Internal politics is detrimental to brands. Sounds like a business cliché. But brands struggling with internal politics — geography, silos, command and control, accountability, responsibility and leadership — can lose sight of their real goal: developing and consistently delivering relevant, differentiated, trustworthy experiences that customers value.
International hiring has moved beyond being primarily a cost play. For many companies, it is now a talent strategy. When the people you need are not in your city, you look beyond the city. When they are not in your country, you look beyond the border.
There is a moment in many employee-owned companies when the story sounds complete. “We are employee-owned.” It is a powerful statement. It signals commitment. It suggests accountability. It tells customers, partners, and prospective employees that the people inside the business have something personal at stake.
The invocation of values is a hallmark of enterprise positioning. Yet on its own, a values statement means very little — and can actually do harm to a brand’s reputation and thus its worth. Without an ethos of integrity, the values statement is a mere device, not a system — instead of a way for an organization and its stakeholders to connect — instead of serving as the driver of product or service design and...
Just notice something. Think of a team you’ve been part of. Or maybe the one you’re in right now. And ask yourself, honestly: does it feel clear? Not organized. Not busy. But clear.
