Ever admired someone who is spectacularly successful in life and business, only to find that they lack character? Character makes us unique as much as it defines our similarities. Poor character is a lack of moral integrity. There’s plenty of both the good and bad, so how do you know who you’re dealing with?
The character of anyone you hire to handle a job – any job – plays a significant role in your opinion of them. Do they return your calls quickly or place you at the end of the queue? Do other clients find them reliable or excuse-making? Do they talk a great game but lack follow-through?
So, what does “of good character” really mean? It’s a buffet of traits that only you can choose. Here’s a list of character traits that we look for in our business dealings.
Integrity
Know who you’re dealing with from the getgo. It’s good business practice to look first to your trusted colleagues when you need input. We create excellent quality video content for all sizes of businesses and organizations. When we hire additional crew members to give us a hand, we insist they represent our ideals. Over the years we’ve built relationships with people of good character whom we know and trust.
This goes both ways. If we treated our crews with disregard for their time and efforts, they wouldn’t work with us. We value and trust each other because we’ve each demonstrated integrity over time. As a result, we have relationships with the best in the business.
Reliability
Things go awry from time to time. While inconvenient, good relationships dictate that you give the other party an understanding reply. That’s the first time. If it happens again, take note. The third? It’s time to have a chat about priorities. In business and personal life, when someone needs you to be there for them, you’re there every time. Otherwise, make plans for a speedy follow up.
Listening
Don’t underestimate the importance of listening in every interaction. Listening is the bedrock of a good relationship. Nodding in agreement to everything you say isn’t a sign that someone is listening. We’ve all met the person who spends an entire interview talking about why you should hire them rather than asking questions about what you need. That’s disrespectful. If they aren’t hearing you, you’re not getting the service you deserve.
Follow-Through
Do what you say and say what you mean. It doesn’t get much simpler than that. Not following through on a promise can mean serious consequences and damages relationships. You need to know that you’re getting exactly what you need when (or before) you need it. If we failed to deliver a national commercial in time for a cable TV campaign, our client could lose thousands in paid placement costs. And we’d lose a great client.
Taken as a whole, this is a portrait of good character. It’s not luck when you find the right people for the right job. It’s the result of thoroughly vetting your options. If you’re not finding the right fit, give us a call and we’ll show you what good character looks like.
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