Business Philosophy - inspired by Geoffrey James
Average companies build armies of "troops" to order about, see competitors as "enemies," and treat customers as "territory" to be conquered.
We are a relationship-driven company that values teamwork, adapts easily to new markets and can quickly form partnerships with each other, customers and even competitors.
A company is a community, not a machine.
Average companies do not see their employees as people. They create "my way or the highway" environments that are rigid and fear driven.
We see team members as a collection of individual hopes and dreams, all connected to a common purpose. We encourage and inspire employees to celebrate individual, team, company and community success.
Leadership is service, not control.
Average companies want employees to do exactly what they are told. They create condescending "Command and Control" environments where personal initiative is unacceptable.
We value leaders who encourage collaboration, diversity of ideas and provide the proper resources to empower their teams to get the job done. We also value humble and patient leaders over arrogant and ill-tempered ones.
We consider each other as peers regardless of job title.
Average companies treat some employees as inferior to others based on organizational charts.
We treat every employee as if they were the most important person at the bank.
Excellence is expected everywhere, ideas and suggestions from all are encouraged and "the best idea wins." As a result, employees at all levels take charge of their own destinies.
Motivation comes from vision, not from fear.
Average companies use fear as power to motivate. Employees and managers alike become paralyzed, stagnant and unable to be forward thinking and take risks.
We inspire people to see a better future and how they will be part of it. As a result, employees work harder because they believe in our goals, truly enjoy what they are doing and know they'll share in the rewards.
Change equals growth, not pain.
Average companies see change as both complicated and threatening. They delay necessary changes until they are in a desperate situation and it's too late.
We embrace change and see it as an inevitable part of life. We are aware that change is not always easy, but we understand that success is only possible if we all embrace new ideas. It is important for us to work constructively and support each other during change.
Core Values are embraced, they are not just words on a piece of paper.
Average companies talk about the importance of core values, however, management teams at average companies rarely live by them. This leads to the core values becoming a joke for employees.
Our Core Values were developed with input from the Employee Satisfaction Task Force and we expect that every person in every position actively support them. Our Core Values encourage us to act in a manner that "WOWS" others and provide us with the opportunity to guide our actions that allow us to become who we want to be. We take pride in our Core Values and strive to live them each day.
Work should be fun, not mere toil.
Average companies believe people only work for a paycheck and discourage camaraderie, job satisfaction and happiness. They fully expect employees to resent having to work therefore everyone behaves accordingly.
We see work as something that should be enjoyable. We encourage our employees to be happy by embracing their dreams, connecting with teammates and celebrating our successes. It's more than a paycheck; we want our teammates in jobs that can and will make them truly happy.