My good friend Ian Berry recently published an interesting blog on the growing importance (and value) of values in business.
In it he asks the rhetorical question. Will banks ever regain their reputation? And in his view they will not. They are seen by most people as a necessary evil. Ian goes on to argue that companies whose brands are what the worldwide CEO of Saatchi and Saatchi Kevin Roberts calls love marks, like Virgin, are entering the financial world in a big way. “Good for them” Ian says, pointing out that most of us are sick and tired of being worked over by bullies in banks.
Ian says that he prefers to buy products and services he perceives to be of high value and that are provided by people who live their values. And Ian suggests he is not alone. Values and value based businesses are on the rise.
He provides this quadrant and challenges us: “Where does your business sit in the following quadrant? “And suggests that if the majority of your customers/clients do not see you in the top right hand corner your business is in deep trouble.
Interesting food for thought I think.
Written by Bob Bradley, founder of MD2MD.