A Different Approach
When my company makes more money, I get to work overtime, and the better off I am.
GOAL Institute Patna
Introduction
Our old mailman was so good. He was always on time, extremely friendly and he had a quickness to his step.
We had a standing joke. Whenever we were shipping out a lot of books in individual packages, he’d say, “You’re going to give those to the UPS driver, right?” …
… and we always assured him that of course we didn’t expect him to take the packages. They would indeed be going by United Parcel Service.
Our new mailman is very good, too. He is always on time, extremely friendly, and he has a quickness to his step.
The first time he found us preparing a big stack of packages for shipment, he really surprised us.
… and we always assured him that of course we didn’t expect him to take the packages. They would indeed be going by United Parcel Service.
This mailman walked over to the packages, noted they were for UPS pickup and promptly said, “Why are you shipping these with a delivery service? Why don’t you let me take them for you?” We were dumbfounded. “Are you serious?” I asked him. Then I explained how procour previous mailman always tried to dodge the bullet on the delivery of our books.
“Of course I’m serious,” he said. Then pulling out his barcode reader, he continued, “I can track your books for you, just like UPS. Let me ship them for you.”
“Why?” I asked. “Why would you want the extra weight?”
His response left me numb. “Because the more business I get for my company, the better off it is. When my company makes more money, I get to work overtime, and the better off I am. We both do better. Why shouldn’t I get all the business I can for my company?
That’s where I work. That’s my responsibility.”
I couldn’t help noticing that he called his employer “my company” rather than the Postal Service.
Well, there you have it. Two men doing the same job, but with two very different approaches. One man did his work but no more. The other man did his work and much more.
Which of these men would you want on your team?
Reference
(n.d.). A Different Approach. The GOAL Institute Patna.