By Adam Turteltaub

It’s not easy getting buy-in for a compliance and ethics program.  Too often people feel as if they already know the information or see compliance as unduly expensive and unnecessary.

Beth Colling, Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer, CDM Smith argues in this podcast that compliance teams need to think like marketers to get the buy-in they need and make the compliance program fully a part of the business.  Know your stakeholders, she advises, and understand what’s motivating them.  From there create a strategic plan, including a marketing plan, to help them achieve their business goals.  Other advice she gives includes:

* Figure out your key touchpoints with management and what resonates with them

* Tell stories instead of just reciting facts

* Help business people know that big problems tend to start out with small ones that aren’t handled properly

* Make sure that people in your organization have a common definition of compliance

* Develop key allies, including the general counsel’s office, HR, marketing and finance

Listen in to learn more about how you can make your compliance program truly a part of your business.