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Responsible Selling Was Always Right. Now It’s Required

In 30 seconds

Problem: Telcos face a fundamental shift as ACMA scraps industry self-regulation for a mandatory, directly enforceable standard, driven by high-pressure sales tactics and consumers sold plans they cannot afford.

The Shift: Penalties now reach $10 million or 30 per cent of turnover, with registration and deregistration powers attached. Responsible selling moves from aspiration to legal requirement.

The Solution: Organisations that already practise human-centred, ethical selling gain a structural head start. Responsible selling was always right. Now it is required, and the gap between the two has just become very expensive to ignore.

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Trust Wins the Long Game: Why Game Theory Trumps Short-Term Tricks

In 30 seconds

A national building supplies firm won a big account by slashing prices, only to lose it six months later to a pricier, more reliable competitor. In contrast, a tech-security BDM secured a $3M high-margin deal by listening, co-creating solutions, and building trust. Game theory proves cooperation outperforms deception: short-term wins erode trust, long-term partnerships drive success. The 2025 Edelman Trust Barometer shows 75% of people value enduring relationships over quick gains. The winning formula? Emotional intelligence to navigate relationships, ethical guardrails to assess moral engagement, and business savviness to align strategy with long-term goals. In business, the smartest play is also the most human one.

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Why Manners & Courtesy Remain Vital in Today’s Individualistic World

In 30 seconds

In a business world that often rewards a “cut-throat” ethos, the deliberate practice of manners remains a vital strategy for building sustainable success. True courtesy goes beyond pleasantries; it’s the sales team practicing ‘deep listening’ to understand a client’s real needs or the Japanese practice of nemawashi to build consensus respectfully before a meeting. While the speed of digital communication erodes etiquette, from ghosting clients to multitasking on virtual calls, choosing consideration over bluntness builds the trust necessary for innovation and collaboration. This approach creates the customer, the core purpose of business, by solving their problems with genuine care. It proves that manners are not an outdated formality, but an essential tool for creating human connection and achieving better outcomes in a fragmented world.

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The Most Human Wins: Lessons from Sun Tzu Part 5

In 30 seconds

In an AI-driven world, businesses that prioritise trust, emotional intelligence, and genuine relationships will thrive. Sun Tzu teaches that “The greatest victory is that which requires no battle.” The most effective sales strategies win through credibility, not force.

Buyers seek insight and connection, not just efficiency. A motivated sales team that values relationships over transactions will always outperform automation alone. AI should enhance, not replace human interactions. Success lies in balancing technology with meaningful engagement.

The businesses that will flourish are those that embrace human connection as their greatest competitive advantage. If you’re ready to build a trust-driven, strategic sales …

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Integrity in an Age of Shamelessness: A guide for leaders, young & old

In 45 seconds

Leadership is facing a crisis. Charisma is mistaken for competence, and shamelessness* is rewarded over integrity. This article unpacks the dangers of shameless leadership—where moral disengagement, exploitation, and division thrive—and offers a blueprint for ethical leadership that prioritises accountability, empathy, and trust.

Drawing on insights from Dr. Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic and Albert Bandura, we explore how society’s preference for confidence over competence allows unqualified, self-serving individuals to rise to power. True leadership, however, requires humility, responsibility, and purpose. By understanding the difference between healthy and toxic shame, leaders can foster cultures of trust rather than coercion.

For the next generation of …

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Trend 12 – Talking AND Walking Integrity

This is Trend 12 from Barrett’s 12 Business and Sales Trends for 2024. You can download the full report here.

In 30 seconds

Trend 12 highlights the vital fusion of rhetoric and action in upholding integrity in businesses. Beyond verbal claims, companies must incorporate integrity into their culture, led by authentic, transparent, and accountable leadership. Key attributes include authenticity, transparency, accountability, ethical decision-making, and employee empowerment. Leaders with integrity build trust, loyalty, and long-term success. The consequences of compromising integrity can include loss of credibility, decreased morale, legal issues, and financial repercussions. Rebuilding trust is possible …

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Quick Start Guide to Dealing With Narcissists at Work

In 30 seconds

Dealing with narcissists in the workplace requires vigilance, assertiveness, and a commitment to fostering a positive, ethical work environment. You can minimise their impact on productivity and team morale by recognising narcissistic traits early, setting firm boundaries, and focusing on collaborative goals. Narcissists may bring disruption, but with the right approach, you can keep them from compromising the integrity and effectiveness of your professional space.

Setting clear boundaries, documenting interactions and decisions, and promoting a human-centred culture can reduce the impact of narcissistic traits in the work environment.

In 2.5 minutes

People with narcissistic tendencies have a significant impact in the …

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Game Over: How Fair Play Can Rebuild the Construction Industry

In 30 seconds

The recent corruption revelations in the building industry highlight longstanding issues such as kickbacks and bribery, which erode public trust and fair competition. Having witnessed my father face these corrupt practices daily in dealing with the building industry, I understand the personal toll they take. It’s crucial to eliminate corruption and foster ethical business conduct. Leaders must embody integrity, transparency, and accountability, inspiring ethical behaviour throughout their organisations. Sales teams should focus on genuine, trust-based relationships rather than aggressive tactics.

A corruption-free industry requires a multifaceted approach: strong regulations, enhanced transparency, ethical leadership, fair compensation, and public awareness. It also requires the collective effort of all stakeholders.

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Short-Term Gains, Long-Term Pains

In 30 seconds

Focusing solely on short-term results like Boeing did, prioritising profits over safety, led to disastrous quality issues and accidents. This highlights a broader problem: prioritising sales figures over people’s well-being can erode trust and damage reputation in any industry, not just aviation. The same happens when organisations drive sales teams solely based on numbers, quantity, and financial outcomes. While it can lead to the desired short-term results, it puts the business at risk in the long-term:  Erosion of quality, safety, reliability, trust, and reputation.

In 1.5 minutes

We frequently talk here about the risks of focusing on …

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Striking Balance – Barrett’s 12 Sales & Business Trends for 2024

In December 2023 we published Barrett’s 12 Sales & Business Trends for 2024. This is a summary of that report, in case you missed it.

For decades, the business world has been dominated by what looked like opposites to choose from. You could be a hunter or a gatherer, a manager or a leader.

These concepts have been pitched to the business community as opposing and mutually exclusive choices, forcing a binary mindset. These polarisations don’t apply to modern businesses and sales operations – and they haven’t served us well for some time now.

In 2023 we’ve worked with businesses across industries and …

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