If we told you about a company that embodies the following characteristics and consistently delivers top-quality work, how would you describe them in just two words?
We would say that
the company has a
strong work ethic.
Do you, personally, and the company you work for fit this description?
Typically, the companies that possess these qualities employ individuals who live by these principles and surround themselves with others who have the same. Unfortunately, what is more common, it seems, are individuals and businesses that are apathetic, unprofessional, procrastinate, miss deadlines, make excuses, have negative outlooks, and do not own their errors but rather blame others. With this type of environment in the business world, day-to-day operations and activities become more challenging for businesses with solid work ethics.
It would be easy to surrender to this condition. The old “if you can’t beat them, join them” cliché rears its head. Battling this attitude is another quality of a strong work ethic. This environment fosters creativity, innovation, improved communication skills, and proactive action for many. Surrendering to apathy makes the problem worse. No matter how difficult, perseverance brings rewards.
The reward is not always immediate, and one often experiences frustration, disappointment, and delays before attaining it. Ultimately, the payoff is the retention of reputation, personal satisfaction, client satisfaction, and the discovery of new relationships with those who share that strong work ethic. Maintaining a work ethic also can identify those who are not like-minded.
It might be worth asking ourselves (and perhaps doing so regularly):
Is there value in the following?
We believe these actions have unparalleled value for our clients and each of us individually.
Clients will receive quality work and speak positively of their experience with us (priceless). Upon completion, we will depart with a sense of accomplishment and pride in our work, assured that we credit our team members for the project without any regrets or concerns.
The next question that may arise is, “Well, how much are these things worth?” Only the individual can provide an answer to that. The reality is that maintaining these qualities in today’s environment does cost more. Does the Iron Triangle of Business, good, fast, and cheap, exist?
We think not. Many will have you believing this or at least wanting to believe it. If you buy into this philosophy, beware! Cheap always costs more eventually; good is non-negotiable (would you knowingly choose low-quality work?), and fast is relative and subjective.
For example, building permits are not fast (for several reasons; can you say government efficiency?), design is not fast (without a plan, plan to fail), and while construction can be a lot of things, high quality, and right is far more desirable than fast.
What may have become “societal norms” post-pandemic (we seem to measure all things this way), we do not have to become a lemming (“a person who follows the will of others, especially in a mass movement, and heads straight into a situation or circumstance that is dangerous, stupid, or destructive”) and surrender to these characteristics. Maintaining a strong work ethic is possible even in the face of resistance and obstacles.