Bill Davey figures his mom stressed those qualities no fewer than a zillion times during his childhood.
"I apply the principles daily in my professional life," said Davey, 37, and president of Globelink Security, an Oklahoma City-based residential and commercial security company he runs with two of his three younger brothers.
Davey's mother retired from a long career in pharmaceutical sales and today runs a real estate development company at Lake Tenkiller with his dad. As an adult, he practices the basic principles she instilled, both in his personal and professional life.
"Another phrase she always said to my brothers and me was O.F.W. -- or old-fashioned work," Davey said.
Consulting leaders
Most workplace experts agree mother knows best. Truthfulness arguably is the most important trait of successful leaders.
"Executives need to err on the side of honesty," said Lyn Turknett of Atlanta-based Turknett Leadership Group.
"It should either be 'Here's the answer,' 'I don't know' or 'I can't tell you,'" Turknett said. The latter may sometimes be the only response executives can give, because of legal or other reasons, she said.
Research proves the character and ethics of chief executives and supervisors are linked to bottom-line performance, Turknett said.
In a 2003 study of managers of Holiday Inns, revenues, profits and customer service ratings increased significantly among managers whose employees felt they told the truth, practiced what they preached and followed through on promises.
In her consulting experience, managers with troublesome childhoods often aren't as capable, Turknett said.
"We are products developed by our families," she said.
"That's where we learn about respect for others, to care about other people, fairness and responsibility."
When leaders shirk responsibility, deny or explain away things, it can feel like lying to their subordinates or colleagues, Bob Turknett said.
"But, in the absence of good coaching, most don't see it as lying," he said.
"They've somehow rationalized their dishonesty in their own minds."
Career columnist Penelope Trunk believes everyone, at a certain threshold, is capable of lying.
"I don't think anyone sets out to lie," Trunk, author of "Brazen Careerist: The New Rules for Success," said.
"People lie when they feel trapped and hopeless, and tell themselves their only choice is to lie or ruin their own lives or the people they love."
That line of thinking is why some people lie on their resumes, said Yvonne Rainwater, Oklahoma regional manager of Robert Half International. Rainwater has had job candidates say they have college degrees when they don't, or they're employed by a company where they haven't worked for six months.
They think that a lack of education or continuous employment looks bad, she said. "But lying is worse."
Most ask their moms first
According to a recent survey by Robert Half, one in four Gen Yers, or people born between 1979 and 1999, consult their parents first when making employment decisions.
"They'll ask their moms, for example, about job opportunities, what to wear to an interview or to look over their resume," Rainwater said.
One tiny thing most people learned from their mothers that goes a long way in the job hunt and on the job is saying thank-you, Rainwater said.
"Sending follow-up thank-you notes, and saying 'please' and 'thanks' can go a very long way."
Leaving their marks
Here are how some local executives say their mothers have influenced their lives:
-- Cindy Price, president, Superior Staffing Inc.: One of my mom's sayings was that I could accomplish more with a smile. At first I thought that was just plain dumb. However, it rings so true. The people I work with can't operate to their fullest when I walk around with a frown. If I'm smiling they smile, more work is accomplished and it just feels good.
-- Robert Barcum, senior vice president business development and chief information officer for Claimetrics: My mom taught me to "focus on one thing at a time with all your energy and you will achieve more than spreading your efforts over several tasks."
I use this advice often when faced with deciding which business opportunities to pursue. I will work the most promising one, as opposed to spending a little time on several different ones. It dilutes my efforts and the results are not as good.
-- Judith L. Steele, assistant professor, English department, Mid-America Christian University: "Consider the source." A pithy little statement, but it often helped me to stop before I reacted. Was the person doing the criticizing, being overly helpful or downright snide really worth reacting to? Often, the answer is "No."
-- Sherry Fair, administrative director, City Arts Center: "If you make a commitment, follow through." Even if my mother overcommitted herself, it was important to get everything done she promised. I try to do the same.
-- Randy Byford, owner of Byford Pontiac Buick GMC in Chickasha: "Don't forget where you come from and who you are" and "Always do the right thing."
Whether I'm dealing with a doctor, farmer or teacher, I know I'm no better than anybody else and try to treat everyone with equal respect, truthfulness and caring. Cars are manmade, so people will have problems with them. It's how you handle the problems that make a difference.
To see more of The Oklahoman, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.newsok.com. Copyright (c) 2008, The Oklahoman Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. For reprints, email tmsreprints@permissionsgroup.com, call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA.
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