Integrity - Are you honest in business?

Written by Nana Kwame Owusu-Afriyie.

"But you desire honesty from the womb, teaching me wisdom even there" (NLT) Psalm 51:6

In my line of work, I relate to people from all walks of life. Parents, pupils, teachers, education officers, and a host of others. When it comes to my pupils' academic assessment, I normally work with different bodies of examination consortium. At the beginning of the academic year, I get business proposals from new bodies to do business with me. In their bid to win the contract to supply my school with examination questions, they move heaven and hell to convince me that they are the best in the market. Among the number are so called examination bodies led by people who are just greedy for money and have not the slightest idea as to how such a business is run.

I have had the unpleasant duty of cancelling deals with a couple of them. Sometimes, I am compelled to abrogate the contract half way it's duration because of the shoddy work I receive. For most of the examination bodies I have ceased working with, other schools have done same and I am never surprised when I hear that they have folded up.

Businesses that have stood the test of time are those that were built and continues to be built on the foundation of integrity. Talk of the Enron scandal. Talk of the collapse of Lehman Brothers. Talk of the bail out of AIG by the Fed and you need no convincing that without integrity a giant of a company will bite the dust even in times of boom.

There is overwhelming evidence in the field of business ethics that companies that are not inhumane profiteers, produce excellent products and services, take their corporate social responsibility seriously, pay their taxes promptly, avoid dubious deals, et cetera are able to survive recessions.

Honesty is not only the best policy; it is the best insurance against risk. Every body will look forward to working with you if they can guarantee your honesty. Concluding, I want you to ponder on this question: If your life were a business enterprise, and you the CEO, will you be sought after or neglected?

Pleasing unto the Lord || More

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