The other day, I heard a salesperson comment that he’d heard some sales pitches recently that were trying to take advantage of our current pandemic situation. He said those pitches made him feel uncomfortable, and his goal was to take the opposite approach with his own sales calls.
I’m sure most of you have also heard about people trying to make a fast buck right now. The comment from the salesperson, though, reminded me of how being true to your values as a business – and a person – is always important.
And in these days of so much fear and uncertainty, it’s even more important.
When things settle down, customers will remember how they were treated during this time, and they’ll be much more interested in sticking with businesses who helped them, or who helped others, through the tough times.
Why Values Matter
Operating a values-based company takes more patience than aiming for high, short-term revenue, but it pays out over the long run. When you show dedication to your principles, you encourage customers who share those values to remain loyal. They’ll want to align themselves with your business.
With the pandemic, those values take on added importance. People are feeling vulnerable and afraid, and they don’t want to work with someone who wants to profit from those feelings.
Instead, they want to support businesses they can feel good about. Businesses that will try to help them through their difficulties and show true concern for their well-being.
With that in mind, if you haven’t already defined values for your company, now is the perfect time to do it. If you don’t know where to get started, here are a few tips:
- Talk to some of your most loyal customers to see what drew them to you
- Ask employees what they perceive as your company’s values, or what they want the values to be
- Study other values-driven companies for inspiration
Be Consistent with Your Values
Once you have values defined, it’s important to remain consistent with them.
When you’re making a decision for your company, ask yourself if it’s in line with your values. If it’s not, even if it seems like a good deal, you should say no to it and continue exploring options until you find something that fits.
Share those values with people who work for you and who partner with you. Make sure they’re also aligned with your approach and will help your business stay authentic.
Keep yourself accountable for what you’re doing. Stay focused on helping those you’re working with, and if you stray from your values, get back on track as soon as you can and consider if you need to make up for anything you’ve done.
Also, remember to keep those values front and center in all areas of your business. This includes in-person meetings, emails, social media posts, images you use, and more. Your customers should never be left wondering about inconsistencies in your messaging.
This doesn’t mean you can’t lighten things up and have a little fun, but when you do, still keep that focus on what truly matters.
Customers Will Remember Your Values
Customers don’t need a perfect product or service. They can live with problems – although they’d like to see them fixed – if they believe in your business and the values you represent.
Take some time now to review or create the values you want for your company, and then stick to those. Your customers will thank you for it, and they’ll show their goodwill by supporting your business for years to come.