Ethical Sales Leadership: Guidelines (3 of 5)

After my inspirational lunch date with Ron James, CEO of the Center for Ethical Business Cultures, I decided to probe deeper into the Transformational Leadership reasons that drive people to unethical business, sales leadership, and sales decisions.

To understand why people go off the track, I thought it would be a good idea to be clear on the right track for ethical business.

These are some guidelines that are applicable to all spheres of leadership, management, and selling.

Ethical Sales Leaders will:

• lead in a manner that respects the rights and dignity of all role players;
• demonstrate a level of integrity that will clearly establish them as trustworthy;
• be sensitive as to how their decisions affect others;
• use their social power to not be self-serving, but to take care of the needs of those around them;
• motivate their teams to put the needs or interests of the group ahead of their own;
• define a path for others to follow, and;
• inspire their teams to believe ethics is profitable

Interestingly, as I’m reworking Leadership Shift for launch later this year, I’m challenging myself to articulate what I learned about business values and ethics while growing up on the TTT Ranch. This “Code of the Old West” ties directly to today’s leadership:

• Respect yourself and others
• Accept responsibility for your life
• Be positive and cheerful
• Be a person of your word
• Be fair in all your dealings
• Be a good friend and neighbor

Sales Growth Question: What are the guidelines that help you lead and sell ethically?
Sales Growth Lesson: Leaders take responsibility for nurturing a culture of ethical business processes.