Building Your Business by Building Trust

Six Principles of Integrity You Can Take to the Bank

Woodland Park Chamber of Commerce

Woodland Park, Colorado

February 14, 2013

WOODLAND PARK Research Group

Building Integrity—Pursuing Excellence—Embracing Innovation

Gallup Survey Questions

How would you rate the overall state of

moral values in this country today?

Right now, do you think the state of

moral values in the country as a whole is

getting better or getting worse?

2 February 14, 2013

Gallup Survey Results

How did you answer the questions?

3 February 14, 2013

Gallup Survey Results

2012 results:

43% poor

36% fair

20% good or excellent

73% getting worse

19% getting better

5% same

4 February 14, 2013

Barna Survey Question

Do you believe:

moral truth is relative to the person and the

situation

moral truth is absolute

5 February 14, 2013

Barna Survey Results

Which did you choose?

6 February 14, 2013

Barna Survey Results

Moral truth is relative to the person and

the situation

64% adults

83% teenagers

Moral truth is absolute

22% adults

6% teenagers

7 February 14, 2013

Discussion

Why did you answer the way you did?

How do the overall survey results help

us identify the “problem”?

8 February 14, 2013

Discussion

What are some examples that illustrate

the “problem”?

Where will we be in a few years if the

present trends continue?

9 February 14, 2013

Discussion

How are the results of the two surveys

inconsistent with each other?

10 February 14, 2013

Discussion

In order to know that things are “bad”

and “getting worse,” there has to be a

point of reference

bad/worse compared to what?

If truth is relative to the individual and the situation, there is no point of reference

categories of good/bad, right/wrong, better/worse have no meaning at all

there is no such thing as a moral imperative or prohibition (ought/must/should/can, etc., and their opposites)

Discussion

If the majority of the Gallup survey

respondents believe that truth is relative,

then the results of the survey are

meaningless (there is no way to interpret

the results because most answers are

subjective)

The survey results show that even

people who claim that truth is relative

will still behave as if it is absolute

How could you verify this?

Relativism is a non-starter

(philosophically speaking)

Logic is the first casualty of relativism:

“Truth is relative”

Is this a true statement, or not?

Since “truth” cannot be relative, there

must be a standard that defines right

and wrong for everybody

How could we discover the standard?

Suppose for a moment that we desire to

have trust in our relationships

trust is the necessary ingredient for us to

sustain mutually-rewarding relationships

business is built on relationships

What is Trust?

Trust is the confident expectation that

someone can and will act in your best

interest

Examples

What does it take to maintain trust?

Or--what does it take to destroy trust?

Write down your thoughts

What did you write down?

This is how you expect to be treated

Is this also how you intend to treat

others?

Golden Rule: treat others as you want

to be treated

if this is the case, then there must be a

single standard that applies to both of us

the standard must already be inside us (we

both know how we want to be treated)

Rules and Principles

Rules are infinite.

rules can never account for every situation

Principles are finite.

Principles don’t change because they can’t change.

principles apply in all times and places

Therefore, we need to discover the principles behind the rules.

Principle 6: Contentment

“The key to happiness is not to get what you want, but to want what you already have.”

In a word--gratitude

Contentment doesn’t nullify ambition, but prevents it from becoming a vice

Discontentment leads to envy

Principle 5: Honesty

Be truthful in words and intentions

it’s okay to say you don’t know

it may be okay to say nothing at all

Protect/promote the reputation of others

Principle 4: Stewardship

Protect what you have in your care

someone else’s

Promote the success of others

Principle 3: Loyalty

Guard your relationships

in a word, discretion

protect privileged information (employees, customers)

never cross established relationship boundaries

never resort to harassment, intimidation, or seduction

Principle 2: Courtesy

Treat people with kindness and charity

put away all anger that leads to

physical/emotional abuse

pursue forgiveness and reconciliation

Defend those who are in distress

Principle 1: Respect

Show deference to those in authority

do what you’re told

forebear the shortcomings of the

boss/customer

The Six Principles in summary:

treat others as you want to be treated

○ OR

love your neighbor as yourself

The Six Principles summarized in a

single word:

selflessness

Testing the Principles

Test the Six Principles by asking this

question:

Which principle can you violate without

losing trust?

Dilemmas

What if the boss orders you to lie, cheat,

or steal?

What if all your choices are difficult and

painful?

Consider This:

Doing the right thing may ruin your

business. Doing the wrong thing will ruin

it for sure.

It is better to go out of business with

your integrity intact.

What is Integrity?

Now that we have a standard in mind,

defining integrity is simple.

Integrity means conformity to the

standard. You have integrity when you

place the needs of other above your

own needs.

What is Integrity?

Integrity starts on the inside—with

beliefs, thoughts, and attitudes.

Right words and actions flow from right

thoughts.

Pretending to have integrity is nothing

more than manipulation

Manipulation (pretense) is dishonesty

Dishonesty destroys trust

When are you most susceptible to

lapses of integrity?

Take time to identify areas of weakness

know yourself and be aware of your

circumstances

practice avoidance

Principles must not be compromised

Beware the tendency to rationalize your

attitudes and actions

Ethical disasters usually start small

Closing Thoughts

Set aside some time to reflect on what we’ve covered today

Review and reinforce the Six Principles

Watch your attitudes

Be vigilant for the tendency to compromise

Keep learning

For Further Exploration:

Visit my Integrity blog:

http://ethicsbythebook.wordpress.com

Subscribe to my Integrity newsletter:

http://eepurl.com/jd7Qj

P.O. Box 122

Woodland Park, CO 80866

719-687-4304

www.woodlandparkresearch.com

WOODLAND PARK Research Group

Building Integrity—Pursuing Excellence—Embracing Innovation

Building Your Business by Building Trust

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