New Resolutions: Resolve to Practice Business Virtues for Greater Success

Come January 1, most people, egged on by a society driven by change, resolve to alter numerous elements of their lives in an effort to be happier, more successful, or more prosperous. They grasp at straws thinking, “What can I change in my world to increase my abundance?” They end marriages, send out resumes seeking new, picture perfect, careers, and they dissolve relationships—personal and professional—that they no longer deem win-win.

Often, however, in the midst of the January burning of bridges, they neglect to consider the advantages in strengthening the bridge rather than burning it. Most of the changes people resolve to make find their root in relationships. Resolving to lose weight, really, is a resolution to change the way one interacts with and depends upon food. Resolving to find a better job originates in the relationships one has with co-workers, supervisors, and oneself. Resolving to grow one’s company, in fact, depends upon relationships. One cannot grow a business without the support of family, employees, suppliers and customers.

Therefore, rather than resolving to abandon that which is not working in our lives, perhaps we should, instead, focus on bringing greater value to what we already have through seven virtues.

Integrity
Although sometimes used interchangeably with honesty, integrity encompasses much more. Integrity is adherence to moral or ethical principles. Integrity is the ability to close a billion dollar deal with a handshake. Integrity means that your word is your bond. Integrity ensures that you will not over-promise and under-deliver. Integrity hinges upon the golden rule, “treat others as you wish to be treated.” Resolve, this year, to conduct every aspect of your life and business with integrity. You might change your world without really changing a thing.

“As I grow older, I pay less attention to what men say. I just watch what they do. – Andrew Carnegie”

Humility
Humility, often called the spirit of self-examination, requires a person not to think less of oneself, but to think of oneself in relation to others. In the office, this might mean thinking of yourself as a pivotal piece in the complex office puzzle. To the supervisor, humility might mean considering what negative effect on one’s team working overtime five weeks in a row will have. To an employee, humility could mean thinking about why the boss has taken a particular stance on cellphones or sick time.

Patience
Patience is the act of choosing long-term gains over short-term rewards. You, and your boss, both want you to be the best young executive the company has ever seen. Both of you need to exercise a little patience while you get there. You might have to work a little harder, or work longer hours to achieve the success you desire. During that time, your boss has to be patient as well. If either of you expects a miracle or looks for a short-term payout, you might be sacrificing a huge long-term gain. Rome was not built in a day, after all. Be honest with each other about your progress.

Patience and perseverance have a magical effect before which difficulties disappear and obstacles vanish. – John Quincy Adams

Honesty
Your parents entreated, “Honesty is the best policy.” Although always the best policy, honesty in business can be elusive. Sincere, upright and fair, truthful…no matter how one defines honesty, it can feel like a lead weight against the buoyant waves of business. Sometimes it just hurts to have to be honest with a client that your business doesn’t have the capability to fulfil their needs, yet. How can one be honest with one’s boss and tell her that the new initiative, of which she is so proud, is an epic failure with the team? How difficult is it to be honest with yourself? Perhaps the reason you want a new job is you cannot manage to put your best effort into your current one. If you are honest about your rationale, you may find that you would get more out of the current position if you put more into it. While that isn’t always the case, a bit of honest introspection lights the path of resolutions.

Loyalty
Loyalty is dedication on steroids. When you are dedicated to something, you are devoted to that purpose. When you are loyal, you are not just dedicated, but also commited to the cause as by a vow or obligation. You accept nothing but success of the operation. Be loyal to yourself. If you must resolve to do something differently this year, resolve to be more loyal to yourself, your friends, your family, and your business. Loyalty encourages loyalty. Imagine how your client feels to know that you have vowed to make his or her dreams become reality. How loyal to your company will he be in turn?

Empathy
Empathy is a cousin of humility. Empathy means putting yourself in another person’s shoes and seeing things from his or her perspective. When you see and understand a client or employee’s perspective, you are better able to make decisions and arrive at agreements that satisfy both of you.

Charity
Charity is paying it forward; it is giving to a person in need in a kind and loving way and without expectation of anything in return. Who has needs? Every employees, boss, client, supplier, and business partner has needs that you and your business can help fill. Whoever said that business can’t, or shouldn’t, have a heart? Do not get caught in the trap of thinking that charity involves only the transfer of money. Charity can be as simple as recognizing that your favorite employee has outgrown your company and then helping her to strengthen her resume or offering her a glowing recommendation letter. Perhaps you can spare your staff one day each year to volunteer with the organization of their choice. Charity demonstrates the stuff of which you, and your company, are made.

Courage
Maya Angelou, echoing Artistotle, once said, “Courage is the most important of all the virtues, because without courage you can’t practice any other virtue consistently. You can practice any virtue erratically, but nothing consistently without courage.” Courage provides the backbone to support humility, integrity, loyalty, honesty, patience and charity. Courage enables a person to make—and more importantly keep—resolutions each year. Courage allows you to examine yourself, your relationships and your business, and act in the best interest of each. With courage, you can admit that you don’t have to resolve to change everything in your life. By incorporating seven business virtues, you can change your business without burning bridges to the life and business you already worked hard to build.