Doing the right thing

Marty Grunder

What’s your definition of integrity? Here’s the one I found in the dictionary: “the quality or state of being of sound moral principle; uprightness, honesty and sincerity.” I like the definition, but I don’t think it spells out all that the word integrity means. It means a lot more than telling the truth, that I am sure.

Several years ago, my friend Dr. John Maxwell, a best-selling author and gifted leadership teacher, told me, “Marty, when you do the right things, the right things happen.” That has stuck with me. I like those words as a better way to describe what the word integrity means. So, this month, let’s talk a little bit about integrity and how you can demonstrate it in all that you do.
 

How you hire. Do you background check your new hires? Do you drug test them? I have heard companies say, “If we did that, we couldn’t find anyone.” I want to challenge all those reading this column to do background checks and drug testing, even if that makes your hiring efforts tough. Remember, success is a marathon, not a sprint. And you will find, like I have and the countless companies I work with, that when you do background checks and drug testing, you get better people.

People who show up to work, don’t cause issues and understand what “doing the right thing” is all about. Our turnover has gone down dramatically since we implemented background checks and drug testing. Yes, it makes finding people tougher, but the paybacks on these efforts are well worth it. It’s not easy to hire like this, but it’s hard to argue it’s not the right thing to do.

How you treat your team. You’ve hired them, now what?  As the father of some teenagers, one going away to college this fall, I’ve become pretty mindful of how we treat our people. Through the years, I’ve learned a lot and made a lot of mistakes. I’ve yelled at people in front of others. I’ve come down hard on people who did not deserve it.

I allowed people with no integrity to work at our company because I was afraid I could not replace them. And I’ve been guilty of not doing what I said I would do for my team. Just being honest, folks.

Today, I think I’m twice the leader I was 20 years ago. I’d better be. I’ve had a lot of practice. As the father of teenagers who are now out looking for jobs, I am very aware of how they are being treated in the process. I take in the good and the bad, and I strive to make my company a place you would want your kids to work at.

If you focus on making your place the kind of organization that you’d want your kids or best friend’s kids to work at, you will improve easily. Having a workplace full of integrity is the best way to go. It attracts others to want to work at your place and you greatly improve your chances for a high level of profitability.

How you deal with vendors. Do you treat your vendors in a way you would like to be treated? When you make a mistake, how do you want to be treated by a client? I have seen companies take advantage of vendor mistakes to the point that it’s not fair or reasonable. Dealing with vendors in a fair way will only come back and help you in the long run. Oh, sure, if you tell me you’re going to do something as a vendor for Grunder Landscaping Co. and then you don’t do it, we don’t accept that. But we also know mistakes happen and we try very hard to operate with integrity.

We pay our vendors promptly and if for some reason we can’t, we call them. We try very hard to treat them in a fashion that we’d want to be treated. The byproduct of this is our reputation is kept and only enhanced. Hopefully, this has sold us a job or two (or hundred) in the past 28 years. It’s not easy to deal with all the vendors a small business has to work with, but if you try hard to treat them fairly, it is noticed and it is talked about.

How you deal with clients. Just treat your clients like you’d want your mother to be treated. If you make a mistake, own up to it. Always tell the truth. Clients can be tough; we all know that. Some of them can be impossible. Don’t sweat it. Wake up every day and take care of the client the best way you know how – with integrity. Because, after all, “When you do the right things, the right things happen.” Dr. Maxwell was right on with those words.