288 Global Ethics for Leadership
times has led to strong customer relationships and to economic success,
as well.
Customers were willing to explain the bottlenecks they experienced
in damper adjustment, and we could continue to improve our perfor-
mance. After about ten years, we became the world's leading company
for damper adjustment.
I experienced much joy and gratitude with staff and management.
We saw ourselves as a large corporate family, in which we respect and
appreciate each other. Even today, teamwork is at the foreground in all
areas, building on the strengths of individuals. The success of the com-
pany benefits all.
Cooperation with suppliers and service providers is also important.
The company’s principle is that what others can do equally well or bet-
ter, we should do together. This is based on trust and gratitude, and de-
veloped in as long-term a perspective as possible. Suppliers and service
providers are heavily involved in innovation processes.
- Gratitude for the company's success
“We serve before we deserve”
“Common interests before self-interest”
These two principles of EKS apply to our company. Is it a contradic-
tion if the company also earns good money? No, on the contrary, there is
gratitude and satisfaction when both are possible. The successful exist-
ence of the company for more than forty years is proof that the princi-
ples set out above are sustainable. They have also survived the genera-
tional change in the management of the company.
Of course, the company no longer communicates its principles in
biblical language. It places the benefits to clients at the forefront and is
committed to solution innovation and high quality performance. But the
basic attitude endures and for that I am grateful and proud.