Business Values

Companies advertise and take pride in their core values. A business value is defined as a belief, mission, or philosophy that is truly meaningful to the business. Business values are a statement of the business’s intention and commitment to achieve and maintain a high level of performance.

Business values are often found on a business’s website and printed materials. Consumers who may have never utilized a particular business may easily become aware of the values that a business subscribes to from their advertisements boasting excellent customer service, unmatched pricing, unsurpassed quality, and many other promises, goals, and sometimes claims.

Business values are the talk. The more important question is, “Where is the walk?” The walk refers to the actual actions that a business takes. If a business boasts excellent customer service, but often falls short and offers mediocre customer service at best, that business is not walking the walk.

For example, if a business declares that they value the planet, and are “going green” by making a commitment to the environment, yet continue to ship their products packed with non-water soluble Styrofoam, ship products with too many wasteful shipping supplies, do not participate in a recycling program, or many other easily fixable environmental concerns: that business is not walking the walk. They are just talking.

Consumers and clients are generally disinterested in hearing the talk and not seeing the walk. If your business does not live up to achieving and maintaining the core business values that it has subscribed to, it is likely that your business will suffer. Even the most dedicated customers will start to notice and within time, will eventually act, usually opting to seek out another business or competitor who walks the walk.

Take this time to evaluate your business’ values. Are they clear and concise? Are they public knowledge and easy to find? Is your business truly living it’s values? Are you yourself setting the example?

Inspect your customer service habits, marketing efforts, shipping standards, website, printed materials, and every single department, process and protocol that is in place within your business. Discover areas where your business’s walk is not in line or not as strong as the talk.

If you own a small business or are a sole-proprietor, business values are just as important, if not more so, than in the corporate sector. Fortunately in these circumstances, there are not as many processes, people, and departments to sift through to find weaknesses.

If you find that your business’s walk is strong, for every item or process that is reviewed, determine one thing that can be done to keep your walk directly inline with your talk. Schedule a “talk and walk” review at least annually as it is easy to slip into old or bad habits inadvertently.

Business values can be detrimental if abandoned or unused. If your business has not defined it’s values then I invite you to do so immediately. Business values are vital and living up to them or “walking” is the foundation of what your business stands for and what your customers believe in.