Make It About Them, Not About You!
How to put your people first.
In our office, the importance of ‘people’ is palpable. Not just because it’s the in thing to do these days — when we say we care, we REALLY care! I’m so passionate about people because ultimately, business is not a personal crusade, it’s a team effort where we all win by working together. The importance of people is never more prevalent than when you’re out to challenge an industry and as that’s often our agenda, people are very much our secret weapon.
“If you look after the people, the people will look after the product, and the product will look after the profits.” Ben Horowitz
With that perspective, there are many lessons we can draw from corporate Britain. It’s a world where politics and egos reign supreme — often getting in the way of those around you, stifling change and inhibiting the road to the common goal. Aka, exactly what we want to avoid… Considering the entire journey of an individual with us, we’ve found many moments to take advantage of these observations and enhance the relationship.
1. Hiring
We’ve always been focused on creating a hiring process that works for the candidate, we’re not there to catch them out but rather to help them shine. We want to see interviewee’s wow us with their brilliance and by facilitating that, we hire the best — not just those that can navigate a cover letter! There’s always huge emphasis on making it a two way process because the way we see it, it’s as much about us impressing them and inspiring them to join us as it is the other way around. After all, it’s the businesses with the best people that wins. Too often I’ve seen businesses control the hiring process to a point where it becomes so much of a process that there’s no room to get to know the individual in front of you.
2. Support
Managing someone isn’t the same as supporting them and in fact, the two are very different. Managing is concerned with the here and now, the job at hand and only cares about the hours between 9 and 5. Supporting a team member is about the whole person so whether it be work or play, looking after the individual as a whole is a must — especially when we want to get the best out of them. Creating an environment that’s right for your team is the priority, getting a corner office or the biggest desk isn’t what it’s all about!
3. Development
The problem with ego’s is that they often get in the way of putting others first. As such, when it comes to personal progression and development we try to ensure that our decision making is governed by those around us and not by our own personal agendas. Helping others to achieve their goals ensures they want to help us achieve ours. Understanding what motivates your team is key and by creating purpose for each and every member of your team, you’re allowing your organisation to achieve internal happiness.
4. Leadership
Any effective ‘people first’ outlook has to start somewhere and our belief is that it should start at the top. Set the tone, be self sacrificing and show those around you that you genuinely care about them as an individual, not as competition or a cog in a machine. When this is done effectively, it breeds and spreads throughout an organisation influencing at every level. This, in turn, fosters an engaged and supportive atmosphere where everyone thrives (or dies) together. Action trumps any speech or strategy, so be the one to show others how it’s done!
“Everybody has their own private Mount Everest they were put on this earth to climb”. Hugh Macleod
Here’s to being people who help others on their way.
Thanks to @bethanymanning
