March 15, 2021

Author: Amber Anderson

When you’re growing your business, there may be times when you feel stuck and sometimes that stuck feeling is because you’re make decisions that are out of your comfort zone. You want to grow, but you also don’t want to lose sight of who you are as a business owner—or of the brand you’ve worked so hard to build.

Whenever this happens, lean on your core competencies: They can help you create a decision-making framework that ensures you won’t cut corners.

Company Values

Maintaining your professionalism and business integrity during times of growth is possible if it's prioritized. When you’re growing your business you may have to make decisions that test your boundaries. It helps to frequently ask yourself a couple of key questions: What drives you? What do you value?

Company values are the moral compass of your business. They lay the framework for how you operate. But growth can test a company and its leadership. As you grow, you may experience moments where you question whether your company’s values can sustain this period of expansion:

• Can you give customers the same level of service when you scale?
• Can you still maintain your commitment to sustainability?
• Are you able to have the same kind of company culture when you have 100 employees instead of 10?

A good way to start is by using your company values to help identify the partners you should be working with as well as your target audience. They’re also helpful in devising your marketing strategy. Whether it’s a vendor, employee or customer, your values help both you and them understand whether you’re a good fit.

For example, if you have a business that’s centered around saving the environment, you probably wouldn’t partner with a company with a track record of pollution and other poor environmental practices. By keeping your values at the forefront, you can determine if a particular partnership is right for your business.

Products and Services

Your products and services are what people are invested in—it's why they’ve chosen you. As you're growing your business, it’s important to keep them top of mind.

When you're committed to your products and services, it's easier to make decisions that not only satisfy your customers' expectations but exceed them. To do that, you might be making strategic investments where it makes sense, staying on top of relevant regulations, prioritizing customer services and needs, and staying ahead of trends. But if cutting down production costs by quietly turning to lower-quality labor for your clothing line is something you're considering, think about how your customers will feel and react to your decision.

While maintaining profits is vital for any business, cutting corners on your products and services can compromise your integrity and, even worse, cost you your relationship with your customers. Remember, your actions can define your business, so committing to delivering on your promises is essential.

Commit to Your People

You can't move a business forward without people—those who work for you and those who buy your product or service. Staying true to your customers, employees and vendors can go a long way if you're intentional about how you show up. Leading with honesty, respect and accountability across your business—every interaction, inquiry and transaction—can foster a sense of commitment that brings your people together around your vision.

How so? Customers serve as ambassadors for your brand, amplifying your business through word of mouth. Meanwhile, employees who are more engaged in their work are more productive, contributing to your daily operations in meaningful ways that drive your business forward. And vendors can make a huge difference by sharing their experiences working with you with potential clients and partners.

While cutting corners may be tempting at first glance, prioritizing professionalism and integrity in your business can help you grow smartly and sustainably. By focusing on the parts of your business that matter the most—your values, offerings and commitment to people—you can pursue the right opportunities for growth. 

Photo: Getty Images