CORPORATE INTELLIGENCE AFRICA ISSUE 0024

Why Employees Are Essential CORPORATE INSIGHT In Corporate Brand Growth By Simon Mbuthia B uilding a company’s image is no easy task. A big chunk of the initial capital is spent on advertisement in the press, bill boards and posters. The company should have a unique image and different from others, especially those competing with it at the same front. That makes it all the difference as far as the clients are concerned. Be it customer relations, pricing of the goods and services or even prestige, clients are always looking for the best. However, most corporate leaders forget that the initial link between the company and clients and the society in general are its employees. They therefore push them to the periphery of everything as they concentrate on making profit for the company. According to Bonnie Kim, a corporate trainer and motivational speaker, that is a grave mistake which is bound to rear its head later. It might even lead to the eventual downfall of the firm. “The employees are the first customers. They will give the same treatment they get from the management to the clients,” he said. The company should give the best treatment it can afford to the employees. This doesn’t mean just the occasional promotion and a pay rise. Bonnie Kim According to Mr Kim, corporate leaders should cultivate a sense of belonging in the employees and develop a passion for their work. “However low in the hierarchy the employee is he or she should be happy in the workplace. Nobody should be seen to be too low or too high. The important thing is that everyone knows his or her work and they are giving it their best,” he said. Giving an instance of firms that sell goods and services that their employees cannot afford, he said that it does no good to their morale. “There is no point in a supermarket attendant buying his or her commodities from the kiosk in the estate because he cannot afford to s ?????????1????????????????????????()5????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????Q??????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????t((??()Q!? =IA=IQ?%9Q11%9 ?I% ?=H?UQ!=I%QQ%Y?9?aQ9M%Y? UM%9ML?%9M%!QL)??????????????????????????????((

CORPORATE INTELLIGENCE AFRICA ISSUE 0024 | Page 44