Are you about getting it done, or how well you get it done? Do you dash off memos, emails, or work product of other sorts, with only a quick look – if that? Do you insist on being proud of whatever you produce and put your name to?
Quality, quality, quality
The other day I mused about a gentleman I’m helping with some editing and related tasks. In assisting him, I had to risk hurting his feelings with my recommendations. I don’t know if my opinion will be heeded, but if not, I’ll try again. I care about the result. I care about quality – and quality control. I can’t sit back and accept a mediocre outcome if I’m involved in a project, and I certainly can’t contribute a lackluster effort.
I realize some might say that’s perfectionism. I would argue it’s something else – a cousin, perhaps, and I recognize its relationship to this set of behaviors. But I would call my insistence on quality a matter of commitment to the integrity of my work. To my word. To my reputation.
In volatile times, what can never be taken from us? Wouldn’t the integrity of our work, our relationships, our word, and our reputation be ours – regardless of marital or employment status, square footage, corner office, or carat count on our fingers?
Or am I delusional – and all of this is a bit of phantom leg, leftover from another generation’s principles?
- Do you keep your word?
- Do you insist on quality if you’re involved?
- Is integrity situational?
- In your work, your volunteering, your assistance to a friend or spouse, do you apply equal standards of quality control?
I will readily admit that I care what people think of me – some more than others. I care that I am considered honest, honorable, and reliable. I care that people trust my word and associate it with integrity and delivering on my promises.
Impossible expectations? Setting the bar too high?
No, I don’t expect perfect behavior of myself or anyone else – whatever “perfect” means. Nor can we give 100% to everything we’re involved in. It’s just not possible. We prioritize, we make compromises. That’s normal. But I set my standards high, and I like it that way.
I’ll add that I don’t feel compelled to color inside the lines, and when life overflows, of course quality suffers – we need to adjust commitments, look for shortcuts, find alternatives. But “reputation?” While it is mutable – its confines or lack thereof fluid to a degree – I insist on its importance, in my own life. Personally, and professionally.
So what do you think? Is reputation “old hat?” What about honor? Are these concepts to live by, or a thing of the past?
I hope reputation and honor are not old hat. If we don’t maintain our integrity, what else do we have? Has something happened that has led you to believe personal integrity is declining? Customer Service certainly has and I suppose that could be reflective of a lack of personal integrity.
I hope everyone takes the high ground and holds on to their integrity, that’s something we can only do for ourselves.
I see it everywhere, to some degree. Certainly in Customer Service, as you point out, though I will say that just last week, on two separate occasions, I experienced exceptional customer service on the phone – both times with large institutions. I thanked each of the individuals several times, and in one instance followed that up with an email. But I do see individuals making excuses for being more lax about quality, taking no ownership of what they do, and not following up on commitments.
I see this in work product I receive from others, lack of return phone calls and emails, persistent lateness without letting someone know. And of course, there are broken promises of a far more profound sort, but they are often motivated by complex emotions and intentions. But I agree – personal integrity is something someone must “own.” We can’t force it on them. We can try to instill it in our children.
I don’t think honor and integrity and reputation are a thing of the past, but I do think our culture could use a remedial course or two on the subject.
Or maybe it’s just that is not what gets the most media attention? Maybe there are more people like us, who care about living and working from a place of truth, it’s just that we are quieter about it than those who are not.
Great point, Joanne. We don’t spotlight those who work diligently or do the right thing. We tend to hear about those who don’t. But I like your idea of a remedial course or two.
I recently attended a conference where it was said “don’t sacrifice the good for the perfect.” Sometimes us perfectionists have to decide which projects are important and demand the perfection we are so good at, and the other projects that we need to quickly achieve so that we have the time for those “top priority” tasks.
I now work in an environment where excellence is a hallmark. It is very difficult to find those projects that can have less attention. It is a challenge for me.
Nice piece.
Honesty and keeping my word are important to me. Right now, it’s all personal for me. Being dependable is essential.
Professionally, doing good work matters. When I found myself in jobs that I just couldn’t do my best at, I left. That was years ago, and in this economy, I might have compromised more.
Of course, I may be old school about it. I think you are right to be discerning about what you put your name on.
I have a reputation for fast turnaround, which I’m proud of. I have that “hot potato” mentality. Get it done, don’t be the one sitting with it. But I have learned that I need to take a little bit more time and ensure there are no mistakes.
Reputation is alive and well, and mostly based on first impressions. If one has a poor reputation, it takes twice as long, I think, to change anyone’s mind on that.
Good one, April. It is hard to undo a bad reputation.
I’d rather spread myself not quite as far and make certain I’ve covered all that I said I would. This means I don’t “show up” in as many places…but I’d like to think I make it ALL the way there when I do arrive.
I like this approach, Rebecca. (Why aren’t we all this sane?)
I find this interesting because it seems to me reputation these days is not solely dependent on the quality of the work anymore. Other variables come into play: charm, enthusiasm, creativity, personality, etc. I have seen many competent and talented people who consistently produce excellent work get edged out of a job by someone more personable, more fun, more exciting. They also get the job done which makes things complicated for those who do better work but have quieter personalities. And perhaps because these gregarious and capable workers are easier to get along with, they are better able to gain the trust of whomever is hiring them. I don’t know for sure but I’ve been hearing quite a bit about cross-training in the workforce…
There’s no question that personality and personal style factor into reputation. I would venture to say that those are more important in certain types of organizations or roles than others, but you raise an excellent point. It’s not just about substance, it’s about substance + form that “fits.”
I agree with Belinda that reputation is made up of many things, which includes integrity. I think maintaining your reputation is important on many levels. I think doing everything you do with integrity and to the best of your ability is important. Perfection? Hard to attain. My Hub always says “if good enough is always good enough, is anything ever really good enough”. I know where he’s coming from, but “good enough” is a relative term and, while it may be less than perfect, it’s not necessarily second-rate. Establish high standards and hold on to them.
I think striving to reach high standards and not reaching them is one thing. It’s the blatant not caring that the mark or deadline was missed by a gross margin that bothers me! Perhaps the people that put on this sort of attitude really are embarrassed and are trying to cover that by brushing off the entire situation (rather than just the emotion). But it just comes off as flaky to me sometimes.
And yet, I still feel uncomfortable saying that out loud (or in print). Pointing out this sort of thing in others is always risky because no one’s perfect.
It seems to me that more and more people are concerned with their “image” over reputation. And all too often honor and integrity take a back seat when someone is trying to present a certain image of themselves, especially when that image is false.
I’ve had to fight my need for perfectionism for the majority of my life. I’ve fretted more than I’d like to admit about what others thought of me. But now I understand the difference between perfectionism and doing the best job possible. Now I know those people’s whose opinions really matter and those I can never please. There is a great deal of relief and peace that comes with these epiphanies.
I am always surprised when people are willing to get by with a shoddy job. I, too, set my standards high and am definitely not perfect. But I live with a philosophy that dictates that I “never expect anything more of any person than I would of myself”. I think that’s fair and that’s how I measure things. Right? Wrong? I don’t know.
I happen to agree with you, Cathy. But many don’t, and I know that. And I figure if they want to live with lesser efforts (and the results), that’s their business. When it irks me is if their lack of work ethic impacts me – causing me more work, more time, more stress. I see this every day, and I think, more and more often. I don’t know if it’s creeping apathy, fatigue, a lifestyle that is pressurized for so many of us. Nonetheless, being the one left holding the bag is no fun.
You raise such interesting questions. And is seems to me (I’m risking sounding like my grandmother here) that preserving, protecting, honoring a “good” reputation isn’t important to people anymore. Maintaining integrity is easily pushed aside to honor its easier cousin, maintaining status quo.
Ha! Well said. But I’m with you. And your grandmother.
BLW, these are insightful questions. I apologize for coming to the conversation late, but I believe honor and integrity are characteristics that contribute to our legacy. I believe a large part of society doesn’t worry about reputation and embraces the philosophy of “I can do whatever I want and don’t care what people think.” I, on the other hand, believe that you are a reflection of what you say, do and produce and that you should focus on leading a good, reputable life.
No statute of limitations on comments, Rudri! 😉 It’s reassuring to find others who agree that your word matters.