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Integrity: The Only Thing That Really Matters…in Business as in Life “If you have integrity, nothing else matters. If you don’t have integrity, nothing else matters.”—Alan K. Simpson Integrity: The dictionary defines integrity as “steadfast adherence to a strict moral or ethical code.” In a business setting, integrity means following the highest standard of ethical and professional conduct. Honesty, loyalty, trustworthiness…blameless conduct is as important as a quality product or service. A company is defined by its overall mindset. Integrity must be so integral (note the shared root word) to the nature of the company that it remains steadfast no matter what. Employees are more committed to…and satisfied with…a company that has high integrity. Your customers will notice. And they will be attracted to it. Relationships: Establish relationships…within your company, and with your clients. Treat all others with respect. Build excellent rapport. Accept responsibility for your actions and attitudes. The new concept of “relationship marketing” is founded on integrity. It’s pretty simple. People want to do business with companies they can trust. Do everything possible to gain trust…and to regain it when something goes wrong. Communication: Your goal is to reach your market with your unique message. But your message gets lost or distorted if you don’t communicate it clearly. Make sure all your communication materials are clear, precise, professional…and consistent with your principles. This means print materials, such as brochures and letters, and electronic ones—web content and e-mail. Do you do speeches…radio spots…audiovisual presentations? All of these begin with a good script…and end with your message being delivered well. Results: Recent research performed by the Institute of Business Ethics found that companies showing a “clear commitment to ethical conduct” almost always outperform companies that don’t. Integrity pays off financially through a strong and loyal customer base. Need proof? Surveys indicate that a majority of consumers will: Avoid buying from companies guilty of any misconduct; Pay more for a product…even switch brands or retailers…to support a cause they care about; Be more likely buy from a company that has the best reputation for social responsibility. The bottom line: Ethical companies are also profitable ones. Now, if only you could communicate your commitment to integrity to your customers and potential customers… Good news! You can. You just need a professional copywriter who shares your commitment to integrity. Call, e-mail, or write me to find out how I can help you with all your communications materials. Articles
I look forward to learning how I can help you with your next project.
This article was posted on November 24, 2005
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