The way you run your company will determine the longevity of it.
Sounds simple when spoken aloud, but when it comes to the actual nitty-gritty of it, it’s not as simple as it seems.
The reason for this is not just due to the amount of sales you make, how much your clients love you as a founder or how popular you may have become on social media, but it mainly comes down to how your staff are growing, thriving and working within the business.
Many businesses take for granted the importance of staff development.
Recently on a podcast interview with our Practice Manager and HR director, Julie, she stipulated that many business owners often get so caught up in the growth of the business and sticking to the vision, that they can forget about the personal and professional development of their staff.
At Nephos Group, one of our main driving forces within the business is ensuring that employees grow alongside the business, feel valued, heard and have the opportunities to flow into roles that suit their drivers and desires.
This is not to say that Nephos happily encourages non-qualified accountants to take on an accountancy role due to their passion for numbers, but we encourage them to take the career seriously and support them during their studies through mentorship and shadowing, before releasing them into the accounting world.
Even Julie, our HR Director, started her Nephos Group career as my (Joe David) PA and highlighted her passion for people management and HR, and we supported her in taking that career path and developing her skills to achieve these professional goals.
Workplace culture is something many business founders will harp on about, but more often than not, it’s not something you see employees talk highly of, because the actions of the founder are speaking louder than the words spoken.
At Nephos, we believe in removing the element of hierarchy within the business.
That’s not to say that when myself or the COO needs to step up into that role, we don’t take it seriously, it just means that no matter the level, qualification or skill set, everyone within the team works with each other, sits with each other and supports each other.
Julie states within the podcast that if you want your business to grow and you’re looking to achieve all the big audacious goals, you have to ensure to bring everyone else along on the journey with you.
If the team buys in, then the business is set to win.
Communication is key here, to ensure everyone also has their say and the opportunity to speak for themselves.
It’s not just about having a pool table or a snack cupboard, or offering days to work from home, it’s about ensuring everyone is along for the ride, is aware of the goals, and knows how they fit into the piece of the puzzle, including the importance of their role.
We finalise the podcast with Julie’s three takeaways when scaling a business that business owners and founders need to take into consideration.
First up:
Staff Development.
This means understanding what each individual wants to achieve & building a relationship of trust and encouragement to get them there.
Next:
Communication.
This includes ensuring your team is aware of each step you’re taking in the business, asking for feedback & listening.
Last but not least:
Recognition.
Recognise people for their hard work. From the smallest email or message thanking them for their hard work or congratulating them on what they achieved, a little goes a long way.
If you want to build a business that lasts, you have to think and act further than the end of your own nose.
