Your small business’ image and reputation can be affected by many things. From the quality of your products and services, your location, your branding, and what this article is about - your integrity as a business and as a business owner. Integrity is not only doing the right thing when no one is looking, but it is also being dependable, reliable, and doing what you say you will. In this blog, we are going to walk through what is integrity, characteristics, and more.
What is Integrity?
Integrity is “acting with honor regardless of whether your actions are public committing to doing what you say you will do.” Integrity isn’t always doing what would make your customers and clients the happiest. Integrity is keeping your business morals at the front, being steadfast in meeting the expectations you put for your business, and making sure your business is reliable in what it provides and stands for.
How can Integrity Affect Your Business?
The integrity of your business can affect it in many different ways. Some of these are:
• The culture of your business. The integrity of your business can foster a positive and productive culture and environment for your business and, therefore, positively impact the moods and behaviors of all those who interact with it.
• The quality of the products and services you provide. If your business doesn’t have the drive to maintain integrity, the motivation and drive needed to continuously deliver quality products and services will tank. If there’s no reason to maintain quality through standards you uphold in your business, why would your employees put in the work to do so?
• The relationships with your employees and customers. Your employees will value their place within your business more if they feel like you’re involved in helping with projects. Be open and honest with them about what you expect, respect them, and make them feel valued for the work they do.
• Your business’ reputation - If your business lacks integrity, people won’t have a great opinion of it, what it provides, and you as a business owner. Not only would this negatively impact that specific business, but because your reputation as a business owner is directly tied to your business, any future businesses you own or venture into will have a disadvantage because your reputation as a business owner, in general, will be harmed.