Business Ethics Activity Book

INTRODUCTION

Ethical Salesmanship

ROBIN WILSON

“Greatness is not found in possessions, power, position or prestige. It is discovered in goodness, humility, service, and character.”

—William Mead

The desire to acquire possessions and to secure a new position or greater power often puts blinders on a person’s eyes. We live in a society with the attitude that “more is better,” driving some people temporarily to set aside their ethics and values. Salespeople will overpromise and yet underdeliver in their quest for a big job or a new client. People may rationlize to themselves that doing an inadequate job once or twice is really “not a big deal” or “it doesn’t hurt anyone in the long run.” They may also stretch the truth or badmouth a competitor in ...