Enlightened Self Interest: Part 1

Treasured Readers,

I was grinding away on the treadmill in pursuit of one New Year's Resolution, when I was struck by a Southwest Airlines ad, glowing about employee volunteerism.   It was just the hook I needed to kick-start another New Year's Resolution:  consistent blogging.  Plus ca change, plus c'est la meme chose.

The ad showed bright, happy people educating the young, feeding the elderly, and cleaning up parks (ostensibly around an airport, complete with low-flying but curiously silent Southwest 737s overhead).   By focusing on its employee volunteer activities, Southwest made an interesting choice with its advertising dollars: they are betting that customers will prefer a company that is so engaged.  That's consistent with Southwest's overall strategy, as exemplified in its mission statement:  "...the highest quality of Customer Service delivered with a sense of warmth, friendliness, individual pride, and Company Spirit." They go on to state that the company will treat employees as they expect employees to treat every customer.   It has worked for them.

Increasingly, company communications - from television ads to corporate reports - reflect the belief that customers, investors, or others will choose to do business with companies committed to ethics and social responsibility.   This isn't altruism, but enlightened self-interest in action.  As such, the choices to engage in and highlight community engagement are both prudent and honorable.

Instructive examples can be found close to home, as well.  Since 1999, the Minnesota Business Ethics Award (MBEA) has recognized companies of all sizes for excellence in ethical conduct.  This year, the Hill Center is pleased to be an Endorsing Organization for the MBEA, helping to spread the word about this excellent program. (Our official endorsement: "GO, MBEA!!  RAH!").   

Nominate a business that you think is excellent.  Apply yourself!  Nominations are due on January 29, which is MUCH sooner than it seems, and can be completed online at http://mnethicsaward.org.

These awards do more than recognize a few winners and a few more nominees each year.  They provide instructive examples for all of us, along with the recognition that a sustained commitment and a little thoughtful effort can go a long way toward building a stronger company in every respect.   The MBEA application process provides additional guidance.  We at the Hill Center are also proud or our resources, both human and digital, for helping ethical business leaders achieve greatness.  Rah!

Let's have a great 2010, and do what we can to share it with those around us.

CAW