When we ‘review’ how our business is doing, and how we’re structuring it on the most solid of foundations, it’s easy to look at what motivating principles and standards are doing to develop the firm in front of us.
Yet it’s also true that the reverse question could be asked – how is your business actively defining its principles and standards? Businesses that work tend to focus on both of these practical elements, knowing that in order to remain competitive we must never stay stagnant, and instead must always consider how to improve.
That’s easier said than done, and it’s especially hard to do when you don’t have unlimited budgets to throw at every problem in front of you, as some companies seem to have. Thankfully, you don’t have to worry, often consumers take notice of companies that stick by their principles
That said, they may not be able to identify every single area where these standards reveal themselves. That’s because in businesses that remain relevant, their standards tend to permeate every department, every decision, every structure that contributes to the whole. In this post, then, we’ll discuss how that might be possible; and what approach you should take should you wish to replicate that. As you grow, this could serve as very valid wisdom indeed.
Let’s consider some of that advice:
Materials & Warranties
The materials you use when creating products, or the services logical principles you use when designing your own service platforms, will determine the scope of the quality you can give. This is why excellent seafood restaurants will wake up at the crack of dawn to make sure they attend the fish market for the freshest catch that day – this principle is something that can apply to how you structure value in your business.
For instance, when sourcing materials to provide a service or products, opting for the highest quality, the most durable, and those you can buy in bulk affordably will help you pass on the value to your clients. In construction fields, this will also allow you to extend the warranties of your work, no matter if you’re using special or standard components for industrial equipment sectors.
Some brands can pride themselves of being official retailers of a given product, or in using them for a particular purpose. This can be as simple as a restaurant serving as a brand ambassador for a local cooking apple company, or it might be as complex as qualifying your contracting firm for the installation of a particular set of durable double-glazing windows. It’s all about how you pass on unique value to your customers in the long term that really makes the difference.
Staff Ethics & Practices
It’s always healthy to consider how to get the utter best out of your team, but this is never separated from how to keep them satisfied and effective in their roles. There’s a give and take here. If we expect the best from them, it’s important to focus on making their environment comfortable.
This might simply mean providing a worthwhile staff kitchen, remote work options, and more. However, it’s also essential to carefully list out the ethics they’re expected to attend to, so everyone in the team is able to work beside one another carefully. A zero tolerance harassment policy is essential, as is hiring internally for positions as much as you can.
When it comes to practices you wish staff to follow, such as ensuring they keep their accounts secure, that they clean the kitchen between uses, and that they know the right confidential channels to report mistreatment through; then we need to make those principles and protocols clear, concluding how to use them effectively. In the long runt, this really does make a tremendous difference.
Safety, Always & Forever
Of course, no business that operates today is worth its salt if it doesn’t focus on safety as a matter of principle. Without this, you’re unknowingly putting people at risk at best, and knowingly accepting harm at worst.
This is why safety measures are so important to implement, review, and re-review. They also need to be fully pre-emptive, so that you don’t have to learn from injuries, but you learn before they happen. For many firms, hiring a specific safety advisor able to make sure safety protocols are followed is key.
Often, there is a pre-written and established set of safety standards to follow within any given industry. Any foodstuff that makes it to the shelves of the market, for instance, will have gone through rigorous testing and random inspections to ensure measures are up to speed.
It’s not enough to simply meet these standards however, we must progress beyond them. Through safety instructions within each one of your products, inspecting equipment capably, making sure safety problems are reported immediately, and measuring practices such as how quickly you can safely evacuate your business offices in the event of a fire are important to consider. In the long run, this will make a thorough difference.
The Causes Your Business Supports
Every business is a platform, and for this reason it’s good to think about the measures your business supports. When people suggest that this is important, then sometimes mean championing political and social causes that may be in the news right now, such as making a stance on the latest legislation. But that’s not necessarily all this encompasses, and your business doesn’t have to be a vocal part of today’s politics if you’d rather keep a more consistent image.
However, there are some political topics that we must simply weigh into. For instance, you’ll have noticed that many companies have “modern slavery” statements on their website, making it absolutely clear what they think about forced labor, and how they vet all suppliers they use to ensure their products are never sourced by that most disgusting of practices.
This may seem obvious on the surface, but having robust policies and principles you can point to will really elevate your legitimacy as a brand.
Value Offered
So far we’ve discussed a range of practices that your business will no doubt engage in in order to stay relevant and worthwhile; to offer quality and to structure your internal systems appropriately.
But sometimes, we just have to think on our basics even more than we did prior. For instance, how are you enhancing the value of your brand? If you don’t do this, then it’s easy for even successful companies to look out of touch or exclusionary. Think of how Apple, a titan of the tech field, is constantly derided for offering too many accessories at incredible prices rather than bundling them in with the package. For instance, even modern iPhones aren’t packaged with a charger.
Does this mean you have to always offer incredible bang for buck? Not always; in fact sometimes the exclusivity of an experience is what makes it valuable, such as whisky retailers who sell vintage spirits in rare supply. Yet it’s important to manage your value with the needs of your consumer. Is your brand name really that strong? How might you secure your demographic appropriately? How could packaging, and the overall user experience contribute to this?
To use another example, many people consider Starbucks to be quite expensive and unjustifiably so. But there’s no doubt that when it comes to blends, customizability, the quality of their coffee cups and the polish of the store experience, the whole package works and allows you to justify going there. As you can see, value can come from many angles, but it’s essential you know where you’re offering it from, and how to improve it to remain competitive.
Contributing To Your Industry
Another good measure to consider is that of contributing to an industry in the best possible way. Most consumers want to support companies that seem to be innovators in the space, or at least supporters of their craft. For instance, if a craft beer company isn’t involved in beer festivals, or celebrating events, or in trying new designs for the fun of it, or in releasing anniversary products, it’s easy for them to feel old-hat.
Even companies as successful and world-spanning as Coca Cola go through iterative periods, even if that’s as simple as placing your name on a bottle. It might be worth considering how to properly contribute to your industry, how you can become more active in that space, or how you can represent your craft well.
Client/Consumer Treatment
How you treat those that aim to use your services or products is key. IKEA, for instance, is known to ship out parts for their products if you’re missing them or need a replacement, often free of charge.
It’s a little thing that costs their bottom line a little, but generates goodwill, lessens returns, and helps them connect with their client base. Little provisions like this, in good-faith, can often make a tremendous difference. It’s also worth thinking of the worth involved with great customer support departments, and you can use our section on staff policies and protocols to help you design that with care.
With this advice, we believe you’ll be able to define your business in the most confident, worthwhile manner. It’s not easy to run a firm, but when you have principles and standards to guide you, mapping your way is a little easier to achieve.