| Every business is established on pillars. These pillars | | | | Never short change your customers. On the other |
| are the supportive structures of the whole business | | | | hand, go out of your way to give them value for |
| proposition. You cannot do away with them without | | | | money. Honesty also involves 'telling it as it is.' Never |
| risking the ultimate collapse of your business structure. | | | | mislead your customers, beat around the bush, and sell |
| Two such essential business pillars are honesty and | | | | a product that is actually not suitable for them, or does |
| integrity. | | | | not meet their specific need. |
| Without honesty and integrity backing up your claims, | | | | Tried and True |
| your USP (unique selling point), or your | | | | A quality of both honesty and integrity is that these |
| customer-friendly approach; you cannot hope to | | | | pillars can only be tested in real time. Having honesty |
| operate successfully. If business owners think that | | | | and integrity printed in your code of ethics or core |
| dishonesty if undiscovered is fine, then they are | | | | business values will not ensure that you will act in that |
| deluding themselves. If integrity does not back their | | | | manner at all given opportunities. |
| claims, ultimately they will lose the clients they gained | | | | These are character traits that are essential in any |
| and fail to win new ones. | | | | individual for successful living. If you are honest and |
| Integrity | | | | true to your family and friends, then why not conduct |
| According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, 'integrity | | | | your business relations in the same vein? |
| is the firm adherence to a moral code or values'. This | | | | Over time, your reputation of practicing honesty and |
| means that if you claim to provide quality services, | | | | integrity in business will spread and you will gain clients |
| then that is exactly how your services will be. | | | | who likewise seek to maintain such qualities in their |
| Quality should be your hallmark. Or if you claim to take | | | | own respective fields. This will stand you well while |
| a stand against bribery, then you must refuse to take | | | | bidding for government contracts. |
| or give bribes, even if it costs you a contract. The | | | | Your reputation will always go before you and people |
| company Shell is known for its honesty and integrity in | | | | will feel safe doing business with you. In other words, |
| business. They have zero tolerance for bribes and | | | | you will reap trust in the business circles. |
| fraud in their commitment to crush corruption in society. | | | | Whether you are employing a few people or a large |
| Honesty | | | | work force, you will enjoy better employee |
| Meaning of honesty is 'fairness and | | | | performance when you uphold honesty and integrity in |
| straightforwardness of conduct'. One practical | | | | your business. An ethical work atmosphere sets the |
| application of honesty in business is in the area of | | | | stage for high performance. Integrity and honesty are |
| accounting. Conduct regular internal and external audits | | | | the mark of leadership in any field. These two pillars |
| for your own good. Pay your taxes on time and | | | | are a business' primary networking tool and will take |
| honestly. | | | | you from obscure places to stand before kings. |