As a successful leader in the electronic security industry, we are fortunate enough to have received awards and recognition for growth, customer service, and innovative business practices. While we are honored to receive numerous industry awards, one award we don’t submit for is Community Service. That’s not to say that we’re not making community service a priority. In fact, giving back to the communities we live and work in is engrained in who we are as a company. I just believe that we shouldn’t be submitting for awards that recognize a business for their community service initiatives because ultimately, we should be giving back in order to better our communities, not so we can hang a plaque on a wall or add another trophy to our collection.

As a company, we give back on a company-wide level, on a branch level, and individually on our own time. Because the products and solutions we sell help to protect our customers, neighbors, and families from harm, we make it a priority to help create stronger and safer communities through our community service initiatives. The fact that we don’t submit for or win numerous community service awards has never stopped us from giving back. We’ve won community service awards in the past, but the act of winning has never been a motivator. As a team, the time we donate and the “feel good” experience we have when we give back is an award all on its own. We certainly don’t need the recognition and coveted community service awards from industry publications and companies to justify our efforts.

I’ve always thought that if we are doing community service and giving back for the right reason, we probably shouldn’t tell anyone we’re doing it anyway. In fact, as I’m writing this blog, I’m feeling guilty because the individuals we should be recognizing and giving awards for their “community service” put their lives on the line every day. And we all know they aren’t looking for recognition or an award. They do what they do because they care about our communities and keeping people safe.

Sure, receiving recognition or an award for community service can generate some good publicity around your company, but if you’re depending on that publicity to generate more business, gain another lead, or make another sale, you’re going against your civic responsibility as an organization to give back to your local communities because it’s the right thing to do, and that should be enough!

As a company and as individuals, we should be paying it forward without expecting a pat on the back, public recognition or an award. Community service shouldn’t be about our benefit; it should be about making our local communities safer and stronger.