Jenny Biggam, co-founder of independent media agency the7stars says she trusts her team. So much so that she’s willing to stake everything on it.
In Stylist magazine, Biggam “explains how ditching the rule book and giving her staff the freedom to work when they want, how they want has led to her company not only becoming hugely profitable (by saving time and money on admin) but also one of the best places to work for in the UK, with perennially happy employees.”
Most entrepreneurs understand the value of trust building and how it correlates with their bottom line.
Harvard Business Reviews’ Carolyn O’Hara explains: “Trust is often talked about as the bedrock of a company’s success. Most people think about the issue in terms of customers: They have to believe in you and your products and services. But trust within the organization is just as important: Your employees must believe in each other.” More importantly, employees must believe in you.
Four of the seven unconventional ways Biggam trusts her staff includes:
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Unlimited paid holiday – Her staff is trusted to take as much or little as they need
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No job titles – Employees are encouraged to be individuals and contribute their skills to shape the company
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Flexible working hours – This also includes work from home options
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Hot-desking – Her team can choose where in the office they want to work
Does their unconventional company culture actually work?
She asserts that trusting staff and treating them as grown-ups has been good for business.
The agency “came third in the Sunday Times‘ best small companies to work for. Clients increasingly notice and care about awards like these – it was a factor in us winning a big piece of business recently. What I’m most pleased about however is our high staff retention rate – our grads and apprentices stay with us for years,” says Biggam.
YFS Magazine contributor Dominic Tarn says results speak for themselves. “As we’ve found, the result of creating a strong company culture will be happier customers, who will spread the word about your brand, which is exactly what you need when trying to scale and grow.”
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