THE VITAL ROLE A COMPANY—AN INSTITUTION LIKE PROCTER & GAMBLE—CAN PLAY IN OUR LIVES TODAY
Yuval Levin, the editor of National Affairs, raises a bone-chilling question we are facing starkly today: “Have we lost faith in everything?”
Levin reminds us—not that we need a reminder—that we are living through a social crisis: vicious partisan polarization, culture war resentments and an epidemic of opioid abuse. And I would add—a disregard for the truth.
What are the roots of these symptoms, he asks. He points to a loss of the structure of social life which gives us shape and concrete meaning and identity, as individuals and together. And, in turn, he links this to a collapse of confidence in institutions of all kinds: public, private, civic and political.
Levin points to a major institutional dereliction as a cause of this collapse: “The failure to even attempt to form trustworthy people, and a tendency to think of institutions not as molders of character and behavior but as platforms for performance and prominence.”
Pause and reflect on that statement for a moment. It contains a great deal of truth. Tragically, in my view, it applies to the office of the President as it is being executed by Donald Trump.
I was moved to reflect on Levin's statement because of my career at Procter & Gamble.
Without for a moment claiming perfection, from the day I joined Procter & Gamble over 55 years ago, it was an institution which was a molder of character and behavior. How? Through its unwavering commitment to doing what is right; to pursuing truth, no matter where it leads; to respect for open debate; and to excellence and continued improvement.
Like my colleagues, I came to believe that I had a personal responsibility to preserve this character of trustworthiness and these values.
Levin urges us to ask this simple question in moments of critical decision: “Given my role in this institution, how should I behave?”
That is the question I and my colleagues have tried our best to answer.
Trustworthy values that put doing what’s right above doing what’s expedient lies at the heart of a strong culture. This can never be taken for granted. Its value is incalculable in attracting men and women of character, building their spirit within the organization and retaining their loyalty over time, and its value is incalculable in preserving the trustworthiness of the institutions themselves.
Dear John,
ReplyDeleteI am the former Commercial Director of Balkans, currently partner in an executive leadership company and friend of Eugeniu that, some time ago, has introduced to me your blog ... Since then I am enjoying this spiritual thoughts, your continuous educational and inspirational 'letters'. I was fortunate and I am proud that I have worked for such a company, such colleagues and indeed as you, I also believe that I had a personal responsibility to preserve this character of trustworthiness and these values! That you so much John