Business Ethics: Maybe Not a Contradiction

I attended a recent Leadership simulcast sponsored by Chick-Fil-A.  There's been quite a change in the attitudes and approach to managing and leading a business since I graduated from college almost 30 years ago. In fact, the simulcast could have been sponsored by the seminary I attended almost 15 years ago.

Leadership as service.  That was a primary theme through out the program.  The word profit was rarely mentioned.  Much more common were phrases like "higher calling" or "being part of something bigger than yourself"  and " being responsible to your employees."  Employers had a duty to develop an employee and find spot were he or she can succeed.

Doing the right thing was not only the ethical choice but it was also the smart choice from a business perspective.  Growing a company and earning a profit is not a bad thing and it is still necessary for a business to succeed.  But it is achieved through making choices that are considerate of the people you hire.  Some speakers used the term 'love' when describing their attitude toward the people that work for them.
Practically speaking, employees that are engaged in their work, that trust management, and that feel that they are growing professionally tend to stay in their current jobs.  Reduced employee turnover affects the bottom line.  But sometimes is good to do the right thing just because it is the right thing to do.