We are all faced with ethical choices throughout our daily lives. Do we download the “free” movie from that shady site on the internet or do we pay the rental fee and download it from Amazon? Should we let the cashier know that she gave us $5 extra in change or do we just allow that “big business” to suck up the loss?
Merriam-Webster defines ethics as a) a set of moral principles and b) the principles of conduct governing an individual or a group. Most of us have lines that we simply won’t cross, whatever the line may be: we don’t steal; we don’t cheat; and/or we don’t lie. This is how we conduct ourselves in our personal lives. But do our personal ethics come into play in business?
In our business, there is a set of values on the conference room wall and pinned onto bulletin boards and taped to filing cabinets throughout the building. These are values we all adhere to and values that define our company and our behavior as employees. If you don’t believe in these values, you probably aren’t going to fit in well as an employee. One of these values is “Do the right thing.”
But how does doing the right thing tie into our business of providing technical expertise in selecting, installing and maintaining HVAC and plumbing equipment? And does it really matter?
- Sales. Salespeople in this industry must be in it for the long haul. HVAC & plumbing equipment is very different from consumer goods since these products and components MUST last for a long time because buildings themselves are long-term investments. Also, our industry is a fairly small world and maintaining a positive reputation is vital to long-term survival of an equipment provider. The goal for HVAC sales professional should be DELIGHTED customers, whether they are owners, mechanics, installers, engineers or others. So, always Doing The Right Thing is critical for everyone involved.
- Customer service. Emergencies in the HVAC and plumbing world can have a big negative impact on the lives of building occupants. Customer service professionals go above and beyond to answer those late night phone calls and get the parts you need out to you. It would certainly be easier to operate from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. from Monday to Friday. But Doing The Right Thing is always the best thing if the customer is truly valued.
- Installation. There are no shortcuts in doing the right thing, and many times Doing The Right Thing takes a lot longer and requires more effort. A trusted HVAC technician will ensure that they are being safe and using best practices when installing or servicing equipment.
Doing the right thing is important. It’s important not only for building trusted business partnerships but also because the health and safety of building occupants are always on the line in our business. The bottom line is that ethics should and do matter in our personal lives and in the buying and selling of HVAC and plumbing equipment. Heck, we might even make it a hashtag for today’s new professionals. #DoTheRightThing. Done.
Blog image courtesy freedigitalimages.net/stuart miles