13 Ways to Be More Transparent

As a small-business owner, you can earn an edge over larger competitors by investing in transparency.

"As a small-business person, you have no greater leverage than the truth."

~John Whittier

It is really unfortunate perhaps but true: Simply because big corporations have a very hard time becoming transparent to their consumers and employees, you, as an entrepreneur, have an advantage if you possibly could embrace transparency. Merely telling the truth, being open and reliable with your employees, investors, customers, and prospects can in fact supply you a business advantage! A lot of business today has its , primary principles, so the words Build relationships through transparency greet them each time they see their ideal plans hanging on the walls.

It appears to be simple, but it's not. There exists a difference between honesty (tell the truth) and transparency (tell everyone everything). Transparency is among the most difficult values to approach in business, as some people are caught on secrecy and fear. But Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg and a new generation of business people have really helped to change that. Customers want to give their business to transparent companies, and great talent desires to work at transparent companies. The moment you as an entrepreneur accept transparency is the point in time you get that advantage over companies that haven't.

Below, then, are 13 quotes I have come across to inspire you to be more transparent:

1.                   "There is no persuasiveness more effectual than the transparency of a single heart, of a sincere life." ~Joseph Barber Lightfoot
 

2.         "Transparency, honesty, kindness, good stewardship, even humor, work in businesses at all times." ~John Gerzema

3.         "A lack of transparency results in distrust and a deep sense of insecurity."

~Dalai Lama

4.         "I love when things are transparent, free and clear of all inhibition and judgment." ~Pharrell Williams

5.         "Eyes so transparent that through them the soul is seen." ~Theophile Gautier

6.         "Transparency is not the same as looking straight through a building: It's not just a physical idea; it's also an intellectual one." ~Helmut Jahn

7.         "I wish that every human life might be pure transparent freedom." ~Simone de Beauvoir

8.         "Truth never damages a cause that is just." ~Mahatma Gandhi

9.         "He had shown her all the workings of his soul, mistaking this for love." ~E.M. Forster

10.       "Our whole philosophy is one of transparency." ~Valerie Jarrett

11.        "A basic tenet of healthy democracy is open dialogue and transparency." ~Peter Fenn

12.       "I just think we need more accountability and more transparency." ~John Thune

13.       "Honesty is the first chapter in the book of wisdom." ~Thomas Jefferson

How important is transparency to you and your business?