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#businessintegrity |
It is important for each of us
to periodically take a look
at how we are doing business
and focus on what we need to improve. Being honest in our business dealings tops our list, and here is why......
Has this ever happened to you?
Years ago we were undergoing a major home
renovation. We interviewed several
contractors and reviewed their plans for our addition. My husband and I decided on the one we
thought had the best plan and at the best price. The estimated time frame for the project was
2 months. The contractor was local and
promised to begin work the following week.
It ended up to be one of the worst experiences
ever. The contractor was rarely on
site. He sub-contracted most of the work
and, while some of the workers that showed up did a fine job, communication was
non-existent. Bottom line, the
contractor told us what we wanted to hear with very little thought of what was really
in our best interests, the interests of his customer.
We learned a lot from that experience. And one of the main things is that we decided what we did not want to do in our own business!
Building a mutually
beneficial relationship between
your
company and your customers makes sense.
They gain and you gain. They get your very best product or service,
and you get that most coveted of things, a loyal
customer.
But what does it really take to provide “honest dealing”? Is honesty in business
even possible? We believe it is more than
possible. We believe it to be our most
important goal.
“Honest dealing” and trust can be achieved when You:
Put in
the work to do your job well. The more time you spend on providing that
stellar service, the less time you will have to spend on the “sell”. Be willing to constantly update and “tweak”
your product. Find that niche in the
market where you are unique and work it!
Do what
you say you are going to do. Empty promises have no place in a good business. Do everything possible to provide your
customers with exactly the service you promised when you promised it. The effort it takes will not go
unnoticed. In this instance, actions
really do speak louder than words.
Are in
it for the Long Haul. It is
unrealistic to expect instant results. A
reputation takes time to build. Be there
when your customers have questions. Work
with them on their specific needs. We have one particular customer who occasionally needs “rush” work. We make it our priority to get them exactly
what they need, with quality, each and every time. This has paid off with a very loyal client.
Come
clean with mistakes. Not
everything is going to go perfectly each and every time. It is how you handle those mistakes that will
define you. Be straight forward with
what went wrong and what steps you are taking to make sure it does not happen
again. Your customers will appreciate your
“above board” approach.
The bottom line is, we believe in the Golden Rule we all learned
as children; “do unto others as you would have them do unto you”.
Truly looking out for your customer’s best
interests is key.
When you can honestly
say that you are willing to do what is necessary
to provide the best,
good
things will follow.
We believe – and so
should You!
Please Share and Comment on this post. We would love to hear from you! Thanks!
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Great article. I've had more than my fair share of unethical contractors on my house, and other professionals, as well. I don't understand the lack of ethics some businesses operate under. I would never cheat a client. My rule has always been to give more than we agree upon. I believe that what goes around comes around, and those people do pay the price down the road. You take from others and eventually the Universe takes something away from you as the price.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comments Marla! I especially like your rule to always give MORE than you promised. Keeping this in mind, it is easy to treat your clients and customers with respect and honesty. I also believe in Karma! Once again, your thoughts are appreciated!
ReplyDelete