Know what you believe and why you believe it. Then you can stand tall in the storm and not fall for BS.
Businesses are increasingly being held accountable for their actions, both by their customers and by the public. For this reason, it’s more important than ever to have strong values and a definite compass to guide you.
To be a successful business leader, it’s vital to know what you believe and why you believe it so you can make decisions that are aligned with your values, even when it’s difficult. It will also help you to build a strong team of employees who share your core values rather than pull in different directions.
Benefits of Having Strong Values in Business
When you know what you believe, you’re less likely to make decisions that you’ll regret later. Your beliefs are the keel on your boat.
Employees want to work for a company that shares their values. In that setting, they’ll be more likely to be engaged and productive.
Customers are increasingly looking for suppliers with aligned values. We see this frequently in search, where the individual and corporate values are always being compared.
How to Develop Strong Values
Here are some tips for developing strong values:
- Think about what’s important to you – What are the things that you believe in? What are the things that you’re passionate about? Go deeper than your obvious immediate answers. Find a worldview that can stand up to scrutiny.
- Talk to people you admire – Ask them about their values and why they’re important to them.
- Read about values – Articles, books, blog posts – all of these can help you to learn more about different values and how they can be applied in business.
- Reflect on your own experiences – Think about the times when you’ve made decisions that were aligned with your values and the times when you’ve made decisions that weren’t. What would you do differently, or not?
How to Apply Strong Values in Business
Here are some ways to apply strong values as a leader in business, whatever your position:
- Understand and demonstrate company values – Ensure your company values are clearly defined and communicated to all employees.
- Make decisions that are aligned with your values – When you’re faced with a decision, take the time to consider your values, not just the short-term choice on the table.
- Give – Find ways to use your business skills or connections to positively impact the world around you.
