Employees First. Customers Second. More Proof!
After an hour of listening to Usher, Lady Gaga, Flo Rida, and Jay-Z, I unplugged the MP3 Player and tuned to News Radio.
45 minutes later I learned that the Middle East continues to erupt in craziness, 90% of people with the last name Washington are African American/Black, and employees are the best thing about three companies in the NYC listening area. The last point excited me the most.
I’m an advocate for the employee. I believe that a customer experience will be terrible unless you provide an employee experience like no other. I believe that ongoing training, professional development, mentoring, taking an interest in their work, providing interesting and challenging work, and open communication with employees will deliver you the happiest employees and customers. I also know that too many organizations forgot about these things over the last few years as the economy went into the crapper.
But how odd was it that the three commercials for three different businesses talked about “our people”; how the “best thing about our company is our people” or “our people make the difference.” Three different businesses; all within a 45 minute period? It might get you wondering if they all hired the same PR/Marketing firm.
Make no mistake ,it IS your people that make the decision for me and others as to whether we buy from you.
- An investment in them is an investment in your business.
- Communicate with them. Better to talk with them than have them talk about you.
- Laugh with them. Cohesive teams laugh at the chaos and craziness of ther workplace.
- Ask them if their work is challenging? Meaningful? If it is not, work with them to change that.
And heck, why not………..buy some ad space somewhere where you can shout how great they are.
