10.02.08
The Importance of People
Elaine Osgood, founder of Atlas Travel International, named one of the fastest –growing women-led companies by Entrepreneur magazine, knows the importance of surrounding herself with strong people. When I talked with her recently, she said the most important thing to do when growing a company is to have a strong top management team. She said she has members of her team that she identified and waited for, some for years, for them to join her team. Her democratic style of leadership means she doesn’t make decisions without input from her management team. “They are all experts in their departments.” And she values their expertise and their input into company decisions. Even a solo-practitioner or start-up can take advantage of a strong team, through an advisory board, which can assist with strategy, marketing, and investment decisions.
At Atlas Travel, Elaine Osgood treats her employees with the respect and value she expects them to, in turn, use when dealing with customers. She regularly sends out e-mails to acknowledge birthdays and anniversaries, and ask employee opinions. By connecting with individuals in an organization that is remote, as her travel agency is, she creates a bond and communicates a powerful message as a leader. The individual is important. It is the same message she wants transferred to her customers. Treating customers with respect and making people feel special is one of the ways Atlas Travel works toward being the best in the travel management industry.
As a company grows, the role of the CEO evolves. Elaine Osgood has seen her role shift as CEO and become more of a figurehead role. “There’s no course, CEO 101, to help CEO’s figure out the role,” she said. Talking with other CEOs is a way to shorten the learning curve as a CEO grows his or her business. Networking is often shortchanged due to the long hours required to grow a business, but the investment in networking with those experiencing similar growth provides a great return. By connecting with her management team and employees, Elaine Osgood has changed with the growth of her company to provide the leadership it needs for continued growth.
Key people in strategically important positions and strong communication with employees at all levels have helped Atlas Travel’s growth. As an entrepreneur, consider the critical components that impact your business’s success. Are people part of it? If your answer is yes, what are you doing to get the best? And keep them?
