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Deep-rooted Passion Towards Customer Orientation
Entrepreneurial employees, especially in the B2C space – but not fundamentally exclusive – love their customers. These employees assume personal responsibility for representing the entire organization in each and every interaction with clients. They go out of their way for their clients, even if there is no repercussion for not doing so, because of a deep-rooted passion to serve, and provide value.
At a recent stop at a gas station, I experienced a problem pumping fuel. Inman, the attendant on duty, identified both me and the problem, came to my station, pumped my fuel, made eye contact, explained the situation, shook my hand, apologized for the inconvenience, and urged me to return to Valero. The quality level of service took me aback. To my surprise, Inman was not the owner of the station; he was a gas attendant. He received no direct reward for providing me with extraordinary service, as it is not his business.
But Inman is an entrepreneurial employee, and because of his customer orientation, I eagerly return to that gas station to ensure that Inman is compensated not only by me, but also by his superiors. Inman, like many entrepreneurial employees, makes a difference at a company-wide level, all through treating customers as if he was the owner.
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Excitement to Serve as a Brand Ambassador
Personal branding has evolved from a dull chore to an enjoyable activity. Individuals are constantly contributing to that brand each day, both online and off. Startup founders and team members take that opportunity to provide exposure for their burgeoning brands. Nonetheless, many corporate employees miss the same opportunity.
Through social media usage, entrepreneurial employees can drive organic impressions from their personal network to the company. It does not take much to link a personal brand with an organization, and begin to serve as a brand ambassador. LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter can serve as simple launching points to inform peers and those connected to us about what we are doing, and why we are doing it. They can position themselves in micro-markets as the resource for that particular industry.
Not surprisingly, this concerted branding contributes to lead generation, efficiency identification, and customer orientation. Many companies find this process not only rewarding, but exciting, and work with employees – through promotional items, giveaways, and company ‘perks’ – to support the ambassadorship.
Entrepreneurial employees are the building blocks necessary for an organization’s success. These employees solve problems, and find solutions, and are most valuable to a large organization. When entrepreneurial companies can identify entrepreneurial employees, and they are promoted internally, a company culture is constructed, and innovators can foster a level of growth that is truly remarkable.
This article has been edited and condensed.
At 18, Justin Lafazan is an experienced entrepreneur, consultant, speaker, and forthcoming author. He is the Founder and CEO of S4S College Advisory, a higher ed. consulting group, and Millennial Marketing Strategy, a full-service digital marketing agency. Justin deferred his admission to Wharton to pursue his projects. To find out more, including how to get in contact, please visit JustinLafazan.com, or follow him on Twitter at @justinlafazan.
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