Daniel K. Walker, CEO and Chairman of the Board, Farmers & Merchants Bank
Keeping your word.
Seems like such a simple statement, a statement that could very well form the foundation of every person’s daily creed. But it doesn’t. We all know many people who make promises but don’t keep them . . . People who say one thing but mean another. . . . People who take the easy way out, forgetting that keeping their word is the most important thing of all.
Linda Fisher Thornton, CEO, Leading in Context LLC
It is easy to name the reasons for leading ethically that revolve around preventing problems - complying with laws and regulations, reducing employee complaints and preventing lawsuits, for example. But what about the many opportunities that proactive ethical leadership provides to the leaders and organizations who embrace it?
It's a pretty safe bet that at various times in your life, you will have to negotiate - for a business contract, a new car, or even a personal relationship. Obviously, you want to walk away satisfied that you have made the best deal. And you will want the person you are negotiating with to walk away satisfied as well, because a successful negotiation is one in which everyone feels they have gained in some way.
Meridith Elliott Powell, Author, Winning In The Trust & Value Economy
When the economy started to struggle in late 2008, so did the consumer—emotionally, as well as financially. At first, consumers, like businesses, contentedly waited for the economy to bounce back. But, as the bounces took longer and were far less impressive than expected, consumer confidence began to wane.
Recently a seasoned salesperson admitted that he is experiencing Sales Call Reluctance. He shared that he has been wildly successful and unstoppable until recently. A shift in his industry has thrown him for a loop. He’s developed a viable plan for a new market, but he is frankly “afraid to pick up the phone.”