True Stories from the “Feat on the Street” Part II
Part II: The Personal & Business Success Brought on by Working in a “Trusted” Environment
(part of a series of real work experiences, “Feat on the Street. Part I Sales Calls after Sales Training)
Today’s Challenging Environment
In the business world today, many companies are struggling. There are numerous challenges that hold them back: the current financial situation, managing people and risk, reducing costs while improving revenue, Etc. On top of that, one of the biggest challenges companies face is how to build the right environment to maximize the performance of their people.
And, if your people are performing at their peak, in the right environment, wouldn’t it help drive business and make it easier on you as a manager?
When employees work in the right environment, things get done faster, the employees feel important, undue stress is relieved, the clients feel more comfortable in doing business with the company, stronger internal and external relationships are built …this all leads to better business results.
What is one thing that makes a big difference? What helps build the right environment?
As Steven MR Covey says, trust is “the one thing that changes everything.”
An Environment for Success: a Trusted Environment
I spent 13 spectacular years working at a great company: Anixter. Anixter (AXE: NYSE) is a multi billion dollar, value added distributor of electrical and telecommunications components. You may or may not have heard of Anixter, as their business is not as sexy as Google or Apple’s, however, they have performed consistently and spectacularly throughout the years. There are numerous reasons for this; great leaders, running a smart and prudent business, staying low key and conservative, and more…
Why have they been so successful? It is partially attributed to the work environemnt; an environment of trust.
Some examples:
A flat organization: little to no arrogance
Complete transparency: open books and communication
Empowerment
Delegation: Trusting that the job will get done
Honesty
Collaboration: teams, managers, everyone works together to get the job done
Focus on short, medium and long term results (vs short term only)
Less paperwork and no employee contracts
No micro-management
and more…
There was always an overall attitude of “If you are capable of running your personal life and personal business, you can run and manage a professional business.”
And the record goes to show.
The results are great. Employee retainment is superb (many of my ex-colleagues have 30+ years of tenure and many left and have some back) and people are happy and therfore performing.
How can you instill trust? There are principles that can be followed and, yes, it can be taught.
Bottom line is your work environment directly affects performance. If you can improve upon your work environment through trust and personal relationships, performance will follow naturally.
Trip Allen, Team Egyii, Singapore
Tags: Trust, Work Environment
