Integrity Matters Broadcasts
May 3, 2004
Attribute #5 - PARTNERSHIP: honor
obligations.
Does your company pride itself on timely fulfillment of all commitments?
*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
Dear Friends,
Twenty-five
years ago one of my mentors advised me that everyone
we meet, for better and for worse, is a BIM. A B.I.M. was
his personal shorthand for the need to clearly appreciate
the potential for positive and purposeful support from
each and every human encounter. Those with whom we come
in contact can choose to Buy what
we are selling. Others might simply want to Invest in
what we are developing. And some sampling of those we
get to know could elect to Market that
which is being created.
So, yes, my perceptive counselor was correct in saying
that everyone has the potential to Buy, Invest
and/or Market – whatever it is that we are
offering or might someday have to offer. Therefore, it
stands to reason that sustaining legitimate relationships
was and will always be – very important. Each BIM is,
in one sense or another, a “partner” and
should be treated accordingly in terms of respect and appreciation.
Too often “wanna be” leaders forget that career
paths are intimately linked to all of the “partnerships” that
surround them every step up the ladder of success. How
they treat those with whom they associate – on and
off the job – can impact upward mobility. Insensitive,
dishonest, vicious, rude and abrasive behaviors speak volumes
about the many ways that “leadership pretenders” under-value
people. An illustration of what can and should be done
in proper business transactions was presented in our Integrity
Matters newspaper column, published on January 15, 2003,
and which we used with effect in our newly-released book, Integrity
Matters. In this instance, a service supplier
was being shown disrespect by his customers.
Click
here to read the full response
More recently, another service supplier wrote to us after
he felt the sting of cruelty by an insensitive client.
Integrity Matters, again, addressed the issue of never
ignoring the cold hard truth that every encounter is a
confirmation of the relevance of the BIM approach
to life.
Yes, it is important to recognize that we are all partners and
as a consequence, we must treat everyone with respect – not
simply because it is the right thing to do, but also because
it is good business and it is good citizenship.
Here is a more recent Integrity Matters
column illustrating our emphasis on partnership and interpersonal
integrity.
Let both sides beware (Practice your professionalism)
Next month, our June Broadcast will address the 6th Attribute
of an Integrity-Centered Organization: Performance. What
do leaders need to be doing in order to be prepared for
the effective transfer of power and impact, as in succession?
Successful succession is seldom an accident.
In the meantime, listen to those about you – and
remember that wisdom is everywhere, available – however
- only when we listen.
Sincerely,
Jim
