I was once asked, “In running a business, you think you will have sneaky in some ways in order your desired result or position?” That was a question from lady in top management of multi-national company that invited me give talk to ladies on International Women’s Day. Honestly, I was shocked when she asked me this question, but I also replied immediately that not true. Instead, being sneaky will damage your reputation. You might be able to deal because you are sneaky enough to win it, but if you put yourself in other people’s shoes, will they still continue to business with you find they were actually cheating in some ways? Well, I would be angry and I would not bother to do more business with someone who cheated me.
I found a common problem among startup entrepreneurs. We all tend to over-commit to our clients or customers with the hope that they will give us the business. You might try your best to fulfill your commitments, but sometimes things do not turn out as you might have hoped. You may have overestimated our own capability, or relied too much on other partners or suppliers. In the end, when you fail to deliver what you committed to, this could cause a huge disappointment to the client and you will not able to gain their trust anymore. Adding salt to the wound, they may also give negative feedback as a result of the bad experience, which will harm your reputation with existing and potential clients. So instead of over-committing to something, what I rather do is set a reasonable expectation then over-deliver and exceed their expectations. Make sure that you only make business commitments that you know you can keep. Many entrepreneurs over-commit because they are desperate have business constituents like and respect them, yet the quickest way to lose respect is to fail to keep commitments. Let your customers know you are trying to put them first and work in favor of them. Sometimes you cannot control other variables and you will fall short of what you promised to deliver. In such an event, own up as quickly as possible to the client so that they are aware of situation. Trying to avert blame or hide from the situation may only make matters worse, and many clients will willingly empathize with you if they feel you are sincere in your efforts.
Honesty is key to building your reputation. Never lie to your clients or business associates. Even “white lies” that may have been deemed necessary at the time could have huge negative repercussions. When clients feel that they can trust you, you’ll find that they will be quicker to take your suggestions and make payments on time. Good clients will also offer bonuses and referrals if they are extremely happy with the products or services they receive. This is how you build your reputation, your testimonials, and attract high-end customers who are willing to pay for premium quality products/services.
Let’s take Amazon as an example. The e-commerce giant has spent over twenty years building its reputation. When Amazon was first founded, people were still wary about ordering goods and making payments online. The company took steps to continually upgrade its system to make it more efficient, safe and user-friendly. Today millions of people shop on Amazon because it has a reputation for online security, reliability, unbiased product reviews, and an endless inventory of goods for sale. Price-sensitive consumers can also check the prices at Amazon before making any purchases, and for some people, shopping on Amazon has become simpler than going to physical retailers. In some places, Amazon even delivers right to the trunks of customers’ cars. That’s a lot of progress in several decades as a result of a glowing reputation which is portrayed by its expanding network of satisfied customers.
As with our personal lives, trust takes lots of time to build and can be shattered in an instant. This is why you need to carefully guard your business’s reputation. It is one of the best assets you have for growth, stability and ongoing success.
I’d love to know your experience more. In what areas you think you could build your trustworthy identity? Jot down any important traits as you progress and let us know in the comments below!
