Core Values Are a Key Part of Building Client Trust

It’s very important for you to both have and know your core values, both as a person and as an entrepreneur.

On a personal level, core values help keep you ethical and ensure that you always do what you think is the best option in life. As an entrepreneur, they do something very similar, and by sticking with these core values, you’ll be able to attract a very dedicated audience and clientele.

First, you should figure out what your core values are.

If you don’t know what core values are at all, they’re things like integrity, honesty, loyalty, responsibility, and so on. (I have a full blog post on that HERE.) When you have claimed one or more of these as one of your core values, you should stick to it no matter what.

After all, core values are those that you don’t change or budge on, which lends a greater sense of consistency and trustworthiness to you from a customer’s standpoint. (Although these core values aren't something that typically shift, it can be wise to have an annual review of your business, which might include really sitting with your values and ensuring that they accurately reflect what's happening. The only time I typically see values "change" is when someone realizes that they chose their values because they were something they thought they "should" value, rather than something they actually did value.)

Having said that, once you know what’s important to you, you have to stick with it no matter what. If you’re inconsistent in your values, or if you’re not always honest when you should be, customers will notice. At that point, you’re more likely to attract customers that are a bit more shifty themselves, those that may not honor agreements or will try to take advantage of you.

Not knowing and following your own values sets you up with a shaky foundation that won't serve you well in the long term. However, by showing that you are consistently honest and truthful, and truly connected to deeper values, you’ll attract more dedicated clientele that don’t like having to take chances on other businesses that they don’t know.

Living Out Your Values Inspires Trust

If your clients and audience know you, and they know that they can trust you, and you’ve shown them time and time again that they can do that, then they’re much more likely to stick with you and recommend you to their friends.

After all, nobody wants to deal with untrustworthy vendors, and you may feel the same even as a business owner yourself. You wouldn’t want to eat at a restaurant that lied to you about their ingredients, because you don’t know what else they’re lying about.

The same thing applies to all businesses. If a customer or a client can’t trust you to uphold your word on one thing, then they can’t trust you on other things, either.

Naming your values and then living those values out gives you the ability to demonstrate your character, trustworthiness, and intentions.

The key to a healthy customer-business relationship is trust.

Like it or not, the burden of proof is on you to show your customer that they can trust you, and it’s also up to you to not break or abuse that trust.

It starts by understanding your values, claiming them, communicating them, and - most importantly - living them out.

----------------------

As a Super Bowl Champion, professional athlete, best-selling author, leadership expert, & motivational speaker, Bennie Fowler knows how to access inner excellence, nurture personal growth, and consistently take things to the next level, both professionally and personally.

When you invest in working together, he provides the structure and guidance you need so you can show up fully and learn how to consistently activate your own inner champion.?