What does it take to create a business that is truly centered around people? How do you ensure that your customers and employees are always your top priority? In this guide, we’re covering everything you need to know about creating a people-centered business.
Focus on Customers
It all starts with the customer. We all know the old saying, “The customer is always right.” While that might not necessarily be true, it’s important to always keep your customers’ needs and wants in mind.
What are they looking for? How can you make their experience better? You should also constantly be asking for feedback so that you can continue to improve. A company that is focused on its customers will almost always be successful.
According to Chris Gadek, Head of Growth at AdQuick, “If you’re not constantly thinking about how to make your customers’ experience better, you’re not going to be in business for long.”
“A company that struggles in this area needs to take a hard look at its priorities and make sure that customers are always first and foremost.”
What are you doing to make sure your customers are always happy? Are you confident that you’re meeting their needs? If you have even the slightest doubt, it’s time to make some changes.
You might consider offering more customization or personalization, increasing your customer service efforts, or finding new ways to make their experience more convenient.
Karden Rabin, Co-Founder of Chronic Fatigue School adds, “It’s also important to remember that your customers are always changing. What they wanted last year might not be what they want this year. You need to be constantly evolving in order to keep up with them.”
Whatever you do, just make sure that your customers always feel like they’re your top priority.
Make Things Easy for Employees
Your employees are also a huge part of your business. They’re the ones who are actually doing the work and interacting with customers on a daily basis. It’s important to create a work environment that is positive and supportive. Employees should feel like they are valued and appreciated. When they’re happy, they’ll be more productive and engaged, which will lead to better results for your business.
“I make it a point to always be available to my employees,” says Max Schwartzapfel, CMO of Fighting For You. “I want them to feel like they can come to me with any question or concern. I also try to create a relaxed and fun work environment. When employees are happy, it shows in their work.”
There are a few things you can do to make things easier for your employees. You might consider offering flexible work hours, remote work options, or additional training and development opportunities. Whatever you do, just make sure that your employees feel like they are supported.
Encourage Feedback
It’s also important to encourage feedback from both customers and employees. This will give you an idea of what’s working well and what needs to be improved. You can’t make everyone happy all the time, but you should always be open to hearing suggestions and constructive criticism.
“I recommend setting up a system where employees can provide anonymous feedback,” says Scott Annan, CEO of Mycube Safe. “This system has done wonders for our business. It allows employees to speak up without feeling like they’re going to be penalized.”
Do your employees and customers feel like they can give honest feedback without fear of reprisal? If not, you need to make some changes. Encouraging feedback will help you identify problems early so that you can address them quickly.
You might also consider conducting customer surveys or setting up a similar customer feedback system. Doing so will show your team and customers that you’re always looking for ways to improve their experience.
Hire From the Community
When you’re hiring new employees, you might consider hiring from the local community. This shows that you’re invested in the area and that you’re looking to help people who live there. It also helps to build a good relationship with the community, which can benefit your business in many ways.
“I always try to hire from the local community,” says Cody Candee, Founder and CEO of Bounce. “It’s important to me that we give back to the community that has given so much to us. Plus, it’s a great way to find talented and qualified employees.”
If you’re not sure where to start, you can reach out to local schools and universities. You might also consider partnering with a local job placement center.
Invest in Technology
Technology is always changing, and it’s important to stay up-to-date with the latest trends. This doesn’t mean that you need to have the latest and greatest gadgets, but you should at least be using technology that is efficient and effective.
“Technology has proven to be a key asset for our business,” says Brianna Bitton, Co-Founder of O Positiv. “We’ve invested in a few key pieces of technology that have made our lives much easier.
“We use an online scheduling system, which has been a huge time-saver. We also use a customer relationship management [CRM] system, which helps us keep track of our customers and their needs.”
Offer Appealing Benefits
Another way to attract and retain employees is to offer appealing benefits. This might include health insurance, retirement savings plans, paid vacation days, or flexible work schedules. Whatever you offer, just make sure that it’s something that your employees will actually find valuable.
“My employees are very important to me, so I make sure to offer them a comprehensive benefits package,” says Randee Machina, Director of Marketing at Simpli Pleasures. “I want them to know that I’m looking out for their best interests.
“In addition to traditional benefits like health insurance and retirement savings plans, we also offer our employees paid vacation days, flexible work schedules, and tuition reimbursement. These are all things that our employees have told us are important to them.”
Does your business offer appealing benefits? If not, you might want to consider making some changes. Offering competitive benefits is a great way to attract and retain top talent.
And if your goal is to center your business around people, it only makes sense to offer benefits that will improve their lives.
When you show your employees that you’re looking out for their best interests, they’ll be more likely to stick around. And when your employees are happy, your customers will be happy, too.
Build Trust
Make sure you’re building trust with your employees. This includes being honest, transparent, and fair. It also means keeping your promises and following through on your commitments.
“If you want to build trust with your employees, you need to be honest with them,” says Emily Saunders, Chief Revenue Officer at eLuxury. “So often I hear about managers trying to build trust with incentives and other things. But the truth is, if you’re not honest with your employees, they’re not going to trust you.”
In addition to being honest, you also need to be transparent. This means being open about your plans, your decision-making process, and anything else that might be relevant to your employees.
“Transparency isn’t as common as it used to be. These days, it seems like a lot of businesses are trying to keep their employees in the dark. But I believe that’s a mistake,” says Rym Selmi, Founder of MiiRO.
“If you’re not transparent with your employees, they’re going to feel like you’re hiding something from them. And that’s not going to build trust.”
Are your employees confident that you tell them important details about projects and upcoming changes? If not, you might want to be more transparent with your employees. You don’t necessarily have to divulge sensitive company information. But you do need to be open about the things that will affect your employees or make their jobs easier.
Finally, you need to be fair. This means treating your employees equally and fairly, regardless of their position or seniority.
“Everyone knows the world isn’t fair, but I believe that everyone deserves to be treated fairly,” says Fred Gerantabee, Chief Experience Officer at Readers.com. “I’ve found that by doing against the grain and treating my employees fairly, I’ve built a lot of trust.”
Benefits of Building Your Business Around People
There are plenty of benefits to building your business around people. For one, you’re likely to attract and retain employees. You’ll also build trust and transparency, which can lead to a more positive work environment.
You might also find that your employees are more productive and motivated when they feel like they’re part of a team. And finally, you’ll be able to create a business that is truly centered around people, which can be very rewarding.
All of these things can have a positive, profound effect on your business. So if you’re looking to take your business to the next level, consider building it around people. You might just be surprised by the results.
Conclusion
Creating a people-centered business is all about putting your customers and employees first. When you do this, you create a positive work environment and build a strong foundation for success. So start putting your people first today and see how it can help your business grow.
