On Loyalty to Your Employer

We expect a lot from our employers. Fair wages, good benefits, opportunity for growth and development, and a satisfying work environment to name a few. Bur what is our obligation to our employer? What does employee loyalty look like? Caring about the product or service and not just the job. Sticking with the employer even in hard times. Resisting the temptation to job-hop for a few cents more per hour. Acting as an ambassador for the company’s line. Respecting the supervisors and co-workers. Treating the place as we would our own homes. Being good stewards of company property and equipment. Repeat this: Starting with me, loyalty in the workplace will work both ways. I will be supportive of my employer and my fellow employees. For more tips and information, visit www.swimstartingwithme.com.

On Supporting the “Sin Industries”

There’s a lot of debate in the investment community about supporting so-called “sin industries” – drugs, pornography, prostitution, gambling, etc. That debate is being played out on a large scale in corporations, funds and the stock market, but what about us? Do we support those industries either knowingly or unintentionally? Are we aware of what companies are represented in our mutual funds? Do we know if any of our retirment investements are supporting companies that promote gambling? Do we use products from companies tied to child labor? Do we purchase tickets from entertainment companies that produce pornography? Benign neglect and innocent ignorance are not ethical choices for us. Repeat this: Starting with me, investing will be more than a financial activity; it will reflect solid ethics and family values. I will start asking more questions. For more tips and information, visit www.swimstartingwithme.com.

On Your Personal “Brand Promise”

In marketing terms, “brand promise” refers to the consistency of quality and experience a customer can expect. A company with a strong brand promise has a clear, definable character in the mind of the customer. What is your personal brand promise? One of the most often used self-descriptors I hear is, “person of integrity.” Integrity and integral come from the same root, which means entire and whole. Does your brand promise extend throughout all your dealings? Do people know what you value by how you act? Is your character consistent? Is their experience with you positive and satisfying? Repeat this: Starting with me, people will be able to depend on my actions being consistent with my beliefs – my personal brand promise. For more tips and information, visit www.swimstartingwithme.com.

On Abuse of Employee Hours

There are legitimate, mission-critical reasons for employing part-timers, seasonal employees, etc., but there are many companies who hire and schedule with the express purpose of avoiding paying full-time wages, benefits, raises, bonuses, and so on. It’s easy to see that such practices cheat the employees. But companies that do it are also cheating the consumer because they are using less skilled, experienced and committed employees. They are cheating themselves because they are sacrificing quality, stability, and morale for short term savings. And it cheats the rest of us by flooding the economy with goods and services at unrealistic, untenable prices. Are you one of those companies? Repeat this: Starting with me, I will treat employees as the most important resource my company and industry have for building a future. For more tips and information, visit www.swimstartingwithme.com.

On Treating Vendors Fairly

Net 30. Everyone has seen those words on an invoice. And we all know what it means. Credit has been extended for up to 30 days to allow us to arrange to pay the bill. All too often, the practice among businesses is to stretch out the terms. Many companies purposely extend to 60, 90 and even longer. They are, in effect, using their vendors to finance their own operations. In most cases it forces the vendors to dip into expensive lines of credit to pay for the labor or materials they used to supply the product. This is patently unfair – to everyone. It forces prices up for all of us. It reduces profits and therefore cheats employees out of raises and bonuses. Repeat this: Starting with me, vendor relations will be honest and respectful. For more tips and information, visit www.swimstartingwithme.com.

On Making What You’re Worth

How much should I be making? Good question, as long as it’s asked along with several others. What are others in similar jobs making? Can this company compete at that level? What do I need to support myself? Am I living beyond my means? Am I in the right job or field considering what I’d like to be making? Have I figured what my benefits are worth in dollars? Can I put a value on the work environment compared to other companies? Do I have educational or experiential opportunities here that may be worth my accepting a lower salary? Repeat this: Starting with me, salary and benefits will be viewed from a broad perspective, meeting both my short and long term needs and those of my employer. For more tips and information, visit http://www.swimstartingwithme.com/.

On Doing Whatever it Takes

I polled a number of my clients and associates recently asking them, "What’s the most common ethical dilemma in your industry?" It boiled down to this: "Do whatever it takes to get the job."In some industries it was misrepresenting capabilities. In some it was promising one level of product or service and then switching to a lesser quality or quantity. In some it was low-balling bids and then charging extra for contract details. Many rationalize, “That’s just how you have to play the game.” If that’s true, then you are contributing to unethical (and maybe illegal) practices. Repeat this: Starting with me, quality, honesty and a fair price will be the standard for getting and keeping work. For more tips and information, visit http://www.swimstartingwithme.com.

On Saying No to Your Own Ambitions

The national conference is in less than a week. There is no way you can get the booth built, write the sales scripts, and prepare the session you’ve agreed to give. You have three customer call backs to do today and a demo that will take up most of tomorrow. Why did you ever agree to do the conference? Now you see nothing but stressful, sleepless nights ahead of you. Just say, “No.” There is a difference between setting stretch goals for yourself and being unrealistic. The former is a challenge. The latter is a lie. Not only does it set you up for failure but it misleads and disappoints the people who depend on you. Repeat this: Starting with me, honest and realistic self-assessment will determine schedules and obligations. For more tips and information, visit http://www.swimstartingwithme.com.

On Saying No to Coworkers

“You wouldn’t mind covering for me on Tuesday, would you, buddy? I’ve got tickets to the big game and I’m due some sick time, anyway.” What do you do when faced with this dilemma? Assuming you would mind or that you’ve got too much of your own work to do to cover for your “buddy,” what do you do? Just say, “No.” Here’s how. “You know, I have just got too much scheduled for me to consider covering for you. I’m sorry I can’t help you out and I have to say, ‘No.’” Worried that you might ruin a friendship? Don’t be. A true friend doesn’t put you in the position of jeopardizing your own job for him. Repeat this: Starting with me, our work place will be one of integrity and personal responsibility. For more tips and information, visit http://www.swimstartingwithme.com.

On Saying No to The Boss

The secretary couldn’t take on even one more project. And his immediate supervisor still hasn’t dropped off the month-end correspondence. And yet he knows that two other department heads need some typing done before Monday, too. How is he going to get it all done? You know the end of this story. The secretary will cut corners, work all weekend, grow resentful, and eventually leave the job. Learn to Just say, “No” to the boss. Make a realistic assessment of what you can handle, and then respectfully ask which of the excess projects would the boss like you to push off to next week. The boss will appreciate your professionalism and you’ll save your job. Repeat this: Starting with me, work estimates will be handled with integrity and honesty. For more tips and information, visit http://www.swimstartingwithme.com/.

On Saying No to Sales People

He looks once more at the telephone slip on his desk. The woman has called him three times since he met with her about her company’s product. He dreads telling her he’s not really interested. He pushes the slip aside, once again.

This scene repeats 1000s of times every day. Salespeople waste hours calling back prospects who are afraid to say, “No.” And those prospects endure a constant, nagging sense that they are doing wrong.

Just say, “No.” Save yourself stress and the salesperson time by being truthful about your intentions. Build relationships on integrity, not fear. Repeat this: Starting with me, salespeople will be treated with the same respect I expect from them. For more information go to http://www.swimstartingwithme.com.