Service is not merely what happens between a seller and a buyer. It is how you serve, contribute, discharge responsibilities, treat people, use opportunities, exercise authority, and make life better for others.
I received some feedback from my last piece titled: The real problem with service in Nigeria, and they are very true experiences to most of us in this climes. One wonders what we do not understand about the inevitability of service readiness, sound service orientation, service excellence or service delivery expectations.
Sad enough, we seem to have ‘operationalised’ toxic service attitude over time, hinging it on some popular poor service mindsets.
My intention in this series is to provide a guide towards changing to mindsets that make service excellence possible. Talk about a mindset shift from mere desperate personal gains to purposeful contributions. Each week, I will attempt to rewrite the service code in the mind of my readers; and guide them towards change-based solutions, which is the essence of this column. Let’s start here:
Stop just asking, “What is in it for me?” also ask: “What’s in me for it?”
Have you ever wondered why some people struggle to do what is right unless there is something to gain, mostly a bribe?
Expressions like: “I won’t do it if I am not rewarded,” or “Nobody will appreciate me anyway,” or “They should be grateful I did anything at all,” etc, are not just casual expressions. They are mindsets that quietly undermine your capacity to serve.
Service is not always about receiving payment, recognition or applause. Sometimes, it is simply about understanding that your presence, responsibility or contribution can make life easier for someone else. As Martin Luther King Jr. said, “Everybody can be great… because anybody can serve.”
The National Bureau of Statistics’ 2024 corruption survey documented approximately 82 million bribes paid to public officials in Nigeria within 12 months. Behind such numbers is a culture where personal benefit can become more important than public good.
Now, how do you start the change?
- Replace entitlement with responsibility. Instead of asking, “What do I stand to gain?”, ask, “What am I responsible for contributing?” Do your part without waiting for someone to remind you.
- Replace indifference with empathy. “Nobody cares, so why should I?” is a dangerous way to live. Someone else’s need is not an invitation to become careless. Imagine how you would want to be treated in the same situation.
- Replace transactional thinking with purposeful contribution. Give your work, relationships and responsibilities the attention they deserve. Not everything valuable comes with immediate compensation.
Excellent service attitude begins when you stop calculating personal gain at every opportunity and begin measuring the value of our contribution.
Your character is revealed not only by what you do for a reward, but also by what you do because it is right.
Enjoy the rest of your week.
This is Mind Your Character with Bosede Olusola-Obasa. I’m Character Development Trainer, Corporate Culture Strategist and Best Service Attitude Advisor.
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