Integrity a growth foundation

The dawn of a fresh calendar leads to a rise in optimism among many Rhode Island business leaders. Shadows of past struggles and failures, such as bankruptcy and corruption, give way to more definitive and promising concepts such as urban planning and biotech growth. The future for Rhode Island is bright. The future also happens to be now. In order for the smallest state to realize the true potential of a second renaissance, the men and women of the business sector must establish a foundation. The foundation need not be a broad goal like the redevelopment of the former Interstate 195 land, but rather a core concept and value. For this, the business community needs to look to integrity. The core of any company is the general-employee group. This groups receives, organizes, initiates and delivers the bulk of all business work. These are the people who define any business; regardless of size. These key persons collectively communicate the business’ integrity to the consumer. The need is for these people to understand the concept that a hard and honest day’s work is admirable. Performing the often-monotonous tasks of Monday-Friday to perfection, even when not being evaluated or monitored, is the working definition of integrity. These are the workers who possess the strength in numbers to redefine Rhode Island business.Still, the executive level of any company must also be onboard with a commitment to integrity. Whether a tech startup or a seasoned business, the same rules apply. In the example of a startup, executives who receive financial stabilization and support from local economic and state organizations must show integrity by returning dividends on the investment. If bordering states appear to be more business conducive, remember that Rhode Island helped the start. In the end, a new year brings with it fresh opportunity, as so many political and business leaders have expounded. However, what is often overlooked in the desire to grow is the core of the community.Businesses and the employees must look to integrity for a foundation. No matter how idealistic and improbable, businesses must strive for a return to the time when an honest handshake was as legally reliable as a written contract. While this will never come to fruition, the journey alone to have a more integrity-centric business state will facilitate all future endeavors. n