Give Them What They Want (And Get What the Company Needs)

There are lots of textbook definitions of marketing. At The Phelps Group, we believe that marketing is simply finding out what the customer wants and giving it to them.

It's the same thing when it comes to getting the most out of a company's people. Just find out what they want and give it to them. If a company hires people who are talented, experienced, self-motivated and aligned with the company's goals, then it simply becomes a matter of supporting those people with the resources they need in a healthy working environment.

At our company, we are adamant about self-directed, client-based teams because we believe that's the best way to give clients what they want! Sometimes, when the client doesn't know exactly what it is they want, the self-directed team brainstorms to find the idea the client needs to get their message across. The balanced, self-directed team allows for a more integrated approach so that almost nothing gets overlooked, and the client gets what they want.

It's Enlightened Self-Interest
Building a strong entrepreneurial culture, where internal conflict is replaced with a sense of personal and corporate responsibility, will produce superior results.

So there's no justification for feeling overly virtuous or generous if you give your associates what they want. It's in your best interest. It's business. It's life in general. The more you give, the more you get. Help someone else, and help yourself. Be a friend, Get a friend.

The concept is elegant in its simplicity, give your people what they feel they need to do a great job, and they'll give you their best effort. It works because the team members feel empowered by knowing they are supported which affords them the ability to reach for new and better ways. They also feel comfortable because they know they have all the tools they need to get the job done right.

People Are Motivated by Their Own Goals.
The philosophy in top-down, pyramid-type organizations is that authority motivates people.

The philosophy of self-directed teams is that individuals and teams are motivated by their own goals and commitments. And when they're in alignment with the company and its clients, it's a win/win/win/win situation.

Team members are happier when they are in the process of achieving goals because happiness comes from moving toward what you want, not from getting it. So every time a goal is achieved, the team needs to replace it with another goal. This keeps team members happy and moves the company forward through their creativity and energy. In companies where the team members are happy, the productivity is higher and so is the bottom line.

These are the tools that make good companies great, and great companies' number one in their markets. Giving people (your teams and your customers) what they want will provide your business with customers and higher sales, your teams with motivation and creativity, and ultimately lift your bottom line. It just makes sense.

About the Author: Joe Phelps is the founder of The Phelps Group, one of the nation's leading integrated marketing communications agencies located in Southern California. Phelps, who started his agency more than 20 years ago with one client, Fender Guitars, was named the "Entrepreneur Leader of the Year 2000" by the Los Angeles Advertising Association, is a Belding Award-winning writer and has been featured on the cover on Inc. magazine. At his agency, and prior to that at NW Ayer and Grey Advertising, Phelps managed multi-million dollar campaigns for many of America's and Japan's top companies. Phelps' revolutionary business model is used as a case study at numerous universities, including Northwestern, Colorado, Pepperdine and USC. For more information, please contact: Bahareh Ramin (310) 752-4400 x164 bahareh@thephelpsgroup.com www.thephelpsgroup.com

Article Source: http://www.marketingarticlelibrary.com

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