Lead With Your People In Mind

Barnana is a brand with a great back story who is fulfilling a need in the food industry while addressing a food waste issue. We recently had the opportunity to talk to Matt Clifford, Co-founder of Barnana to talk more in depth about their humble approach to leadership, dedication to their people and how that plays a role in every step the brand takes.

Matt shared the four uncommon truths that leaders should consider.

“Leaders should serve.”
The moment Matt shifted his leadership approach to a more servant one, was in the initial stages of business. One of their sales associates shared they were pregnant and starting a family. “It hit me people are depending on me. Families are being created.” There’s so much more to leadership than simply leading the charge — it is about caring for people, providing support and sometimes putting their needs above your own.

“If you ask a lot of your people you need to give them a lot.”
There’s so much more to business than making money and doing good. Its taking care of people and providing for their wellbeing. It’s appreciating them and keeping people fired up and energized about what they do.

“The experience is all about your people.”
Barana approaches their brand experience from a macro level. “It is more important for us to have a brand experience that’s connected, each touchpoint: common ethos, congruent. It’s all about people. You have to hire the right people that believe what you’re doing. If you do the people thing right, you have an unstoppable Company

“If you want to change, change your people.”
You can’t fake who you are. Embrace your brand. It’s about being real. It’s something you believe. Everyone on your team needs to have ownership of the product. Consumers are smart they intuitively know when brand is being authentic vs trying to sell them something. Brands are only as creative and authentic as its people are.