. We create work plans that lay out the training, communication, auditing and monitoring activities for the coming year, so we can track how our program is performing. Is the information we are sharing resonating? Are people engaging with our training and communication? Are they retaining the information? When we find gaps or near-misses, how do we make tweaks? Where should we put our time and resources?
Finally, race day will arrive and I will be ready. I will know where and when to be, I will have my race bib and other essentials, I will have my tunes to keep going along the way and my cheer squad to greet me at the finish line. Same goes with our E&C programs: We must find ways to celebrate both the small wins and the big achievements.
There is inspiration all around us that we can use to explain the value in our programs or give us a spark to think of new or different ways to shape and evaluate our programs, we just have to be open to seeing it and harnessing it.
