AGENCY GROWTH
The Trusted Way: Creating Value that Drives Sustainable Growth By: Patrick Galvin Chief Galvanizer
What constitutes ethical business behavior? What does it mean to do the right thing? In a world that regularly stretches the limits of truth and fairness, the answers to these questions hold the key to personal and professional success. I will examine these questions during a Big I Oregon Panel on October 13th. As a member of the audience, you will learn how to: • Evaluate the impact of your thoughts, words, and deeds toward others • Apply The Four-Way Test to your decision making • Develop and nurture strong relationships grounded in trust • Establish and maintain credibility as a trusted advisor • Make the workplace—and the world—a better place I’ll also talk about what it means to “add value” to your personal and professional relationships. The strongest relationships are built on trust, and one of the best ways to earn trust is to provide value first, without consideration for how you will benefit. 18 | Q4 2021 |
But what constitutes value? Value exists in many forms. It may be a book, an article, an industry study, or a web link that you share with a colleague, customer or prospect because you think it will help them in their career. Value may be a strategic business introduction or a personalized card or letter for someone going through a difficult time. It may be as simple as having a heartfelt conversation or lending a sympathetic ear. Clearly, value means different things to different people. Understanding what someone really wants or needs requires paying close attention to their words and actions. When it comes to delivering value to others, rather than simply following the “Golden Rule” (“Do unto others as you would have them do unto you”), the “Platinum Rule,” which Dr. Tony Alessandra defined as “Do unto others as they would like done unto them,” can prove far more effective. What are other ways of building trust and adding value to your relationships? Here are three simple yet effective techniques: 1. Listen Carefully. One of the most valuable gifts you can give someone is your full and undivided attention. Unlike hearing, which doesn’t require extra effort, listening involves paying close attention to what someone says and how they say it. In the process, you gain valuable knowledge that you can use to provide them with the information and tools they need to succeed.
