Editor
We have during the past week, after seven months of patience and great sacrifice, been let down in a business deal with a local businessman.
Professor John Johnson, a founder member of Treverton Schools, gave us this sound advice that, above all, “JUST DO WHAT’S” RIGHT”.
He also forwarded this article to us and we would like to share it with your readers.
Lood and June Boshoff
The power of ethical management
Norman Vincent Peale and Kenneth Blanchard
Most people don’t know what the word ethical means. The dictionary says: – Moral principles – moral conduct and morals are concerned with character or disposition or with distinction between right and wrong.
The five principles of ethical power for individuals
1. Purpose – I see myself as being an ethically sound person. I let my conscience be my guide. No matter what happens, I am always able to face the mirror, look myself straight in the eye and feel good about myself.
2. Pride – I feel good about myself. I don’t need the acceptance of other people to feel important. A balanced self-esteem keeps my ego and my desire to be accepted from influencing my decisions.
3. Patience – I believe that things will eventually work out well. I don’t need everything to happen right now. I am at peace with what comes my way!
4. Persistence – I stick to my purpose, especially when it seems inconvenient to do so. Mt behaviour is consistent with my intentions. As Churchill said: “Never! Never! Never! Never! Give up!
5. Perspective – I take time to enter each day quietly in a mood of reflection. This helps me to get myself focused and allows me to listen to my inner self and to see things more clearly.
The five principles of ethical power for organisations
1. Purpose – The mission of our organisation is communicated from the top. Our organisation is guided by the values, hopes and a vision that helps us to determine what is acceptable and unacceptable behaviour.
2. Pride – We feel proud of ourselves and of our organisation. We know that when we feel this way, we can resist temptations to behave unethically.
3. Patience – We believe that holding to our ethical values will lead us to success in the long term. This involves maintaining a balance between obtaining results and caring how we achieve these results.
4. Persistence – We have a commitment to live by ethical principles. We are committed to our commitment. We make sure our actions are consistent with our purpose.
5. Perspective – Our managers and employees take time to pause and reflect, take stock of where we are, evaluate where we are going and determine how we are going to get there.