So many businesses advertise “integrity” these days that we no longer pay much attention to it. It is an overused word. When we read it, we don’t know if we can trust it; it is unlikely that we will go ahead and purchase a product or service because of a company’s claimed “integrity”. YET, most of us do exactly the same: promote our integrity as a key reason to do business with us. I present a solution at the end of this article, but first,…

Let’s examine TRUE integrity.

Who we are in life is who we are in business. We must closely examine ourselves and know that if we do not have core values, then we will not run our businesses with true integrity, and we will be found out. Integrity must be present throughout the deepest layers of our company, and not just at its surface, so it becomes the heart and soul of our company culture. Clients will sense this, and it is very attractive!

However, we want to get there quickly. We want to impact our clients with our integrity.

Start with a promise and then deliver on that promise to perfection.

Make it something that your competitors don’t usually do (e.g. notifying the client of interim progress). Put the promise in writing. For most clients, “integrity” is at the top of the list, so we do want them to recognize it in us early. Share information with clients from day one: ask them questions to show you want to help them make the best and wisest use of your services; let them know you are available to them when they need you, and then be available; invite their opinions and feedback. All of this conveys you sincerely care, and you want to give them the best possible experience. If you don’t let your clients down, your identity of integrity is your basis for success and growth.

If we make mistakes, we don’t lose our integrity if we…

Take full responsibility and offer immediate solutions or options.

If we attempt to cover up or deny our mistakes, we damage our integrity. Also, we should never succumb to the temptation to misrepresent our capabilities or offers. That loses us our integrity.

If advertising our integrity to potential clients does not count for much, how do we get the message out? The answer is via existing clients. Ask them for testimonials you can publish, and place them prominently on your website, in your newsletters, and in all your promotional material. The more testimonials you have, the better. Some of your clients may allow you to publish their phone number or email address too.

I conduct my business with the utmost integrity…but you don’t have to take my word for it, just read my Testimonials!