Small gestures make all the difference

Want to be trusted, tell the truth. Wear your best smile, it costs nothing.
If you tell the truth you don't need to remember anything.

Interesting and amusing sayings, are these. And they are not something I
picked off the net. These are just some of the sayings on posters plastered all
over the Mumbai office of Orient Technologies, a modest solution providing
company.

What struck me was that these sayings were somehow reflecting in the
effervescent attitude of the people working in the office. Most of the employees
were young and they seemed to epitomize the sayings themselves. And they seemed
to be happy working with Orient.

Vinita Bhatia

When quizzed about the reason for putting these posters on every possible
wall of the organization, Divya Jain, Director-Marketing, Orient Technologies
said that this is one of the various initiatives the company has undertaken to
boost the morale. Also, by displaying them prominently, it beams across the
company's ideology and beliefs to any visitor-be it a customer, seller or an
incumbent employee.

This may look like a very simplistic thing to do and it indeed is. But such
simple steps can go a long way to a correct image about a company and build
employee confidence.

How often is it that we bother about building a brand image with our internal
customers-our employees-in the course of profit making? Is this aspect of
business branding not important?

Of course, it is. But it is very rarely that this is voiced well by a
company's head honchos. This does not mean that you have to come up with a
waterproof strategy of the correct positioning of the company. It also does not
call for heavy investments. Instead you can rely on smaller gestures, which will
probably cost you nothing, but will reap you good rewards.

How about insisting that your employees dress appropriately, with the men
sporting ties and the women in neat attire and hair neatly tied up? This could
reflect that your company does not believe in sloppiness in any aspect, be it
for the staff or for the customers.

How about ensuring that workplaces are kept clean always without papers
strewn all over the place? This could mean that your company does not like
clutter and believes in clearing all issues promptly, in the office and at the
client's end.

How about enforcing that your people adhere to timings religiously and not
just for coming to the office? It should extend to them having their meals on
time on the premises and leaving the office, without people staying back late.
This could mean that your company appreciates time management and does not
believe in over working its people to meet client deadlines.

How about setting aside a couple of hours every week to impart soft selling
or lifestyle management skills to your staff? It could mean that you are
empowering them to become better people and work harder.

There are many similar small steps you can take to make the people in your
company become more professional in their outlook and bind them closer to you.
Merely sending them for high-priced trainings or giving hefty packages is not
enough.

You have to draw them into your fold, make them feel proud of working with
you and they in turn will go to your customers with a true sense of ownership.
And your clients, when they see your people truly believing in your goals and
objectives, will be compelled to believe you in turn.

Think about it.