Avionics News June 2013 - 87

vendors and even your neighborly competitors involved in your
project, it will also give you more to talk about with customers.
First, though, consult with your employees to gauge their
commitment. Let them help you choose projects that have
broad support. Find ways to get their families involved, as well.
Consider allowing employees to do solo projects, too; certainly,
some may coach youth sports teams, lead scouting troops or
lead nature hikes already. Prime their participation by adopting
a reward system, such as points for service that add up to gift
certificates, a free vacation day to serve their cause or maybe a
volunteer of the year award.
Don’t worry about what these rewards cost; your payback
will be greater. Meaningful volunteerism lifts employees’
spirits. It fosters a sense of teamwork and collaboration that
transfers to jobs and gives employees who lean toward altruism
an outlet. These benefits can help you keep and even attract
high-quality employees based on your shop’s civic reputation.
But don’t ignore your competitors. “If it appeals to you, it
will appeal to other people in your industry,” Stengel said. Good
things can happen when you create coopertition, or competitors
cooperating on an altruistic goal. “This is a way, in a very informal, noncompetitive arena, to get to know your competitors

as people and individuals,” Stengel said. “If there’s a common
cause a bunch of competitors can get behind, I think it’s terrific.”
Keep track of your successes. Survey employees to gauge
their satisfaction, quantify hours and dollars donated, and work
with nonprofits to create metrics that demonstrate the difference
you have made. Strategically, you want to know your effort is
working and worthwhile so it can becomes part of your shop’s
DNA and a permanent part of your budget and business plan.
More importantly, these wins allow you to brag. If you’re
doing good work to serve your community, don’t keep it a
secret. This doesn’t mean pumping your chest over your benevolent generosity, but it can mean talking about the fulfillment
you gained, the results you created and the accomplishments of
your people in your marketing materials, blog entries and media
releases. Consider displaying your favorite group’s logo in these
locations to promote participation among your customers and
vendors. If nothing else, your team has done the hard work, so
you have earned the right to be proud.
If you don’t talk about it, your potential customers won’t have
any way to know how you’re serving your community. When
they’re looking for someone who’s worthy of trust and support,
the care you give can shape the care you get. q

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Avionics News June 2013

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Avionics News June 2013