Last version published: 07/09/2018 15:27
Publication number: ELQ-78796-2
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How to Make People Come First And Succeed In Business
7 Keys To Making People First And Winning In Business
Introduction
Just as national cultures influence and shape a country, so does the startup culture set by founder strategy drive the future of a new venture. In top current companies, such as Google, Apple, and Netflix, cultural strategies that include greater employee freedom and fostering creativity are the norm. I believe this new focus on culture is a key to startup success today.
Thus creating the right company culture must be a top priority of every entrepreneur and business leader. Simply speaking, culture-driven businesses put their people first, and people make the business, rather than the other way around. Today’s business mantra must be “Take care of your people and they will take care of your business.” Unfortunately, it’s easier said than done.
Most startups are created by one or two entrepreneurial founders, with a vision and focus on developing an innovative solution, rather than on developing people. They are so immersed in their mission and their own ideas, that they find it hard to change their focus to nurturing new employees, and making sure the people have the same passion and motivation for the solution.
In fact, most see a more direct relationship between customers and their business success, so employee focus by default will end up in third place. Once this product-first, customer-second, and employee-last culture is set, it is extremely hard to change. Thus, in my advisory role to new businesses, I recommend a seven-step approach for setting the right culture from the start:
- Step n°1 |
Communicate clear direction and values daily from the top.
Employees need to see and understand the “why,” before they can buy in to what they need to do. These days, more than ever, the “why” needs to be a win-win for them, and for the greater community as a whole. Only then can they stay motivated and make the decisions you need to win.
- Step n°2 |
Clearly define individual roles, and what you expect of them.
Every team member needs to understand and be rewarded for the desired attributes, competencies, and results you need. It’s easy to see how cultures go astray, for example, when you pay only for sales volume, but expect a high focus on customer satisfaction.
