As a business owner, you are probably facing all kinds of problems when it comes to running and managing your business. All of these issues have to do with ethics and what you know you need to do to make sure the company meets the wants and needs of its customers. However, sometimes, it is not as clear and concrete as we would like it to be, and if that is the case, most of the time, we end up doing things without realizing that we are actually hurting our business.
Many business owners are tricked into doing things that are for the sake of the word, not overly ethical. However, the lines between being honest and ethical blur and that’s when a lot of misunderstandings happen and things can get out of hand very quickly if you’re not vigilant and observant. So as a business owner, it is up to you to ensure that your business practices are honest and ethical at all times.
Again, this is easier said than done due to the fact that if the business has many moving parts, that also means that there are many different practices that need to be controlled to ensure a successful business. Policies, regulations and rules are part of ensuring that the business operates in an ethical manner. It is these guidelines, rules and regulations that will help guide the business in such a way that it continues to provide the customer with exactly what they want and need at all times.
Everything from human resources, customer care, product compliance, etc., are part of the many moving parts of the business and as such each of these moving parts should have its own code of ethics to follow.
We’ve all heard the saying, “Honesty is the best policy.” Well, this saying is very true and it is the first rule of the business. If you apply this phrase to your business, when managing each of its moving parts, this principle will ensure that the business runs smoothly. However, what ends up happening is that business owners learn of the latest technique or strategy that is supposed to bring big profits to the business and then start using that technique only to later realize that it is dishonest and misleading. This is where the lines really get blurry because while the technique or strategy in question doesn’t appear to be misleading, the truth comes out when you discover that your customer base is shrinking or just not buying from you. like they used to do in the past.
That is why it is vitally important that before using any new technique or strategy in your business, you first study it well and review it with a fine tooth comb to make sure everything is honest and ethical. This could mean doing research on the technique to see how it is being applied in other business models, and even talking to other entrepreneurs who are using the technique or strategy to find out first-hand how it is working in their businesses. Then, and only then, will you have a clear picture and can decide whether or not to use technique or strategy.
No matter how attractive something may be and no matter how much money someone claims that they are earning using a particular technique or strategy, you must first do your research to make sure that the claims being made are actually true. The last thing you want to do is use something that pollutes your business with bad business practices in the hopes of making more money. This is where greed comes in because all business owners want to make more money, but the question is; Is it really worth using an unethical technique or strategy?
This is a question that you must constantly ask yourself when faced with a new way of doing things in your business. This is why running and running a business is so difficult to do and most people don’t realize it. They are misled by people who teach them that Internet business is really easy to do. What should matter the most is your customers because without customers, then you don’t have a business at all.
Most of the time, ethics are thrown out the window and replaced with greed and deception in the hopes of making more money for those at the top. Greed even seeps through the different levels of the business and affects all of its employees and staff members. If it’s bad enough, it can even lead to business disruption. This has happened to many companies in the past, and it has even happened to large corporations that ended up in the news due to the problems they face regarding greed and deception.
Sure you want to make as much money as humanly possible, but if ethics are thrown out to get that money, is it really worth it? Is it really worth ruining your reputation just to make more money quickly? Is it really worth it even at the expense of your employees and your customer base? Are you willing to make that sacrifice? That is the question to ask yourself if you are thinking of doing something less ethical in your business.
The road to business success is a long and dangerous road that has many tricky things along the way that you need to watch out for. That is why you must remain smart and not get carried away by unethical techniques or strategies. Remember, honesty is the best policy, and that’s a statement that you can lead directly to the bank!