If you have interacted
with the recently launched Samsung Galaxy S4, you can’t stop admiring its
unique features. However the message and philosophy accompanying the smart
phone is of more importance here and it all starts with its slogan “Life’s
companion”. According to Samsung, it is a phone that simplifies life and even
helps one check their weight and keep proper health balance. Specifically the
company states in its website that the Galaxy S4 was “Developed to redefine the
way we live, the Galaxy S4 makes every moment of our life meaningful. It
understands the value of relationships, enables true connections with friends
and family, and believes in the importance of effortless experience”.
Well I have been reading
Jim Ware’s book “Investment Leadership: Building a Winning Culture for Long-term
Success” that confirmed the vision and strategy of firms like Samsung. The book
discusses the need for corporate organizations and corporate leaders to have a
clear vision that goes beyond profits, a mission that has people as its
motivation and a culture that is informed by the company’s values and unique
attributes. Although the book is focused on the investment industry, I believe
that private companies, public entities, partnerships, state ministries and
departments, community organizations, churches among others can learn great
lessons on the important basics for building a winning culture for long-term
success. Remember that the emphasis is not just on success, but on sustainable
and long-term success that outlives the people currently running the
organization.
Companies and
organisations that have an active vision and mission of their desired
destination and keep working towards this vision, are more likely to have
long-term success. The government has a development blue print – Vision 2030. County
governments are also expected to develop economic blue prints. However it not a
question of just having well written visions but are they living in the hearts
and minds of all stakeholders.
In the corporate scene a
common example is Equity Bank whose main vision is to provide banking services
to the poorest of the poorest in Kenya and now the bank is implementing the
same vision across Africa. You wouldn’t be surprised to meet an elderly lady at
Equity bank seeking financial services because that’s Equity for you. So it is
not just about having a vision in corporate marketing materials but the vision
must be alive, it must speak every single day that an organization is in
existence and building innovation in line with the vision.
The greatest lesson Jim Ware
offers is that a vision must not be about money and profits, but about people.
Jim interestingly observes that profits follow organisations that have a
larger-than-profit vision. Listen to a CEO as he/she announces the full year
results. Is the announcement just about profits or about the innovative
products that have transformed customer’s lives?
The other most important
lesson is the fact that all directors, managers and employees in the firm
should have the vision at their finger tips. Once a customer enters the
reception area the impact of the vision and the firm’s core values should be
evident. Employees should be alive to the vision and be committed to achieve it
whether they have a big, small or no title at all.
Lastly, for today, Jim
shares on values and culture. He states that it is important for firms to have
values that are not just well stated technical words like, integrity, efficiency
and so on. These words do not communicate the values of an organization. Each
stated value should be accompanied by an explanation in a language that is easy
to read and understand.
For instance a firm can
expand its commitment to customer service as follows, “Customer Service – at Kip Limited, we are committed to provide our
clients with the right information at the right time to enable them make the
best decisions for their family’s financial future. We shall listen more than
we speak and therefore respond to all written and oral questions and complaints
within 24 hours. We shall keep our client’s updated on the status of their
account. We shall speak to clients with respect”. By reading this, a client
going to Kip Limited knows the kind of service expected.
I encourage leaders across
all sectors of our nation to build organizations with a living vision and
mission statement and establish a value based culture to achieve long-term success.
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