Integrity Matters Broadcasts
July 1, 2004
Dear Friends:
The United States has recently paused to remember, affectionately,
our former President, Mr. Ronald Wilson Reagan, who died
on June 5, 2004. A part the Reagan legacy was his challenge
for each of us to “appeal to the best hopes and not
the worst fears” of those about us. As far back as
the 1970’s when first he ran for governor of California,
he emphasized two concepts: integrity and common sense.
The death of this former President has enabled me and many
others to observe how millions are showing respect for
a fellow human being, his simple early history, his remarkable
achievements and his personal charm. Common sense requires
taking seriously and then applying the wisdom and good
will of those who have gone before us. Certainly, Ronald
Reagan’s death offers us another opportunity to rekindle
constructive thoughts.
Independence Day is an occasion to think seriously about
where we are in the steady march of time. July 4, 1776,
is not simply one date in history that represents the launching
of a new nation. Rather, July 4, every year, provides us
with an annual day for reflection, celebration and renewal.
It is important never to forget what once was good and
could be good again: namely, our nation’s highest
principles (freedom, democracy, and sacrifice) and promises
(opportunity, social responsibility and charity). Please
consider the following three steps for implementing stewardship.
Here’s hoping for you and those you care about -
a pleasant 4th of July and a safe summer season.
Sincerely,
Jim
CHARITY: generous community stewardship
(Attribute # 7)*
Does your organization reach out to those in need?
*from Bracher Center's Eight Attributes for Building an
Integrity-Centered Company by James F. Bracher © April
2, 2004; Integrity Matters, Bracher and Halloran,
pp. 32-33; Torchlight, 2004
IMPLEMENTING STEWARDSHIP - CHARITY
Step 1: Accept
stewardship responsibility for all of creation, not simply
fellow human beings.
Stewardship and Recycling
Question: I live in England. Do you think companies should
be obliged to provide recycling facilities in their offices?
My manager thinks I am asking for too much. He says I am
just being a hippie. Since I disagree with him, how am
I to argue my case?
Response: Recycling is a modern-day response to compensating
for the multiple ways human beings have both constructively
used and destructively abused the earth’s natural
resources. The need to argue the case for recycling seems
to offer no added value to those who might enter such a
debate. Here are two simple and straightforward truths...
Click here for the full response
Step 2: Take
a page from some Californians who are leaders of the Salinas
Valley Agribusiness industry, recognizing that stewardship
for the land is a key to the success not only of traditional
row-crop farming, but also for others who depend upon the
earth for the necessary natural resources to create and
support products and services. It makes both dollars and
sense to be good stewards of the land and the earth’s
natural resources as well as its people.
Leaders agree on ethics principles
Click here for the full article
Step 3: Make
sure to seek those who have the charitable dimension before
hiring or being hired.
Hiring the Right Person
Question: My insurance company hires aspiring younger
people, those between ages 28 and 40, then we spend about
two years educating and training them in our specialty.
We open our client files to these newcomers to our industry
and we equip them for success using our knowledge and experience.
We pay them while they learn and expect them to re-pay
us with several years of service and loyalty.
Over the past decade, and especially more recently, we
have noticed a very disappointing trend. These valuable
individuals leave us, shortly after their two year orientation
and take with them our contacts and our intellectual property,
seemingly without remorse or guilt. When confronted, their
responses vary, but one theme bursts through all of their
explanations and rationalizations: we are doing nothing
that is illegal.
Is this an integrity issue? If it is, how can we address
it and stop this waste of time and money?
A Concerned Founder of an Insurance Firm
Response: Integrity is at the heart of your story, really
saga, of individuals landing on board your insurance boat,
eating your business food, only to leave your employment
with the mess created by their premature exit…
Click here for the full response
Our August Broadcast will address Attribute
# 8: Graciousness: respect and discipline, answering the question: Does
your organization demonstrate care and concern for all
stakeholders?
Thank you again for helping to constructively communicate
that, yes, it is true: Integrity Matters.
Implementing charity and generous community support are
simply common sense.
