In a world that seems increasingly confused and confusing, Peet van Biljon offers a straight path lined with signposts that bring us back to the basics of being a good human.
1. Have a higher corporate purpose than making profits – know whom you want to serve and what good you want to contribute to society
2. Choose true leadership – lead with humility and integrity, and look past appearances for new leadership talent
3. Treat employees well – do not make unreasonable demands of workers and give them a healthy work-life balance
4. Exchange value fairly – charge fair prices, pay fair compensation and do not unduly shift your costs to others
5. Serve the best interests of your customers – never sell harmful products/services or promote abusive consumption patterns
6. Deceive or coerce no one – use only ethical persuasion techniques and don’t exploit your negotiating advantages against weaker parties
7. Treat suppliers equitably – don’t abuse your buying power and only enter into mutually beneficial transactions
8. Respect the environment – don’t burden society with your externalities and work towards a sustainable future for all
9. Do right by anyone you may have harmed – offer full restitution when your products or operations have caused harm
10. Show trust in people – be generous to all and create opportunities for everyone to thrive
Read the full article, 10 Ethical Imperatives for Companies, on LinkedIn.