Do values based Businesses win the race?
When we speak of the value of a business, people are often drawn to the balance sheet or income statement. But this bottom line does not always reflect the true health of a business. We also need to look at the Values within a business to fully understand the inner workings of the systems.
Every business has a number of value systems that when combined deliver a joint view to the customer and the rest of the world.
Perceived Values: These are the values derived by the marketing department that paint the brand with all the right colours – The well word-smithed copy and clever images that show only the good side of any business. All awards and achievements are highlighted and to anyone on the outside looking in will be impressed.
Owner’s Values: The value system of the owner, CEO and directors has a huge role to play in how the business operates. The system is only as good as the people who steer it. Far too often we get to hear instructions similar to this, “Do as I say, don’t do as I do”. This often used by crooked directors who are misusing money and people for their own gain, but will clamp down on any underling who does the same. Big corporate and Government are well known for this, but we get to see it at all levels of business.
Staff Values: the values that the staff operates by. This is partially as a result of training, communication and a big chunk of self realised values. Having a good team building events and open door policies help, but the staff will always create a secondary set of values that they live by, often which mimics the directors. They learn how to ‘crook’ the system and duck and dive around the perceived values and not get caught.
Running a business is not easy; we are pulled in many directions for short term gain and underhanded deals on a daily basis. But a wholesome business remains firm and focused and true to their vision, mission and values. It may seem slow and painful, but this is one case where slow and steady wins the race.
We encourage businesses to define their values, regularly communicate these with all staff and suppliers and even customers, and then there is no doubt where they stand and make it harder to be pulled off track.
Designing a logo for your brand – The importance of colour.
Did you know that a brand’s logo is its most important design element? Yes, it is, because it is the visual representation of the company and its values.
When creating a logo, it is important to look at things like font, spacing between letters, shape and most importantly COLOUR.
Research shows that people make subconscious judgments about a product, person or environment within 90 seconds of initial viewing. Between 62% and 90% of that assessment is based on colour alone. This means that your logo could make or break a consumer’s decision to become a customer or client.
Now, let’s look at the hidden meaning of the different colours that we see every day and see whether your logo is conveying the message you want it to convey:
- Orange – Playful, excitement, warmth, creativity.
An orange logo sends the message that your company is friendly and cheerful.
- Red – Powerful, passionate, confident, energetic.
A red logo shows that your brand is powerful and high-energy. If your company is a restaurant, red is a wise choice. It’s been proven to increase appetite, which is ideal for a business that is trying to encourage food purchases.
- Yellow – fun, happiness, optimistic, cautious.
A yellow logo shows the friendliness and the positivity of your company. It can grab the attention of a window shopper and convey a sense of happiness.
- Blue – Secure, calm, honest, strong.
A blue logo shows that your brand is professional and logical, but not invasive. It can create a sense of security and trust in your company.
- Green – Youthful, earthly, healthy, freshness.
Green represents growth. It provokes feelings of relaxation and healing. It is popular with companies that strive for ethical practices.
- Black – Elegant, sophisticated, seductive, seriousness.
Black is seen as a serious, no-frills colour, and can evoke a feeling of sophistication. Although it might look plain, it is often used for luxury products because of its sense of elegance and glamour.
- Purple – Luxurious, wise, royalty, wealth.
A purple logo shows that your brand is luxurious and imaginative. It can attract consumers who want to be seen as wealthy or wise, as well as ones who are inclined towards a feeling of magic.
- Multi-colour – Playful, bold, boundless, positive.
Multi colours represent power, diversity and fairness all in one. There are some very successful multi-coloured logos like Google, Windows and eBay.
Law twelve: The law of resolution
Carl Bates writes in his book The Laws of Extreme Business Success about the 12 laws of business success. The last but never the least law take focus onto the issues of both management and staff. This law speaks to the levels of engagement of each during their time at work. Research tells us that less than 60% of people working in corporate America are engaged in their jobs. This has a lot to do with what they are caring around with them emotionally during the day. The law states:
Extreme business success recognises that you can only move forward when you have resolved or released the baggage of the past. This baggage can take the form of unresolved or hidden issues with people and associates, old ways of doing things that no longer apply, outdated ways of thinking or incomplete actions that prevent both you and your business from moving forward. Brining these issues to light and resolving them in effective ways will empower both you and your business to step up to the next level of success.
This book and others from Carl Bates are available here
Law ten: The law of leadership
Law ten: The law of leadership
Carl Bates writes in his book The Laws of Extreme Business Success about the 12 laws of business success. Law ten looks at leadership, not just leaders doing their stuff, but effective leadership. Not something every leader gets right all the time. The law states:
Extreme business success requires effective leadership that guides the team and inspires them to persevere through the challenges and obstacles they will face. Effective leadership inspires and motivates by example, principles and commitment to the promise made by the business. The business itself must also become a leader in its field.
This book and others from Carl Bates are available here
Law eleven: The law of transactional giving
Carl Bates writes in his book The Laws of Extreme Business Success about the 12 laws of business success. This one will get a lot of discussion in the boardroom; how does a business include transactional giving into the financial supply chain and please the shareholder at the same time? But once done it makes sense and puts the business on a new track of development that it may not be able to get to without it. The law states:
Extreme business success requires a business to have a reason for being that extends far beyond the needs of the individuals within the business. This requires you to recognise the critical role that business plays in creating long-term and sustainable social and environmental change. To act on this responsibility, your business should support a social enterprise or cause where every transaction in your business benefits that social enterprise in a definable and quantifiable way.
This book and others from Carl Bates are available here