A company can only thrive on honesty and strong ethics. These are the foundations that push your business growth steadily upward, aligning with your core beliefs. While some businesses may seem to grow without these ethics, they often falter once customers recognise their lack of integrity.
The Power of Core Values
At the heart of every ethical business are its core values. These fundamental principles guide decision-making, shape company culture, and ultimately define your brand’s identity. Core values are not just words on a wall; they’re the bedrock of your business practices, influencing everything from how you interact with clients to the services you offer.
When you clearly define and consistently live by your core values, you:
– Build trust with clients and colleagues
– Attract like-minded team members and partners
– Make decisions that align with your long-term vision
– Differentiate yourself in a crowded market
Remember, your core values should be authentic to you and your business. They’re not about following trends, but about staying true to what you believe in, even when faced with challenging situations.
Common Ethical Dilemmas as a Virtual Assistant
Running an ethical business is more than just being honest; it’s about adhering to a strong set of moral principles, both as a company and as an individual. It’s about knowing what feels right and wrong—and choosing only what feels right. However, differing principles can lead to business dilemmas and ‘grey areas’. Here are some common ethical dilemmas faced by Virtual Assistants and small business owners generally running online enterprises:
– Using Online Photographs/Graphics: It’s not okay to use any photographs or graphics you find online without permission. This violates copyright law. Always use your own images or obtain them from stock libraries, ensuring you adhere to their terms of use.
– Copying Content: Don’t take wording from someone else’s work and re-jig it for your own purposes. While you can collect examples of styles you like, your copy should reflect your unique voice. Authenticity is key to connecting with your audience.
– Using Testimonials: If you believe in your product/service, invest time in building its own social proof. Use beta testers or offer introductory pricing to gather genuine testimonials.
– Exaggerating Experience: Be truthful about your experience and expertise. If you’ve helped twenty people, say so—don’t inflate the numbers.
– Gossiping About Clients: It’s highly unethical and unprofessional to gossip about or bad-mouth clients in public forums, including social media, online communities, or even casual conversations with colleagues. This behaviour not only breaches client confidentiality but also damages your professional reputation and that of the VA industry as a whole. It erodes trust, potentially violates contractual agreements, and can lead to legal consequences. As a VA, you’re privy to sensitive information, and it’s your responsibility to maintain discretion at all times. If you’re facing challenges with a client, seek advice from a mentor or trusted colleague in a private, professional manner, rather than airing grievances publicly. Remember, your integrity and professionalism are crucial to your long-term success in the VA industry.
New Ethical Considerations
– Using AI as Your Own Work: It’s unethical to use AI-generated content and pass it off as your own work without disclosure. Transparency is crucial in maintaining trust with your clients.
– Undermining Mentors: Seeking mentoring is valuable, but it’s unethical to contact their clients claiming superiority over your mentor. Respect the professional relationship and boundaries.
– Poaching Clients: Never approach another VA’s clients offering cheaper services. This undermines trust and damages professional relationships. Instead, focus on building your own client base through ethical means.
– Undermining Lead VAs: As an Associate VA, it’s unethical to approach a Lead VA’s clients directly, offering to work for them at a lower rate or without the Lead VA’s involvement. This practice, often referred to as ‘client poaching’, is a breach of trust and violates the professional relationship between the Lead VA and their associate. It not only damages the Lead VA’s business but also reflects poorly on the associate’s integrity. Such actions can lead to legal consequences, damage to professional reputation, and loss of future opportunities in the VA industry. Always respect the boundaries set by your Lead VA and maintain the confidentiality of client relationships
Living Your Values
Always treat yourself, your customers, and competitors with respect—it distinguishes you as an honest, ethical business owner.
People prefer doing business with those they know, like, and trust. Value yourself without worrying about others’ actions.
When you consistently align your actions with your core values, you create a strong, authentic brand that resonates with your ideal clients. This alignment not only helps you attract the right clients but also guides you in making difficult decisions, ensuring you stay true to your principles even when faced with tempting shortcuts.
Support for Ethical Business Growth
At the VA Training Academy® we understand the importance of core values in building a successful VA business. We offer several ways to help you identify and share your core values through our VA Membership. We also provide strategies to protect against content theft and maintain ethical business practices.
The VA Membership is the only UK VA business accelerator designed to help you build and grow your business consistently. If you’re serious about growing your business ethically, consider joining our VA Membership for access to courses, coaching, support groups, and more. Upgrade options for personalised coaching are also available through our one to one coaching.
Remember, your core values are your business’s compass. By staying true to them, you’ll not only build a successful business but also one that you can be proud of for years to come.
