Letting Your Values Shine Through

I was at a networking meeting the other day where I heard Mike Jennings of Jennings Property give an excellent talk about values and purpose. He made the point that, at Jennings, they have been developing their core values over several years.

These values underpin what they do, how they do it and why. Their values have helped create the company’s ethos, so that they’ve evolved from being ‘just another property company’ to one that appreciates the people around them as their greatest friends and allies. Their ethos informs the way they behave with their tenants, suppliers, contractors, networking contacts, associates, partners and professionals. 

As a consequence, they have created a place where people feel valued and safe, a place where everyone has opportunity and can flourish.

To do what Jennings have done takes time, but there is one way in which we can let our values shine through more readily. How you communicate with your audience will show people whether you care, whether you’re saying what you really mean, whether you’re someone they feel they can relate to and trust, and whether you’re taking account of their needs.

It shows when you’re simply tossing something off without bothering to check what you’ve written. The tone of what you’re saying will reveal whether you’ve taken much care in writing it – not to mention the errors that can creep in if the text wasn’t properly checked! If you can’t be bothered to get it right, why should your prospect, customer, supplier or colleague bother to continue reading and develop their relationship with you?  

As we say here, what you say speaks volumes about you so it pays to take the trouble to say things in the right way. By doing this, you will command greater respect and build more rapport with others.