|
|
|
Diversity: No Longer Just Black and White
Diversity in the workplace used to hinge upon the level of responsibility, pay, and respect that one could receive based upon the color of skin and ethnicity. But, these days, diversity in the workplace has become much more than that. Most CEO’s and...
HOW TO START AN ONLINE BUSINESS WITH A $0 BUDGET
Can you start an online business with a $0 budget? Yes! I am living proof of this! Many people I've told this have understandably not believed it or were skeptical and don't get me wrong... I'm not saying that this is an IDEAL way to start a...
Make big money in real estate
Real Estate is one of the oldest forms of investing known to man. Real Estate investing is easy and fortunes are made in a simple manner. For example, and investor decides that a desert area will eventually become an industrial development. He...
“The ‘Matrix’ Is Real: 5 Ways to Pull Yourself Free and Live More Prosperously”
As millions of people flood cinemas to see the new “Matrix” movie, most of them will have no idea that in fact they’re plugged into a real-life matrix.
However, the real life matrix is not run by power-hungry computers; it has everything to...
What Inspires You?
Have you ever thought? What inspires YOU? What is it that drives you day in and day out? What is it that inspires you? We think of creative people as being inspired and ask about their work. What inspired you to paint, draw, produce this piece of...
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ethical Competition with Grace and Good Sense
Using Grace and Good Sense for Ethical Competition
While all companies have the right to do business; this does frequently present a question with regards to ethical behavior when it comes to competition.
How much should you trust the "other" guy? How much should you tell the "big" guy? How far apart should you really set yourself?
Sure, you can always answer the questions of your competitors, but how much information is enough, and how much is too much? There is a difference between working with integrity, and simply handing all of your “secrets” over to the competition.
These are things you will need to ask yourself every time another competing businessperson or person in a similar industry approaches you with questions with regards to your services, rates, and other business-related information. How much should your competition really know about you?
There are some points that you can politely and professionally decline to give away, but you must have enough integrity to not seek the same information from the competitor to whom you have previously denied your own information. These points include:
Your rates - how you develop your rates is your business, and allowing the competition to know how to calculate rates will lose you an important advantage.
Where you get your sales - you have worked hard to develop your customer base. You needn’t provide your competitors a free ride.
Try to maintain an understanding with your competition that neither you, nor they will badmouth each other, should a customer "switch sides." You can establish this policy by simply creating an example.
Make
certain that your competition does not ask your friends and associates who your customer are, so that they can hone in on your existing business.
While making sure that you’re not being copied, you should also be original and join your own committees that you feel will be beneficial to you. You want to develop your own purposes and interests, not those of your competitor.
Make certain that other companies do not take your slogan and modify it slightly for their own use - and don’t do this yourself. At most, use other slogans for inspiration.
Watch the copyright on your ads. Your ads should not be copied close to word-for-word, and you should not copy the ads of others'.
Don't feel the need to associate with the competition after meetings. Your competition may simply be honing in on your sales opportunities. Work the room equally, so that nobody is taking advantage of your friendliness.
While you don't need to take the attitude that the business world is a war ground, you should also make certain that nobody is taking advantage of your knowledge, integrity and hard work. Remember that it is a small world. We are all judged on the way in which we speak about others, how we compete, and our feelings towards others. Be professional and work with grace at all times, and you will never need to concern yourself with ethics in your business.
About the Author
********************
Copyright 2004
Kate Smalley, President
Connecticut Secretary
Specializing in Transcription and Freelance
Secretarial Services
http://www.connecticutsecretary.com
kms@connecticutsecretary.com
********************
|
|
|
|
|
|