Far from the old Machiavellian dictum that "the ends justify the means", the reverse is often the case: the means determine the ends. This book presents the stories of business leaders who have aimed to build trust in the economy, and have delivered value through integrity, cooperation, stewardship, purpose and sustainability. It proposes the eight Cs of trust which can define the culture of organizations: contracts, covenants, competences, character, conscience, conviction, courage and change.
The book makes the clear link between personal decision-making and global outcomes and demonstrates how positive decision-making can lead to change inside organizations and beyond.
Michael Smith is a freelance journalist on the topic of values in business and the economy. His articles have appeared in the Financial Times, the Guardian and Guardian Weekly, The Times, the Independent, the Scotsman, the Herald (Glasgow) and the Pioneer (New Delhi). He serves on the Swiss steering committee of Ethical Leadership in Business forums and was Head of Business Programmes at Initiatives of Change, UK, from 2010 to 2017.