The value of your company is influenced by numerous factors, with a key determinant being its ability to thrive in your absence. Achieving owner-like effort from your team is essential for sustaining business success, and this can be realized by fostering a vibrant and engaging culture within your organization.

Here are three strategies to instill a sense of shared commitment among your employees:

  1. Cast Your Employees as Stars in a “David vs. Goliath” Movie

In 2008, Gavin Hammar initiated Sendible, a platform streamlining social media account management for companies. After facing a sales plateau in 2016 due to a formidable competitor entering the market, Hammar took a transparent approach with his team. He presented the challenge as an “us-against-the-world” scenario, urging employees to embrace the underdog role. Hammar personally led the charge by portraying the company as smaller, initiating a podcast, sharing employee stories online, and personally engaging with customers.

This approach humanized the company, resulting in renewed growth. By 2021, Sendible flourished, leading to a lucrative acquisition offer from ASG.

  1. Provide Unrivaled Perks

Natalie and Chris Nagele, the partners behind SaaS company Postmark, prioritized creating an exceptional workplace culture. Opting for self-funding over external investment pressures, the Nageles sought innovative ways to inspire their staff. Natalie’s research led to the implementation of a four-day workweek, contributing to a healthier workplace culture. This decision, made without external constraints, fueled consistent growth for Postmark until its life-changing exit in 2022.

  1. Gamify Your Business

Josh Davis, founder of freight brokering company Speedee Transport, gamified the focus on gross margin – the core metric in the freight brokering industry. Davis created quoting software with a virtual gross margin scoreboard, providing employees with a transparent, daily tracking system. Tying employee compensation to gross margin created a competitive yet healthy culture. Within two years, Speedee Transport’s workforce grew from two to forty-five employees, attracting the attention of an acquiring entity in 2019.

In Conclusion

The key to building a valuable company lies in cultivating owner-like effort from your employees. This is achieved by instilling a sense of shared mission and creating a work environment that brings out the best in each team member. These strategies not only enhance employee commitment but also contribute to the overall success and value of the organization.

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