Employee's Trust, Brand Loyalty earned or bought?
So its a new year and lot of people have lot of expectations and many had set goals some might have even tagged them "Resolution". Its not bad having a new year resolution but have you thought of having a life resolution?
Exactly 11:49 pm of 31st December i woke up from a long rest i was forced into by my tired body due to sleepless nights and restless days working on my PC, few hours before then, i had planned to review my life goal and scribble down my year goals. Unknown to me that nature's call would come seeking.
Now fully awake, i pondered, flipped my dairies and punched my PC searching for notes i must have saved for the purpose of putting together my new year goal. I stumbled on a feedback i had earlier asked the last intern in my organization to write for me. i had slipped it into my dairy to read it later but later never came until four months later now... (31st December).
Alexa is a foreigner who stumbled on my profile on Facebook and since then followed my thoughts pattern and buzzed me up after 7 months of following me up that she wanted to learn under my tutelage, i never responded until after 6 days due to the many message i get each day and my very busy schedule but, i finally responded and she told me how has been an ardent follower of mine and told me about lessons she had learnt from all my posts.
She mention that she would love to visit Nigeria, Africa for the first time in her life to work with me and learn under my tutelage. I felt it was just the normal flattering comments i get from people online. We ended the chat, few hours later she called my phone after getting my contact from one of my post on Facebook. She told me she had informed her parents and they were okay with her coming to Africa provided they are sure of her safety and they needed to speak to me.
After few minutes on the phone with her, i grudgingly agreed to speak to her parents over the phone and their first question was; how old are you son? i answered telling them my age and they seek to inquire where i schooled, what business school i had attended. i was dumbfounded, but i answered the question and they apologized by saying they were on my Timeline on Facebook and they have been on it for a while now, my posts and everything about the way i project my thoughts made them seek to know if i was that young and where i have acquired such knowledge.
Cutting the story short, Alexa arrived Nigeria, Africa. I went to the airport to pick her with a friends car because i don't have one. She hugged me closely for 5 to 7mins and whispered into my ears, thank you for accepting to have me in Nigeria.
We strolled into my office on Sunday evening , i needed to show her around before Monday. she asked lots of questions and read all the quotes i had on the wall. She sat on my seat and asked where she would seat when she resumes work. I pointed to a seat opposite me, she gave a big smile, stood up and re-positioned her soon to be chair close to mine. telling me she traveled this far to learn everything i know.
She resumed as my intern and i linked her with everyone in the office to learn more about Nigeria and our business model. she learnt a whole lot, followed me to meetings and even went through my 'Business Ideas Journal".
It was time for her to return and she wanted more time but was grateful for the opportunity given and all she learnt from us and the Nigeria business model. we currently have future projects she has asked to partner with us on.
Through out her stay in Nigeria with us, i learnt lot about giving more to people apart from money, i learnt to give value. While other employers still believe that Money and other financial emoluments are strong enough motivations to drive envisaged productivity, dedication and trigger an emotional attachment to the organization in their employees. I learnt to pour myself all out to produce a leader not just another follower. I learnt that intangible rewards and promises are becoming very critical to employees dedication, productivity levels and emotional attachment to a brand in today's world of work.
Don't just give money, produce warmth, inspire hope, empathy, social experience and never forget to guide your team towards personal development.
Same thing applies for brand loyalty which i would write on subsequently.
If you found this worthy, kindly upvote the post and resteem it. i'm open to collaborations from any part of the world.