Citizenship isn’t just a political concept. It’s also a way to show a sense of responsibility as a member of our community within our industry
According to the dictionary, a “citizen” is a person who has rights and responsibilities as a member of a nation or political community. I believe the term can be more expansive and flexible than the textbook definition. Becoming a citizen in the facilities services industry demands a broader range of commitment and a more focused perspective as it relates to our customers.
Much like the members of a nation who strive to become productive, respectful, considerate and contributing citizens in their communities, we also endeavor to put the needs of others first and demonstrate a commitment to being trustworthy and informed.
Here’s what I see as the five key attributes of citizenship, and how UG2 focuses on being good citizens of our industry and with our customers:
Respectful: In any community, good citizenship means deep respect on multiple levels, including respecting the property, rights, and views of others. That’s what we demonstrate within our company as well as within the workplaces of our customers, because we believe respect needs to be the foundation of every relationship.
Informed: Being aware of the changes within a community helps everyone navigate through challenges and embrace opportunities more easily. This is as true at UG2 and within facilities services as it is within a country, state, or neighborhood. When citizens stay informed, they can work together to see challenges more clearly and to address them before they become problems.
Compassionate: Although respect and compassion can seem like similar attributes, they’re distinct from one another. To have compassion is to be humble, grateful, and open to the viewpoints and experiences of others. It means listening more than talking, sharing instead of owning, connecting over isolating. At UG2, these practices have been with us since our inception.
Responsible: Accountability, honesty, and transparency are essential elements in any citizen-led effort, and the same goes for the facilities services industry. Deflection and blame are corrosive and run counter to the sense of responsibility that comes with industry citizenship. That’s why UG2 strongly emphasizes these attributes, which we see as essential components of integrity of both individuals and teams.
Active: It’s easy to be an armchair citizen and have opinions about the actions of others. It is far more difficult to take those actions yourself, to take on being an agent for necessary and positive change and making connections that strengthen your community. From the start, we chose the harder path. We believe the effort to be reliable partners, to be active in our customer relationships and with our workforce, will always be worth it.
At UG2, we strive to form strong customer relationships that are established and nurtured for life. We become part of teams that can trust us to be loyal and committed. We don’t just provide customer service—we provide citizen service.
Citizenship comes in many forms; it’s an ongoing endeavor that encompasses both individual effort and collaboration within the community. That’s what we see at UG2, and I’m proud to see the level of citizen engagement here, both within our workforce and for our customers.