How to Build a Relationship With Your Compliance Officer

There is no Match.com for dating compliance officers. It's not like anyone really wants one anyway.

It's not personal; it's just one of those relationships you want to keep entirely professional. It's a nine-to-five thing. On the other hand, it's good to know your compliance officer has your back 24/7.

Here's how to build that kind of relationship.

Give Them Space

Compliance officers need room to operate. So don't be clingy, expecting them to do you any favors. They have a duty to the company, not any individual. Like we said, it's nothing personal. They have to make decisions based on regulatory and legal requirements. They need to make sure the organization operates with high integrity, not high profits.

Listen to Them

Communication is the key, say relationship experts. That's "two-way communication" for those who may be hard of hearing. If your compliance officer says your business is out of compliance, listen very carefully. It's no time to listen like a lawyer, trying to pick apart an argument. Just follow the directions.

Share the Relationship

Everybody in the company needs to be in compliance. It may not be possible for compliance officers to meet with all employees individually, but everybody can be trained. Online training, for example, works if it also accommodates people with disabilities or language needs. Gauri Reyes, principal learning strategist and CEO at Triple Point Advisors, says training must be usable for all employees. "If anyone is unable to use your training as designed, you simply cannot achieve 100 percent compliance," she says.

With time, you will have a great relationship with the compliance officer because you worked on it. Your company will be stronger, too. And you will be able to sleep at night -- without your compliance officer even being around.

Related Resources:

• Common Issues Facing Corporate Compliance Officers (FindLaw's Corporate Counsel)
• Ensuring Corporate Compliance: A Guide for Directors (FindLaw's Corporate Counsel)
• When to Hire Outside Counsel - Or Not (FindLaw's In House)