Last year, something amazing happened in our office. We found out that Barbara, our Finance Executive, had been taking the time to explain to several of our clients about the GST (Goods & Service Tax), which had just been implemented then. Educating the clients about GST certainly wasn’t part of Barbara’s job scope, but she took the initiative to share her knowledge with the people we work with. That gesture in itself created a value for our clients that even money couldn’t buy. Having employees that are willing to go above and beyond to make people’s life better or just to lend a helping hand is something that many companies strive to achieve, but only a few succeed.
“It is important to know that this is not manipulation; instead, it is our definition of self-assessment and reasonable communication.”
At Saltycustoms, we strongly believe that outcome trumps intention. Which is why we set expectations to a manageable and realistic level that positions our performances in a positive light. It is important to know that this is not manipulation; instead, it is our definition of self-assessment and reasonable communication.
The ‘under-promise, over-deliver’ value has been ingrained in our company culture since the day our doors opened, and until today, this value is still driving us forward in all that we do.
But, what does ‘under-promise, over-deliver’ mean to the Salty Squad? We asked a few of them to get a clearer picture.
Shay Thum, Apparel Consultant
“Clients appreciate it when we are truly honest and genuine to them, and that includes saying ‘no’ when it is necessary. Earning the trust of a client, who pays you and entrusts you with their t-shirts, is everything to us. Sometimes, even the simplest gestures – an extra phone call or an early delivery – make a big difference in solving my clients’ problems and adding value to their businesses.”
“Earning the trust of a client, who pays you and entrusts you with their t-shirts, is everything to us.”
Adam Malek, Senior Graphic Designer
“To me, this value means managing the expectations of others while doing my best to exceed all their expectations. It’s about having the motivation to deliver work that is of consistent quality and succeeding in exciting my colleagues and clients through the things that I do. Because of that, I love what I do and feel no pressure while doing my job.”
Larry Cheang, Developer
“I under-promise and over-deliver by taking ownership of my tasks – like developing our internal systems – and treating them like they are my own. I put 100% of my heart into every job I take on to ensure that I always deliver work of the highest quality.”
“I always try to look for ways to add value into all that I do.”
Erica Lee, Production Executive
“For me, this value means to know my limits and stay grounded at all times. That’s why I believe that we should never promise the world to our clients or colleagues, because falling short will only disappoint them. Instead, we should always try to look for ways to add value into all that we do. For instance, in production, we cannot agree to unreasonable requests from clients, as it may end up back-firing on us if we fail to meet expectations. The most important thing is to stick to our strengths and deliver great products to our clients.”
Barbara Chong, Finance Executive
“Under-promising and over-delivering means we do not undercut our colleagues or clients. We set out to do what we have promised to do and then we over-deliver by adding value into our services. For example, instead of doing only what is required of a Finance Executive, I also take the initiative to learn from the Apparel Consultants to widen my horizons in sales and other aspects of our business.”
“We set out to do what we have promised to do and then we over-deliver by adding value into our services.”
Does this value resonate well with you? We are looking for passionate and talented people who share the same values as us to join us on our journey. Apply for a career with us by emailing careers@saltycustoms.com.
