Do You REALLY Consider Your Customer’s Point of View?

"Authority exercised with humility, and obedience accepted with delight are the very lines along which our spirits live." -C. S. Lewis

Ask a member of a Boy Scout Troop what the Scout law is, and he will immediately recite “A Scout is Trustworthy, Loyal, Helpful, Friendly, Courteous, Kind, Obedient, Cheerful, Thrifty, Brave, Clean, and Reverent.”

At every Boy Scout weekly meeting, the members of the troop open with a recitation of the Boy Scout Law. It is the guiding principles by which a scout is to live.

I believe it can and should serve as the guiding principles for a business owner, as well. There isn’t a point in the entire Scout Law that doesn’t serve an entrepreneur well, either as a business or as a person of integrity.

Today, I’d like to focus on the seventh point – obedience. This one can be a tough one to swallow. We generally don’t like to be told what to do. But consider this – the essence of obedience is putting others before self. To do that, we need to know what others want, which means we must listen to them. In fact, the Latin root of the word obedience is to listen.

Great things can happen when we consider someone else’s point of view. We gain deeper insight, we accomplish and enjoy things we never would have imagined, and we can find true happiness and peace by seeking what benefits others rather than ourselves.

It is important to note that obedience is not necessarily the same thing as compliance or conformity. A business owner can be obedient while still being creative and innovative.

So, with that in mind, here are some ways a business owner can demonstrate obedience:

Provide quality products and services: Aim to provide customers with high-quality products and services that meet their needs and expectations.
Graciously respond to complaints and concerns: Take customer complaints and concerns seriously. Make an effort to address them in a timely and satisfactory manner.
Respect privacy: Protect the privacy and personal information of employees and customers, and only use it for legitimate business purposes, with their permission.
Be transparent: A business owner needs to be open and upfront about their business practices, including pricing, policies, and procedures.
Respect ethical principles: Always act in an ethical and honest manner, treating all stakeholders with fairness and integrity.
Continuously improve: Continuously gather feedback from customers, employees, and other stakeholders and make improvements based on their suggestions.
Offer great customer service: A business owner should train their employees to provide excellent customer service, and make sure that customers feel valued and respected.
Comply with laws and regulations: Obey all relevant laws and regulations, including those related to taxes, labor laws, health and safety standards, and environmental protection.
Honor contracts and agreements: Fulfill all obligations specified in contracts and agreements with employees, customers, suppliers, and partners.
Foster a culture of obedience: Always set positive example, communicating clear expectations and rewarding positive behaviors.

By demonstrating obedience, a business owner can build trust, establish a positive reputation, and enhance loyalty to both customers and employees.

Our FREE book will help you build the business the way you want it to be, to help you live that principle of friendliness. Go to https://www.swbizcoaching.com/ and enter your email to get you on your way to heightened success.

- Part of this article was adapted from Sacred Rhythms, The Monastic Way Every Day. Bro. Francis Wagner, O.S.B. Abbey Press., 2011.

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