Hey Confident Ladies!
This week we are starting the year right and talking "Ethics + Integrity in our Businesses"!
Now this is not an easy topic for some. But I have a feeling it is a bit easier for you ladies. I have seen some incredible examples of ethical businesses run with high integrity! The simple definition of Ethics = moral principles of right and wrong. And Integrity = what you do when no one is looking.
I want you to evaluate your business and make sure it's practices are aligned with your values. Maybe you would even consider writing out what those values and they set your business apart and enable it to run with high integrity.
Start today by taking an inventory of your current ethics and values in your business. Here are a few questions to ask yourself + tips:
Is what I am saying and doing aligned with who I really am? Be yourself -- don’t put on a different persona in your business, because it won’t feel natural for you. AND this isn’t setting an example, you want to be transparent and honest with your clients at ALL times. They want to see the REAL you, imperfections and all! You know me, I am an OPEN BOOK. I share the good, the bad, and the ugly. If I mess up, I admit it. I take ownership of my actions.
Am I treating others the way that I would want to be treated? Not JUST treating potential + paying clients like gold, but anyone I interact with, whether they buy or not. I’ve heard some awful stories of people not being able to afford someone’s services and then that service provider completely shifting their attitude and the way they treat that individual. Treat ALL of those you interact with, whether they are potential clients or not with the highest respect.
As a coach and therapist “I AM my business”. I strive to show up in congruence at all times and treat each individual that I interact with EXACTLY as I would want to be treated. If you do not continuously check in with yourself and your MINDSET, some of the above WILL slip and slide and this can completely destroy your business/reputation.
To sum it all up, make sure you continue to work your mindset so that you can be consistent in your ethics, values, and integrity and always show up as your best self.
I truly believe that as a business owner we must model ethical and “leader behavior” for our clients. Now you’re probably wondering, “how exactly can you model this behavior?” I will give a few examples of how I model:
I keep my word. If I say I’m going to show up at 4pm, I will show up at 4pm. I will respect their time and not keep them waiting. You would think this would be common sense, but I’ve heard horror stories.
I am fully transparent when my clients ask me questions. Acting like I’ve figured it all out and have it all together is not only unethical, but doing a disservice to my clients who might be struggling and need to see some glimmer of hope that you CAN get out on the other side.
I don’t sugar coat or paint this beautiful picture of how I are going to change their life or business unless I can 100% guarantee this will happen (which I can’t so I never do!). You can’t PROMISE results...aka the shiny object coaching packages we all see…. “Hire me for 10k and i’ll get you your first client in 30 days, help you make 5k days, 30k months, and so on”. You know EXACTLY what I’m talking about. Not only is this unethical, but it crushes people’s confidence and mindset when they are already vulnerable and believing this.
If I get on a discovery call and the individual is not a good fit for my program, I will tell them and give them next steps whether that’s another offering of mine OR referring them to a colleague if it’s out of my scope of practice. I have literally sent away probably a total of 10k since being in business because I believed the client needed support in a different area, wasn’t right timing and other reasons. People are shocked when I do this, but I would sure hope someone would do the same for me if I wasn’t a good fit for them. I will actually share more about this concept later in the month, so hang tight!
These are only a few of the big ones and there are many many more! What are your ethics, values, and beliefs about who you are as a business owner? Are you modeling positive behavior for your clients?
Think about what you can do to keep in a clearer mindset to make sound, ethical, and integral decisions in your business. Is it not overloading yourself with too much work? Limiting how many clients you take? Setting a boundary with your time?
Where can you draw a line to ensure you have enough mental space to make sound decisions in your business? What big or little steps have you taken to clear out clutter in your life and allow more energy and clearer thinking into your business in order to continue making sound ethical decisions?
What are your thoughts on these tips? Do any really hit home with you or confirm something you've been feeling for some time? I’d love to hear your feedback and even experience with this. Please share below in the comments. If you'd like even more support in your business, let's hop on a Discovery Call to talk about how I can help you meet your goals through some mindset coaching. Simply fill out this app and we will get your call in the books!
XO Kate