Employer Values and Employee expectations-continued

In the last increment of the piece on employer values I outlined the importance of valuing a person's ability to communicate effectively and to work well in teams. Recalling that this list is not mine but one that I found from an organization that I have a great deal of respect for here is the rest of the list:

• Is accountable- In this case keeping your word on commitments you make on getting things accomplished is very important. The work of others depend on you. If you are not accountable and people can not trust your word then the organization is weaker for it, as is your value to your company.
• Values diversity- one of the things we have learned over the past few years of watching our government at work is that when you value on the opinions of those you like you tend to get a very clouded view of life. Not everyone is right all the time nor is it likely that your "filter" is the same as mine. I tend to get one really good idea every year but it tends to be a very valuable one, sometimes worth millions in additional business. To think that I am the only one with this capability is insane. We all can contribute regardless of our backgrounds, beliefs, or gender.
• Commits to service- It should be obvious that treating your customers as a valued asset should be number one in people's minds but this is not a universally held view. There are a few managers out there that value customers only for the revenue they bring in. Once the contract is signed they have little use for these customers until it is time for a new contract or a renewal. This is an entitlement mentality, "I am entitled to your business", that few customers appreciate. When your competition treats them better guess where they are going. This same mantra is true if you serve internal customers. We often wonder why there are rogue IT organizations in companies. They have developed competition for the true IT organization, most likely because of poor service.
• Delivers excellence- I like this one because it gets to the type of person you are and your beliefs as a part of a group, which is what a company really is. If you are not always in the mode of delivering an excellent product you will be dealing with problems more than new business. Once you go down this path recovering from it is nearly impossible. Many a great company has suffered from a lack of excellence only to fall victim to competition. We have watched the American steel and auto industries go through this and we all know the results.

Have a great new year every one!