Doing right.
What comes to your mind when you hear that? Doing right, to me is simply following the voice the Holy Spirit within me and asking things like this...
- Will this hurt someone? Including me?
- Is this fair?
- Does this violate the Golden Rule? How would I feel if someone did this to me?
- Have I ever been told this is wrong?
- Deep down, how do I feel about this?
- How will I feel later about this?
What does the RIGHT THING look like in today's world? Unfortunately...not always right.
We see it in poor customer service today. Customers are charged for phone calls which involve questions that can only be answered by the company of whom they've made a purchase from. How is this right?
Doing the right thing is something my parents taught me.
- It's the way we treat people.
- It's the way we conduct ourselves.
- It's the way we own up to our mistakes.
- It's the way we submit to those who lead us.
- It's the way we speak.
- It involves our manners.
We don't need a formula or model to show us how to do that. We simply must listen to the voice of the Holy Spirit within us and then act accordingly.
In business, it's actually cheaper to just do the right thing. Just doing the right thing works.
Part of doing what's right is the way we treat people. Say this with me..."I'm HUMAN and I want to be treated right!"
My local dry cleaner treats me like a human. They take care of my clothes, they make recommendations of what could probably be washed at home, they know me by name, they even call me if I forget I have clothes still there. They've replaced buttons, sown rips and rushed orders for me without charging me extra.
The dry cleaner is just one of many vendors in my community. They know that in order for their business to be successful they must be community minded and treat customers like family. Funny thing...my dry cleaner doesn't need a formula or model to tell them to do those things. It's just common sense. That's why I keep going back.
Treating people right is essential for long term loyalty. What's true in business is true in our individual lives. How we treat people speaks of our own heart and how we conduct ourselves determines our longevity.
I can't imagine working in an environment where I ignored my employer, dodged work or acted like they owed me a paycheck. In truth, I would no longer be employed if I conducted myself that way.
We must be ALL IN no matter where we serve. It's easy to show up and show out for big events when the lights are shining and the cameras are rolling. However, it's how we act Monday-Friday when the lights are off and the cameras are turned that defines who we really are.
We treat people the way we want to be treated.
- If we want honor...we must give honor.
- If we want respect...we must give respect.
- If we want loyalty...we must give loyalty.
- If we want promotion...we must promote others.
I've found that we catch more flies with honey than vinegar. Whatever we make happen for others...God will make happen for us.
A few tips...
- Give compliments.
- Say something nice about everyone.
- Be humble.
- Don't be critical.
- Don't assume you've arrived or outgrown others.
- Respect your elders.
- Glean something in every field.
- Never gossip.
- Follow instructions.
- Submit to your leaders.
- Be faithful.
- Be fruitful.
- Get off the couch and exercise.
- Put down the bag of chips and eat a carrot instead.
- Send a thank you note to someone.
- Get involved in people's lives...especially in those you've been entrusted.
- Be accountable for your work, conduct, actions and future.
And the last thing...if you're out today...please stop by the dry cleaners and pick up my clothes. :-)