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In the business world, there are many pathways from the drudgery of the worker-bees to the top floor. For example, winning a highly publicized court case, finding a medical cure, or obtaining a patent on a new energy-saving process comes with financial success, notoriety, and a big jump up the corporate ladder. Regardless of the pathways to success, many find themselves “walking around dead in my shoes” (Williams).

Some people see everything in black and white, right and wrong, good and evil. Others see an ocean of gray with nothing ever firmly planted on one side or the other. Unfortunately, what is seen as gray are our ethical choices.

If you want to develop and maintain long-term business relationships, honor will probably need to be central to how you operate. In business, how people judge your character is critical to sustainable success because it is the basis of trust and credibility.

When you lack words, you shut down new insights and lines of reasoning. People who possess a limited vocabulary have a much tougher time breaking out from old patterns of thought or questioning. By the same token, each new word you learn opens a new avenue of thought, empowering you to think or take action in ways you could never have before.

“A multiplier is someone who uses his or her intelligence to amplify and bring out the smarts and capability of those around them.” Everybody around you is better because of you.

At every stage of business growth, trust is an indispensable asset to the company. While it’s great to have a general sense of trust in the office, here are some of the most critical business areas where building trust can make the most significant functional impact.

Second, talking to and listening to the customers, vendors, and employees has a historical track record of enviable success. Study after study reveals the fascinating insights discovered from personal interactions. Successful business people and entrepreneurs know that the physical act of talking to a person is a non-negotiable component of success.

Businesses have mission statements, values statements, and policies and procedures to follow in making decisions. Likewise, individuals have personal goals, preferences, ingrained ethics, and hereditary values that come into play when faced with decisions. These constitute your plumb line. Problems arise, however, when your plumb line becomes a pendulum.

The phrase “abundance of caution” is easily one of the most regrettable phrases resulting from the Covid-19 pandemic. It has been overused. It has been excessively used to cover poor management. And, as the quote above demonstrates, it has been misused to compensate for fear and poor decision-making.

Why humor works? Part of it is that shared laughter accelerates a feeling of closeness and trust.