Business Education

You Don’t have to Meet a Politician to Find a Hypocrite — Your Mirror Might just Reflect One

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez just moved into a luxury apartment in Washington D.C. It doesn’t contain one affordable housing unit. In fact, the complex doesn’t even comply with D.C.’s Affordable Dwelling Units program. This, after campaigning on a platform which included “Safe, affordable, adequate housing for all.”

George H.W. Bush infamously said, “Read my lips. No new taxes.” LBJ promised the country not to escalate America’s involvement in the Vietnam War. George W. Bush campaigned, in-part, against excess government spending. Then, expanded several federal programs.

How Hypocrisy Hurts Businesses

The list goes on and on and on. Bernie Sanders, who rails against wealth inequality, owns three houses, has a net worth of about $2 million, and earns a six-figure salary. You get the idea. And, these are just a handful of politicians. It doesn’t include entrepreneurs, celebrities, professional athletes, and other public figures.

As a business owner or manager, it’s important to practice what you preach. If you require employees to be available 24/7 while you’re MIA, or you’re constantly texting on the job while you prohibit employees from using their phones, for example, your hypocritical behavior is sending the wrong message to employees, and they may resent you for it. —Business News Daily

Of course, hypocrisy is everywhere. When it occurs in a business environment, it’s very harmful. Hypocrisy undermines your ability to lead. After all, it’s essentially telling your employees to literally do as you say, NOT do as you do. You lose respect. It compromises your standing. Plus, it makes it very difficult for others to even work with you.

3 Key Ways to Avoid Hypocrisy as a Business Leader

Hypocrisy is a dangerous trait. It essentially subverts morale and threatens the very viability of a business. It can even go so far as to cause a self-inflicted implosion. So, just how do you avoid being hypocritical? Here are a few helpful suggestions for how to avoid hypocrisy as a business leader:

Practice self-awareness. You might call this “practice what you preach.” It’s an obvious reminder but one definitely worth mentioning. Every day, you should stay vigilant and stay self-aware about your own behavior. While it’s not rocket science, it’s quite difficult to put into practice.
Be consistent with decisions. It’s almost impossible not to have or even show bias. We all do it in a variety of ways. You might treat team members differently due to your own personal biases. When making decisions, consider all sides of the equation.
Actively solicit constructive criticism. It’s always good to encourage feedback from your employees (as well as your customers). And, doing so could reveal hypocrisy you commit but don’t consciously act against.

What other advice would you give about avoiding hypocrisy? Please share your thoughts and experiences by commenting!

Interested in learning more about business? Then just visit Waters Business Consulting Group.

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So, You and Your Business Partner always Agree – Why that’s Really Bad News

September 14, 2018 No Comments

“If two people in a relationship are the same, one of them is unnecessary.” You’ve probably heard this worded in one way or another. And, it does demonstrate a very good point. Often most attributable to romantic relationships, it’s just as true for business partnerships. After all, opposites attract and we’ve seen successful pairs throughout history. Take for instance Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak. One, a marketing genius. The other, a hardware guru. And, completely different personalities. Winston Churchill and General Bernard Montgomery are another unlikely pair. But together, an unstoppable force. So, why is that? Why Business Partnerships are so Difficult The truth of the matter is, the business world is a tough environment. Partnerships supposedly make it easier. But, there’s the notorious five D’s of partnerships: death, disability, disinterest, drugs, and divorce. Each one alone can split up a business partnership. Successful startups often have partners who have different strengths. One person might be the technical genius, while the other takes what they do and sells it to the masses. Having two personalities allows each individual to grow. If you can’t be challenged by a partner, you probably shouldn’t be in business at all. —Fast Company.com Why do business partnerships fail so often? It could well be one of the five D’s. Then again, it could also be the two are too much alike. That takes us right back to the notion that if two people are the same, one of them isn’t necessary. Why Your Business Partner should be Your Polar Opposite Now, let’s take a quick look at why your business partner should actually be your polar opposite. Sure, it seems counterproductive and most certainly feels counterintuitive. But, there are the following advantages: It brings strengths to the surface. A business partner who is your opposite will more clearly define your weaknesses. Hence, reveal your strengths, in the process. By the way, that’s a two-way street and the same will benefit your partner. Ultimately, making it a win-win scenario. It allows both of you to learn and grow. When your business partner is the opposite, you’ll begin to see things from a different perspective, over time. That’s also a good thing because both of you will learn from one another and grow as a result. It creates a more dynamic environment. Friction is a difficult phenomenon but it is very productive at the same time. Being challenged gives rise to a number of positives — a dynamic environment is just one example. It allows you to leverage your differences. Your differences can also be a real source of inspiration and productivity. Use your differences strategically and you’ll find them advantageous in more ways than one. What other advantages are there to having such opposites? Have you found working with someone who is totally different is more beneficial? Please share your thoughts and experiences! Interested in learning more about business? Then just visit Waters Business Consulting Group.

Cheap But Meaningful Ways to Boost Your Company’s Local Awareness

June 8, 2023 No Comments

In today’s competitive business landscape, it’s crucial for small businesses to enhance their local awareness and brand recognition to stay ahead. While advertising and marketing campaigns can be expensive, there are cost-effective yet meaningful ways to increase your company’s visibility and establish a strong presence in your local community. Cheap But Meaningful Ways to Boost Your Company’s Local Awareness Obviously, this is all easier said than done. With all this in mind, let’s go ahead and explore several inexpensive strategies that can help boost your small business’s local awareness and improve brand recognition. Community Involvement and Partnerships Engaging with the local community is an excellent way to enhance your company’s visibility and build meaningful connections. Consider sponsoring local events, sports teams, or charitable causes that align with your business values. Participate in community service activities or collaborate with other businesses to host joint events or promotions. These activities not only showcase your brand but also demonstrate your commitment to the community, fostering positive word-of-mouth and strengthening your reputation. Example: If you own a bakery, partner with a local charity to donate a portion of your sales to a cause. This initiative not only supports a worthy cause but also generates positive exposure for your bakery, as customers appreciate businesses that give back to the community. Online Presence and Local Directories Having a strong online presence is essential for increasing local awareness. Create a professional website that highlights your products or services, and optimize it for local search engine optimization (SEO) to improve your visibility in local search results. Register your business with online directories and review platforms such as Google My Business, Yelp, and TripAdvisor. Encourage satisfied customers to leave positive reviews, as online reviews play a significant role in building trust and attracting new customers. Example: If you run a boutique clothing store, optimize your website by including location-specific keywords and updating your Google My Business profile with accurate information, attractive images, and positive customer reviews. This increases the likelihood of your store appearing in local search results when potential customers are looking for nearby clothing stores. Social Media Engagement Utilize social media platforms to engage with your local audience and promote your brand. Regularly share valuable content, such as tips, behind-the-scenes glimpses, or customer success stories. Encourage user-generated content by running contests or featuring customer photos. Engage with followers by responding to comments and messages promptly. By building an active social media presence, you can foster a sense of community and increase brand recognition among your target audience. Example: If you own a coffee shop, use Instagram to share aesthetically pleasing photos of your drinks, cozy corners, or latte art. Encourage customers to share their photos using a branded hashtag, and feature their pictures on your profile. This not only creates buzz but also encourages others to visit your coffee shop to experience the ambiance themselves. Local Collaborations and Cross-Promotions Collaborating with other local businesses can be mutually beneficial in terms of brand exposure. Identify complementary businesses in your area and explore opportunities for cross-promotions or joint marketing efforts. For example, you can offer exclusive discounts or package deals when customers make purchases from both businesses. By tapping into each other’s customer base, you expand your reach and increase awareness of your brand within the local community. Example: If you own a gym, partner with a nearby health food store to offer a discount coupon for a gym membership when customers make a purchase at the store. This encourages a healthy lifestyle and exposes your gym to potential customers who are interested in fitness-related products. Local PR and Media Coverage Building relationships with local journalists, bloggers, and influencers can help generate media coverage for your business. Reach out to local media outlets, offering them story ideas or insights related to your industry. Consider hosting local events or participating in local trade shows, which can attract media attention. Being featured in local publications or online platforms increases your company’s visibility and establishes you as an authority in your field. Questions Example: If you operate a pet grooming salon, collaborate with a local pet blogger or influencer to offer tips on pet grooming or demonstrate grooming techniques. This partnership can lead to a feature article or blog post that introduces your business to a wider audience. What other suggestions would you include for how to boost a company’s local awareness in meaningful ways but doing so inexpensively? Please take a moment to share your thoughts and experiences so others can benefit from your input! Interested in learning more about business? Then just visit Waters Business Consulting Group to learn more about us and the services we offer.

No, Your Customers Don’t Really Care (or Want to Hear) about Your Problems – So Stop Complaining

September 1, 2022 No Comments

The economy is in a recession. Interest rates are going up. Inflation is rising. There’s a labor shortage. (And, materials are still not readily available.) The list can go on and on and on. What’s even worse, is there are business owners actually do go on and on. They complain about this, that, and the other thing. Some even take it to the next level and complain about things that haven’t even happened yet. Then, although somewhat rare, there are entrepreneurs out there who go so far as to put their gripes and grievances on social media. This doesn’t paint a very positive picture and of course, it does absolutely nothing to correct what is perceived to be or is wrong. In reality, it does far more harm than it does through catharsis. So, if you’re guilty of this extremely unattractive behavior it’s time to stop, and here’s why. The Internet is Forever All right, very few business owners actually do complain over the internet but where it’s mostly found is social media. Regardless of the digital property, the internet is forever, meaning that once it is out there, it’s usually not possible to take it back. Even if you’re able to delete it, you’ve already left a negative impression. We sometimes deny that we’re complaining. Instead, we say that we’re just “being honest,” “venting” or “blowing off steam.” But don’t kid yourself: Whenever you insert negative feelings into a conversation without some sort of resolution, you’re complaining. It’s tempting because there is a lot about entrepreneurship to complain about —Entrepreneur.com Then, there’s something else to keep in mind. Business owners don’t need to be the ones writing complaints about this or that on the web. Dissatisfied customers will do that instead (and probably with good reason). In other words, if you complain to your customers or in front of them, there’s a good chance they’ll share that experience and that isn’t good for your business’s public reputation. Instead of Complaining, Do the Following Everyone is guilty and capable of letting their complaints be known. But for business owners, this is a very bad choice with no real upside. Whether you’re complaining about a problematic customer, an inhospitable vendor, or your bank charging petty nickel and dime fees, you’re still doing it with negative emotion. Sure, people will understand your frustration, but customers really don’t want to hear about it or even care. So, what should you do when something bothers you and you’re dealing with a customer at that time? Well, the first suggestion is to ignore or resist your instinct to interject complaints and bite your tongue. If you’re able to put it off for a little while, you’ll be able to vent to the right people in an appropriate setting. Should your personality be one that says it’s best to be honest with everyone and use that excuse as a justification, think twice before you start blurting out complaints. Ask yourself what would you think if you were the customer hearing this? Merely putting yourself in your customers’ shoes ought to be enough to dissuade you from griping. At the very least, it will give you pause to adjust your attitude. It’s also helpful to remember that complaining doesn’t solve anything. Yes, it does allow you to get something that’s bothering you off your chest, but that’s not usually worth the ultimate cost. Remember that it is not an attractive or trustworthy trait and you’ll do yourself a huge favor. What other advice would you give business owners who have a bad habit of complaining to customers? Please share your own thoughts and experiences so others can benefit from your input! Interested in learning more about business? Then just visit Waters Business Consulting Group.