Internal Values Influence External Ethics
Internal Values Influence External Ethics
Georgi Gordon, RRP
It is said you are what you eat. So too if you act in good conscience you will build appreciation, trust, and loyalty. The question is, in this world of misinformation, digital overload and skepticism, how does a company build trust?
One thing is for sure. Trust is not manufactured overnight. Transparency, consistency, ethical behavior, and customer-centric practices are all part of the mix when it comes to developing and keeping trust. Trust engenders loyalty, creates a strong and positive reputation and, for the most part, is the key to long-term success.
The relationship between internal values and external ethics is reciprocal.
Corporate culture reflects the values of the individuals that make up the team. An individual’s values grow from the mash-up of cultural influences, family upbringing, personal experiences and awareness. Honesty, integrity, compassion, and respect are at the core, shaping identity and purpose.
External ethics dictate acceptable behavior within society. Laws, professional codes of conduct and community norms are essential for maintaining order and justice. Behaving ethically fosters cooperation and functionality.
I’m proud to say GBG’s portfolio of clients is rich with case studies where the alignment of individual behavior creates a sense of authenticity and consistency on the corporate level.
Client Examples of the Nexus of Internal Values and External Ethics Take a look at Colebrook Financial which recently celebrated its 20th anniversary of lending to timeshare developers and travel clubs. Few businesses can say they’ve had the same clients for decades. Colebrook can. Why? Because they are good people delivering expert services. Values such as empathy and compassion drive individuals to consider the impact of their actions. Colebrook’s ability to be more proactive than the typical lender, foreseeing potential issues, and working to resolve them in advance, exemplifies ethical behavior prioritizing of the well-being of others.
During the financial crisis of 2008-2009, Colebrook had the opportunity to provide liquidity to many developers who would not have had a source of funding. Their demonstration of a lasting commitment to the industry emphasized their deeply held core value of loyalty and support.
Corporate Culture
Another example of the interconnection between internal values and external ethics is the corporate culture at Mobius VP. Mobius offers a wide range of consulting and advisory services.
Its’ primary services are enterprise feedback solutions–CustomerCount© and Patients Count ©. Case in point: Mobius incorporates a Sharing is Caring landing page on its website. They like to say that Philanthropy is in their DNA. Mobius culture values respect for others and supports its clients and their charities of choice as a primary initiative. Further emphasizing their commitment, Mobius is a proud member of Conscious Capitalism, a non-profit organization which furthers the holistic business philosophical focus where “purpose meets profit.”
Mobius ensured that its healthcare industry clients are confident in their data security by completing the rigorous application process and receiving HPPA certification. The BBB also recognized them with the coveted Torch Award, signifying its high level of business integrity.
Valuing Team Members Trinity Resort Services (TRS) provides a wide range of world class services to the Vacation Ownership industry, including financial, reservations , and contact center services. One way the Las Vegas based company shows the concept of internal values intersecting with external ethics is its paid time off (PTO) policy. Team members are valued when they use their PTO to support their own non-profit efforts with organizations such as St. Judes, Make a Wish and Wounded Warrior. This allows employee stakeholders to prove their internal values, creating an atmosphere of ethical behavior that is considerate of the outside community.
The servicing company, which also has offices in Mexico City, recently earned SOC 1 designation, proving their dedication to data governance and the effectiveness of their accounting procedures. This official recognition emphasizes the success they’ve reached in the ongoing efforts to build confidence in their services.
Doing Good Another client, MVP, a Takacs Company, regards its spiritual beliefs as primary in its business philosophy. MVP helps legacy resorts by collaborating with HOA Boards to strategize best practices to find solutions for resales and/or repurposing depending on need. Deeply rooted in faith-based values, their external interactions breed success. Testimonials are filled with words like honesty, integrity, diligence—all of which add to the success of working with timeshare owners and treating them with respect.
Community Efforts Architectural Concepts, (ACI) is a diverse architectural and design firm which is headquartered in San Diego, CA. Whether supporting Habitat for Humanity or volunteering for the San Diego Architectural Foundation, the ACI team is consistently visible in community efforts from participating on the Boards of non-profit organizations to pitching in for a beach clean-up. ACI’s strong current of doing the right thing brings them unmeasurable good will.
As Principal of GBG & Associates, it brings me great pride and satisfaction to work with ethical clients who thrive because they understand the connection between personal behavior and business integrity.
