As a business leader, chances are very good you’ve had the opportunity to get ahead in ways that are technically legal but ethically icky. Whether a company has charged higher interest rates for customers with bad credit or been less that forthcoming about how client data is used, organizations are plenty prone to dipping their toes into gray waters.

BigSpeak’s EVP Ken Sterling is a lawyer and and USC Professor passionate about ethical business and building organizations with strong values. He advises leaders consider honesty, transparency and fairness when making business decisions, taking into account how each choice will affect stakeholders, employees, consumers, and the community at large. Legal compliance is the bare minimum, and it is up to team leaders to put in the extra effort to go make the decision that is best for everyone.

For Sterling’s full insights, read his recent article on the topic over at Inc. Magazine.