What do the Pope and recent graduates of Harvard’s MBA program have in common? Both have been quoted recently about the importance of making a shift from self-interest to mutual interest. I read recently that the Pope called for greater social responsibility. He said, “Once profit becomes the exclusive goal, if it is produced by improper means and without the common good as its ultimate end, it risks destroying wealth and creating poverty.” It brought to mind the story of Bernie Madoff, who not only created “poverty” for his shareholders; he created a poverty of spirit in himself.

Another news article reported that MBA students at Harvard were working on an oath, much like physicians have, to first do no harm. They had to confront the business school imperative that the only responsibility of business is to maximize profits. The title of the article was Pledging To Change Wall Street and it spoke of an unofficial ceremony the day before graduation, where more than 400 students of the MBA program from Harvard Business School pledged to “serve the greater good, act with the utmost integrity, and guard against decisions and behavior that advanced their own narrow ambitions but harmed the enterprise and society it serves.” This oath is groundbreaking, relevant and timely.

What if we all considered the highest good of all concerned in our thoughts, words, and actions? What would change? We’d have to consider what’s beyond me and mine, and include all of us. It just may be that the evolution of consciousness begins, when we consider our connection to all.
 
Can you remember a time when you didn’t care about the highest good of all concerned; when you just wanted what you wanted? I can. Even though I got what I wanted, I also got everything that went along with it, including regret over the suffering of others. It was many years ago, however it teaches me to this day to consider the impact of my thoughts, words, and actions.

Here’s what I’ve learned so far that’s in service to the highest good of all concerned:

1. Tell the truth with love. Telling the truth with love takes courage and compassion. It puts you in the shoes of your listener. When you tell the truth, you open up the possibility that someone will tell you what they’re thinking. You just have to be ready to listen with love as well as tell the truth with love. This is harder than it sounds. You have to suspend reaction, be non-defensive, and listen generously. But isn’t that how you want someone to listen to you?

2. Let go of being right. The more righteous you are about your ideas, beliefs, and decisions, the more you’ll try to steer someone to a certain point of view, rather than just having the conversation and discovering what emerges. An attachment to being right demonstrates an underlying resistance to be questioned. When this attachment shows up, “my way” is the aim, rather than the highest good of all concerned. When you let go of attachment to being right, you can facilitate a discussion based on mutual interests and respect.

3. Ask more questions. Never underestimate the power of a well-aimed question. This only requires catching yourself in the act of espousing your ideas, to the exclusion of listening to others. Stop and ask a question, then relax and listen. Listen to understand another's interests. A well-aimed question to ask is, “What is the highest good of all concerned?"