The Abby Way culture has certainly evolved over the years and I’ve been fortunate to have witnessed its evolution. Starting out almost 10 years ago, there wasn’t yet a name for it but I certainly felt its presence. Having our CEO’s mother working in the office made a major impact on its development and rightfully so. She’s the one that really captured the concept of this way of life here. It was first and foremost Gail’s Way.
The Abby Way is not just a mindset however, it does start there. It includes the behavior that follows this way of thinking. Without this consciousness, there is no plan to action. Acquiring this intention is the first step at being able to embody an ethos where you as a person can align yourself with our company’s values (excellence, integrity, inclusiveness, unity, growth, and passion). And, we take those values seriously.
If you’re looking for a positive change within your business culture, try these well-practiced and proven tips! Trust me, they really work.
Make Others Feel Welcome
Just about everyone knows what it feels like to transition from one job to another. Leaving behind a familiar job is both exhilarating and equally frightening,…well, depending on the situation you’re departing from that is. I can tell you that when I walked into Abby Connect’s headquarters 9 years ago, I felt that pull between feeling elated and fearsome.
I needed a job and all the hunting I’d been doing was looking rather grim. Yet, I was excited knowing that somehow I would be okay here. I’m what you call an “eternal optimist”. Little did I realize at the time though, even as an optimist, that this job would be much better than just okay.
Walking into the lobby, a vibrant woman in brilliant fashion and with an exuberant attitude to match greeted me. Her smile was genuine and her voice kind. I felt my nervousness melt away. This moment would mark the beginning of my amazing journey.
Gradually over time, Gail’s warm and serene personality, the same one that greeted me all those years ago and still radiates within our office to this day, would filter itself throughout our company’s way of life.
Have And Practice Values
Companies with values help their employees understand what kind of culture and working environment to both expect and live up to. Our core values help support our vision, our mission, and, you guessed it, they even helped cultivate our company culture. For a long time, we were functioning without clear values. We had them but they weren’t defined yet. Embodying these shared beliefs and getting our employees to advocate for them was how we became unified.
Maintain a Growth Mindset
If you feel happy, content, and confident in the things you’re currently doing, that’s great. Keep doing what you’re doing. And, if you should choose to apply for employment with us, the more power to you. If you’re happy then Abby is happy. For those of you who want to grow their skills and abilities, we offer that here too.
Recently our department leaders had a team-building discussion. And, in that discussion, our guest speaker asked everyone present at the table if they were still in the position they had originally started in. Three out of the thirteen people raised their hands. That’s less than a quarter of the entire group. Mind you, two of those people had started their positions with us within this past year. This is solid evidence that the growth of a company shouldn’t stop with its sales margin. It should live on in its people.
The best part? Our opinions and ideas are valued by our CEO. Having solutions and innovative ideas has helped our business grow. Which then, in turn, has helped our people grow too. Both personally and professionally.
Be Generous
I love to give. We love to give. And, Abby Connect has always been generous to us. Over the last 8 years, it seems to have exploded along with our core value, growth.
Being generous can look different for everyone, but in my experience, I’ve seen our people go above and beyond with their generosity. From sending a client a heart monitor for their upcoming race, puppy training treats for a client’s new fur-kid, or even my own baby showers to welcome my bundles of joy into this world. And, by the way, I have two amazing children. So, I got to receive this gift twice.
Did you know that when you do something nice for someone else there is a chemical in your brain that is released to make you feel good too? It’s called oxytocin, also known as “the cuddle hormone”. You literally get a high from giving to others which, confirms the old saying “You get what you give.”
Being generous goes a long way and many times it doesn’t even have to involve a financial commitment. For example, compliments go a long way. Recognition and praise go even farther. Incorporating a recognition platform for your business, like Kudos, gives your people a place to share their generosity with their words. We just so happen to use Kudos at Abby Connect and we highly recommend it.
Strive For Excellence
Being perfect is overrated. And it’s impossible, by the way. Plus, it often leads to disappointment and negativity. There is no room for that kind of energy at Abby Connect. It only leads to a vicious and unforgiving cycle.
While we welcome mistakes through our growth opportunities we always strive for excellence. To me, being excellent means giving it your all. Putting 100% into everything that you do makes all the difference. No one likes it when you just put your foot in the door. People want your commitment. Striving for excellence means that you feel good and even proud of what you’ve committed to in order to make your goals a reality. Working towards and reaching your goals are superb examples of excellence. And, as you read at the beginning of this article, it’s no coincidence that “excellence” is also one of our core values.
All these actions listed are crucial to our success. The Abby Way mentality shapes who we are as people. To consider others, whether it’s by opening someone’s door, delivering compliments, giving well-wishes, and rewarding others with relevant and appropriate gifts, they are all apart of living the Abby Way lifestyle. And, it goes without saying that we LOVE to live this lifestyle.
We go out of our way to make others feel special and cared for. We actually have an entire department devoted to this. And, while you may or may not have the workforce or tons of funding to do this too, the little things add up to create a big impact.
Now, you have the tips to create a company culture that really works. So, get out there and set the tone for your company’s lifestyle!
