Posts

Supportive – A Key Cultural Ingredient

/0 Comments/in , , , , /by

Share On Purpose is a place of possibilities. Once we created that bold vision, we set out to be different.

Over the last 9 years, we’ve evolved our business model several times in order to stay true to that vision. That has included changing our leadership team and staffing model. We had to learn to lead differently in order to unleash the potential of our team members. And we had to accept failure in order to build resiliency.

Our “SHARED” culture was defined in 2013 by key staff members (two who are still here), with the “S” standing for “Supportive.” Back then they asked themselves who we were, and this was the first word that came to their mind, followed by hopeful, authentic, resourceful, enthusiastic and driven.

I’m proud that our associates feel supported. Very proud. With a purpose to “Inspire Potential,” I can’t help but pour into our associates. Knowing they feel that way is very satisfying.

For our leadership team, being supportive means giving associates:

  • The mentoring and coaching necessary to achieve their potential. Despite our small size, we invest heavily in each team member personally and passionately.
  • The freedom to find better ways to do things, and the freedom to challenge leadership. We believe they are smart enough to self-manage and what they lack in experience can be made up for in passion and commitment.
  • A model of authenticity to use as a path to success.

We have big aspirations for the portfolio and the team. The support we offer each other is worth the effort. We know that personal growth requires frequent nurturing, which is why being supportive is a core cultural value.

Here’s what a few of our core team members have to say:

“A key component of my successful venture to the field of marketing and client services through my current role has definitely been the level of support I’ve received from all layers of the company. Everyone, from the CEO to our Engagement Coordinators, is constantly sharing best practices, tools, and insights into the most effective ways to achieve our objectives. This level of ongoing support makes for a highly stimulating and rewarding work culture.” -Gerardo Osorio, Director of Client Operations

“I don’t know if there is a company out there that listens more than the people at Share. With our transparent and supportive culture, there is always someone willing to listen to what you have to say. You can also expect their honest feedback and genuine encouragement. I feel that everyone at the company always wants the best for each individual and their career. They are willing to make personal sacrifices if it means someone else can benefit. I truly think Share is a one-of-a-kind company.” – Cailey Kidman, Engagement Coordinator

“The leadership is committed to supporting the team. They take the time to understand the needs of each individual so they can encourage personal and professional development. I’ve personally experienced growth and witnessed it in the team.” – Stephanie Renna, Talent Manager

If you’re looking for a supportive leadership team to help you grow, check out our available positions and find the right one for you.

Performance and Personal Brand: Making the Connection

/0 Comments/in , , , , , /by

Everyone has a set of philosophies that determine how they view life, relate to others and show up to pursue success and personal fulfillment. Share On Purpose CEO, Terri Maxwell, defines this as a personal brand standard. Many people may not be aware of this on a conscious level but for Pam Abrahamsson, PR Executive at Promote On Purpose, it’s as clear as day.

“For me, it’s service first. I’m fortunate to do the work I do and help other people succeed. A key part of my brand is using the knowledge I’ve gained along the way to ensure success for other people’s dreams and ideas. That’s my mantra; service first.”

A true professional, Pam sees the needs of her clients as a driving force to enable her to tap into her passion to win. It also helps her prepare adequately for success and persevere through whatever obstacles may stand in the way of getting results. She recalls a pivotal moment in her career when she learned this vital lesson that still influences her work today.

Developing the Passion to Win

“I had an early aha moment that helped me crystallize these ideas,” said Pam. “It was my first agency job, and I had a client who had a problem. I had no idea what to do, so I threw my hands up in the air, ran to my manager and said: “What do we do?”  She turned to me and simply asked, “What would you do?”

According to Pam, this simple exchange was crucial in developing her problem-solving skills that ultimately drives her performance at work to this day. With a strong passion for winning, she now sees problems—no matter how thorny—as an opportunity for big wins and improved team performance. “It made me realize that I’m responsible for the solution, for handling what comes across my desk and also for my team’s wellbeing. It’s what I love about being at Share On Purpose today because everyone is committed to performance. I love that this company is built on the fact that everyone has a role to play and performance can’t happen unless everyone shows up and handles their role with excellence.”

She believes that having what she calls a 360-degree mindset is crucial for ensuring performance across the board. “Everyone has a specific role that’s part of a larger effort and knowing how you fit into the bigger picture will help you determine how to perform your role better to elevate the team’s results.”

Ethics and Integrity

Stories are at the heart of Pam’s field of Public Relations and knowing the power of perspective to shift mindsets and influence decisions, she is committed to upholding the ethics of both her profession and her personal standard of excellence. This goes straight to the heart of character as a driving force for performance.

“I need to be ethical in how I tell stories and ensure that my clients and team members are part of that journey. And that’s a part of my personal brand promise—to work with integrity and deliver results in a way that honors my character as a person. I always believe you should look in the mirror. If at the end of the day I can look in the mirror and say that I have given my team, my clients, and my personal ethics my best effort, then I’m going to be just fine.”

Share On Purpose IS a place of possibilities, where GREAT people do great things. Our portfolio of companies thrives due to each employee’s personal commitment to performance.

Do you want to work with a company that values your contributions and encourages you to give your best at work? Check out our available positions.

Together is More

/0 Comments/in , , /by

Over the last few months, I’ve slowly introduced a few of Share’s Guiding Principles. Last month we discussed how to live in the AND while getting more out of life by combining work AND play.

For December, I want to introduce another way to get MORE out of your career. Too often we try to accomplish everything ourselves, and end up taking on more responsibility than is necessary.

As a serial entrepreneur as well as a leader of emerging leaders who are very entrepreneurial, breaking the habit of trying to “go it alone” is paramount. Leaders who do not master the art of collaboration are overworked, or have limited results, or in some cases, both.

Our success at Share On Purpose is in large part because of the principle – Together is More: Collaboration Fuels Quality.

WHAT IS “TOGETHER IS MORE”?

The guiding principle Together Is More, is about collaboration. Collaboration as a discipline is not well understood because the corporate management system by which most professionals started their career, is deeply flawed. In most companies, failure is punished severely, which diminishes the willingness to take calculated risks, and includes an intense focus on individual accountability versus individual and team performance.

This translates into individuals and departments working independently, and in some cases against each other, rather than collaborating to win collectively. This lack of natural collaboration built into the cultural framework impacts productivity and results. It also slowly erodes trust as well as the ability to create a performance culture.

The guiding principle Together is More requires that the executive team model collaboration from the top down, as well as ensuring collaboration occurs throughout the organization. It’s something that’s not just “talked about” but is embedded into the entire management structure, as it is role modeled at all management levels.

WHY COLLABORATION IS KEY TO SUCCESS

Building a performance culture is, in large part, dependent upon the effectiveness of the organization’s ability to collaborate. Establishing a culture that has a foundation of collaboration will have a significant impact on the organization’s effectiveness.

However, it requires a win-win mindset from every level of the organization. For example, the executives and middle management MUST believe:

  • No one can win, unless we all win.
  • When an individual wins, we win as a team.

HOW DO YOU BUILD COLLABORATION INTO YOUR CULTURE?

Collaboration requires authentic leadership, as well as a commitment to win-win relationships between employees and managers, and the company and its contractors.

Beyond the commitment to strive for the “win-win,” the basis of all performance cultures is what I call “authentic leadership.”  Although there are 5 tenets of authentic leadership, one is particularly important in building collaboration into the cultural fabric – Assume Positive Intent. Leaders who are authentic have not only mastered a win-win mindset, but usually do so through mastering the ability to “assume positive intent.”

If we assume positive intent, the mind will begin to expect only positive outcomes in relationships. If someone still gets upset, hurts you, or takes advantage of you, it usually has nothing to do with your actions.

To do this means to assume the other person/entity/group meant well, even if we don’t agree with their actions or ideas. We then in turn, look for positive intent. When you enter any interaction assuming positive intent from the other party, relationships will improve.

No one really sets out to purposefully hurt us. People are just wrestling with their own issues. So, if you assume positive intent, you’ll find that most people rise to the expectation, and when they don’t, know they are doing the best they can and their reaction has little to do with you.

This is a powerful leadership lesson that facilitates a culture of collaboration, and supports a performance culture. I am grateful that our top executives model this attribute and have adopted a collaboration mindset.

If a place that has an authentic collaboration among all of its team members sounds like a place you would want to work for, consider applying for one of our open positions.