HIS24 is Honour (Singapore)’s biennial by-invitation event, engaging international delegates and speakers to discuss various aspects of Honour.
The theme of HIS24 is “TOTAL SUSTAINABILITY. The rationale underlying the Symposium theme is as follows: Much public discourse on sustainability these days has tended to focus on climate change. We believe that sustainability needs to be discussed in its totality, rather than just the narrowness of environmental sustainability. The foundational end of sustainability has to be the sustainability of society. This strategic goal applies to government, to businesses, to the community, to families and to the conduct of individuals. Peter F. Drucker, who was a world-renowned leadership guru, has pointedly said: ‘None of our institutions exists by itself and is an end in itself. Every one is an organ of society and exists for the sake of society. Business is no exception. Free enterprise cannot be justified as being good for business; it can be justified only as being good for society.’
Government has to pursue a path that enhances the long-term viability of society. Businesses have to exist for the good of society. Families have to prepare children for a beneficial future in society. Individuals have to behave in ways which strengthen the long-term wellbeing of society and the nation.
Honour is the tool that seeks to draw the best out of every individual for the collective good of society as well as themselves – by building and enhancing trust, invoking acceptance of diversity in its manifold dimensions, and seeking the long-term well-being of each other in a gracious and caring society where each of us may be the best we can be given our talents and abilities.
HIS24 brings together like-minded leaders and future leaders in business, government, and community groups. It is an interactive program to reflect on the application of honour and honourable behaviour to bring about successful businesses, stable homes, and strong nations.
Come and join us at HIS24!
HIS24 is presented by Honour (Singapore), a not-for-profit organisation that seeks to promote a culture of honour for sustainable success. Honour brings about trustworthiness and dependability. Singapore managed to attract investments and talent from all over the world after its sudden independence in 1965 because we could be trusted to honour our word and deliver on our promises. Like Singapore succeeded, we also can personally succeed in life if we can be trusted to do our best in every situation. In short we, as a people and a government, will always Honour our Word.
But there is a second important reason for Singapore’s success. We are a nation of many races and many religions, and maintaining peace, security and stability is therefore fundamental to national life. We therefore need to have a high level of concern and respect for one another with a natural acceptance of our diversity – in short, we Honour Each Other.
Honour is living by virtues, which are values in action. When you live an honourable life, you live according to universal virtues, and show great respect to yourself and other people by keeping your word and doing the right thing regardless of what others are doing1.
Honour can thus be said to be the virtue of all virtues, for without honour, one would not live out the values that one believes in.
Honour defines our humanity and it is ours to lose. It is like a muscle – we are born with it, but whether it maintains its functionality and grows depends on whether we choose to use and exercise it.
Trust is the most important currency for the success and sustainability of all long-term relationships regardless of whether it be in the personal, professional, or public space.
And HONOUR IS THE FOUNDATION OF TRUST.
For a system of trust to work, one party must first honour the other party with trust, and this in turn must be honoured and reciprocated by the other party, before a relationship of honour can be established and sustained.
While there are arguably many dimensions to Honour, there are two dimensions that are particularly important for the survival and success of relationships and leadership in families, organisations, communities, and nations.