Core Values is another concept coined by Jim Collins to be a key to a company being “Built to Last” as outlined in his book of that title. The Douglas Company has 4 Core Values, as follows:
· Great client relationships with high customer loyalty
· Integrity and professionalism in all we do
· Keeping our commitments through proactive attention to detail and execution
· Growth of our Associates and Business through learning, teamwork, and leadership
Great Client Relationships with High Customer Loyalty
Why It’s A Core Value
We genuinely like, appreciate, and value our clients. They do so many great things in society and do so much for us. They trust us with their important projects, and we need to be worthy of that trust. Because of all this, we value the relationship with them and want them to continue doing business with us.
What It Means For Our Clients
For our clients, this means that all of us will work very hard to contribute to their success. We can’t let our client friends down, and can’t betray their trust.
Integrity and Professionalism in All We Do
Why It’s A Core Value
Integrity is a cornerstone of every great company. And it has to be absolute. There must be trust in every level in the organization if we are to succeed. Professionalism is a little different. We are in an industry that it is known for lack of professionalism. Professionalism involves dress, but it involves behavior, communication, and many other facets. Professionalism builds trust. It’s our belief that our clients are entitled to the best, and professionalism is one way we show it.
What It Means For Our Clients
Our clients can sleep at night, knowing that we have their backs. We will always tell the truth, and they can count on it. There are no hidden agendas. And we will always treat them with respect, and as professionals, and they can count on that. All of this makes doing business with us a positive experience.
Keeping Our Commitments Through Proactive Attention to Detail and Execution
Why It’s A Core Value
This one perhaps is the toughest of our Core Values, but we can’t succeed without this one. We must keep our commitments to keep our clients. And we can’t keep our commitments without proactive attention to detail, which allows execution. Construction is a detailed business, and pro-action is important to keep our projects running smoothly and to keep our commitments.
What It Means For Our Clients
It means they can count on us. They can count on us being proactive and being on top of our projects so that our commitments will be kept. They can count on us building projects quickly and with quality. And they can count on us solving problems when they are small and manageable.
Growth of Our Associates and Business Through Learning, Teamwork, and Leadership
Why It’s A Core Value
We constantly want to improve, and improvement brings about growth both personally and in our business. We enjoy seeing each other succeed. This success takes teamwork and leadership, both personal & professional, at every level in the company.
What It Means For Our Clients
It means that our clients always get bright, ambitious associates who want to do well because doing well for our clients brings about growth for them and our company. We can’t grow our company without this level of service to our clients.
Peter Douglas, P.E.
President
The Douglas Company
