I firmly believe in the idea of valuing people over profit. Always have. Always will. That’s why the book People Over Profit by Dale Partridge caught my attention and my heart. Here are just a few of the things that I learned or re-learned while reading this book.

The notion of people over profit has been around a long, long time and has been practiced by many huge conglomerates that I of know today. The idea rarely remains at the top of the corporate ladder, and businesses often revert to less than savory methods to turn a profit. But it doesn’t have to be that way.

Being a good business is synonymous with being a good person. You’d never treat someone the way that some companies are treating their employees, customers, and third-party vendors. Would you?

No matter what industry you’re in and what your relation to that industry is, everything should relate back to these two very basic principles: People Matter & Honesty is the Best Policy.

People Matter

No matter who they are, where they come from or how they relate to your company – People Matter. No one should have to spell this out for you.

Every person that your brand touches should be valued and treated with the utmost respect and care whether they’re an employee, vendor, or customer. It should be both purely instinctual and your first priority in business to make sure that every person feels valued and appreciated.

If you feel that your brand may be guilty of valuing profit over people, take a step back and look at things from a different perspective. If you were an employee, would you want to work here? Would you buy product or services from your business? Or, would you want to do business with your brand as a vendor?

If the answer is “No” to any of these, or even a hesitant “Maybe”…make changes.

When people aren’t your priority, they will start to leave you. Maybe not now, but they will. Believe me, I’ve been there.

Here are just a few options to get you started on your journey to valuing your people:

Ask questions. Ask your employees, vendors and customers. Take their answers seriously.

Give your employees purpose and recognition for a job well done.

Assess your current product quality control, and make changes where needed.

Honesty is Always the Best Policy

Because people matter, honesty matters.

There are several chapters devoted to this idea in the book, and again, it shouldn’t have to be explained. Be real. Be truthful. Be transparent.

You’d be surprised at what amazing things can come from simple honesty. People wholeheartedly appreciate and are more likely to gravitate towards an authentic brand. Put your best face forward in all things and you’ll be rewarded in the end.

That means you should begin by being honest with everyone that you deal with, starting and ending with your employees.

1. Be transparent with potential employees right out of the gate. Don’t make promises you don’t intend to keep just to bring in great talent. That skill will come to you when you cultivate an honest company culture.

2. Be real with your current and tenured employees. If a choice you’ve made or are going to be making affects them, be sure to let them know. Even if it is a negative impact, they’re more likely to trust you if you share the details. Always be sure to provide all employees with a detailed description of duties, so everyone will know what is expected of them.

3. Be truthful and transparent with your potential customers and loyal clients. Everyone appreciates honesty, and that is never more true than when you are trying to sell something. Withholding details or beating around the bush is never a good way to begin a relationship.

4. Keep things straightforward and honest with your vendors and contractors. Think of them as employees, and treat them accordingly.

So, this is what I “learned” from Dale Partridge’s People Over Profit. Take a minute to read the book yourself and share your findings with me!

Do you know of a brand or local company that does an excellent job valuing people over profit? I’d love to hear about it!