Becoming a Change-Maker (Week 12)
I believe virtue and integrity are so vital to an economy because as Charles Handy said, "Trust too, is fragile. Like a piece of china, once cracked it is never quite the same." If shareholders and consumers start to feel like company executives lack morals and integrity, our economy will be negatively impacted as Handy mentioned. I think it's also important to focus on long-term growth and solutions rather than short-term that just makes the company look good temporarily. An executive should have everyone's best interests in mind for the long-run and not just to make themselves look good.
The real justification for the purpose of business as Charles Handy so eloquently put it is, "not to make a profit, full stop. It is to make a profit so that the business can do something more or better. That “something” becomes the real justification for the business. " I was listening to a video by Muhammad Yunus who we read about this week, and I loved how he said that social business is for solving problems and that the profit is always secondary to that purpose. Businesses that are around just for profit won't produce the best results or inspire the best work from their employees. This concept also reminds me of Sheryl Sandberg's thoughts on how a vision that can scale while also being compelling is so powerful. Her example of Google taking information and making it universally accessible is such a powerful goal and mission. If a company does not have a strong mission or purpose, they seem to be cheating themselves from becoming great.
I agree with Charles Handy when he suggested that organizations should measure success in terms of how others are affected. I also especially liked how he talked about how doing good in business doesn't mean you can't make money also. Handy says that you can provide service for the poor and still make money just like you can for the rich.
The real justification for the purpose of business as Charles Handy so eloquently put it is, "not to make a profit, full stop. It is to make a profit so that the business can do something more or better. That “something” becomes the real justification for the business. " I was listening to a video by Muhammad Yunus who we read about this week, and I loved how he said that social business is for solving problems and that the profit is always secondary to that purpose. Businesses that are around just for profit won't produce the best results or inspire the best work from their employees. This concept also reminds me of Sheryl Sandberg's thoughts on how a vision that can scale while also being compelling is so powerful. Her example of Google taking information and making it universally accessible is such a powerful goal and mission. If a company does not have a strong mission or purpose, they seem to be cheating themselves from becoming great.
I agree with Charles Handy when he suggested that organizations should measure success in terms of how others are affected. I also especially liked how he talked about how doing good in business doesn't mean you can't make money also. Handy says that you can provide service for the poor and still make money just like you can for the rich.
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