Are your self-promotion tactics ethical or not?

Guest post by: Sue Barrett
Become an Author

Free PDF Download
How Your Procurement Practices Affect Your Sales and Brand - By Sue Barrett

Today it's not uncommon for some people to stretch the truth in order to get a job, get a sale, get ahead or just get noticed, but this behaviour raises some important issues about the good, the bad and the ugly of self-promotion. We have all had an experience with someone, a sales person, a manager, an acquaintence, who didn't seem to have our interests at heart. Something was telling you not to trust them but you couldn't put your finger on it. They seem to be after VICTIMS not a viable prospect or a genuine contact.

Proactive self promotion is essential in sales today because good work does not speak for itself anymore - You DO.

So are your self-promotion tactics ethical or not?

There has been significant research undertaken over the last 30 years in the area of Self Promotion and its impact on earning capacity, image and credibility of people and businesses. The basic aim of self-promotion is sound: you're communicating your abilities to people who can make use of them. A vital skill needed in today's busy, cluttered world.

In its simplest terms, self-promotion becomes unethical when you're promoting something you can't (or don't intend to) deliver. Some questions I have asked myself when examining my own (or someone else's) behaviour:

· Do other people stand to gain from my actions?

· Do my actions have a positive influence on my own well-being and self-esteem?

· Do my actions move me closer to my short- and long-term goals?

· Would most people approve of how I prospect for new business or self promote?

If I can honestly answer "yes" to these questions... fine. But then I test them out by asking those who know me well to give me feedback on my self promotion activities by answering the questions above. You might like to try these too - if you get agreement that your activities are ethical then continue to use them.

In short ... you work hard and perform your job well - you can and should, take pride in that. But if you want to be recognised and financially rewarded for your contributions, you must first make those contributions visible. The research also reveals that visibility precedes recognition, and it's much too important to be left to chance. Only when your contributions are recognised can you be rewarded. Not until

Ethical Transformation of a Leader

Nine Commitments That Will Emphasize Business Ethics and Company Core Values Are Extremely Crucial To Your Business

“Building An Environment of Ethical Behavior. Ten Tips From Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach ”

Business Ethics Guidelines: An Ethical Action Test From Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach

12 Questions You Must Ask Before Doing SEO

Accepting Responsibility and Making Ethical Decisions

Ten Commitments to Ethics and Personal Conduct For Business Coaches – From Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach

Decisions Decisions Decisions

Sales Training – Salespeople, Let Me Sell You a Bridge!

10th of the Top 10 Kurlan Sales Management Functions

“BUSINESS ETHICS MUST BE PRESENTED, PRESERVED AND PROMOTED”

SMEs - supply chain and ethics

Working with Ethical Gray Areas

Managers Where Are Your Ethics?

The Critical Importance of Business Ethics For Effective Leadership, According To Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach

“Business Ethics – What’s Happening Where We Work?”

Is it the Truth?

Internet Marketing Tactics That Really Work

Is one of your core values Ethical Leadership?

How To Avoid The Dangerous Search Engine Optimization Company

Home > Sales > Sue Barrett > Are your selfpromotion tactics ethical or not > Google +

Free PDF Download
How Your Procurement Practices Affect Your Sales and Brand - By Sue Barrett

About the Author: Sue Barrett

RSS for Sue's articles - Visit Sue's website
'Selling is everybody's business and everybody lives by selling something' so says Sue Barrett, sales expert, writer, business speaker and adviser, facilitator, sales coach, training provider and entrepreneur. Sue founded Barrett in 1995 to positively transform the culture, capability and continuous learning of leaders, teams and businesses by developing sales driven organisations that are equipped for the 21st Century. Since inception, Barrett has worked with hundreds of Australian companies challenging thinking to create compelling reasons and continuous learning pathways for people and organisations to develop their skills, knowledge and mindsets to create the shifts they want and ensure they are well informed and equipped for the sales journey ahead.
Sue is one of the leading voices commenting on sales today. Sue has a unique way of getting to the heart of the matter - she combines extensive knowledge, research, insight, and practical experience with a deep sense of compassion to bring forth a more enlightened way of thinking and participating in the world. This makes her stand out from the usual crowd of existing business commentators.

Her ability to distill complex ideas and relate them to life's everyday challenges and opportunities has audience members and readers leaving with a stronger understanding of "self" and how they can begin to achieve excellence through purposeful action. Presenting and writing on a wide range of topics about the world of 21st Century selling Sue's presentations and articles include sales philosophy and culture, sales leadership and coaching, sales training, selling skills, resilience, neuroscience in selling and more. Sue's articles are some of the most widely read in Australia and she is gaining a following overseas as well. Besides publishing on Barrett Sales Blog site, Sue has been the lead sales writer for www.smartcompany.com.au since 2007, and is also regularly published on other highly regarded publications such as Australian Anthill Magazine, Niche Magazine, Marketing Mag, Business Chicks, and Business Deals.

Click here to visit Sue's website.

More from Sue Barrett
Exceptional Prospectors
The Optimistic Sales Professional
Walk a mile in my shoes
How Your Procurement Practices Affect Your Sales and Brand
Exceeding customers expectations

Share this article. Fund someone's dream.

Share this post and you'll help support entrepreneurs in Africa through our partnership with Kiva. Over $50,000 raised and counting - Please keep sharing! Learn more.

Featured

Expert

Colin Graves
@colingraves
Visit website

Are your self-promotion tactics ethical or not?

Related Articles

Related Forum Posts

Share this article. Fund someone's dream.


Name:
Email: