‘Be Better’ Through Culture-First Leadership (Sponsor Letter)

Joel Thomas, Principal Architect, Buf Architecture

Be better.  I’m a brutally honest person, so that statement may feel off-putting to some, but sometimes the hard things to hear are the easiest solutions to your problems. 

What does it mean to do better?  For us, that means providing opportunities and personal touchpoints; in essence…..lay the groundwork for our company culture. 

It’s inevitable that you’ll find that some employees are only chasing that golden ring.  They selfishly look ahead for the next best thing, and see their path with you as just a stepping stone.  They see their tenure at your organization as a job and not a career.  By nature, the definition of job is just that…. “a regular remunerative position”.  Very uninspiring and drab.  On the other hand, the definition of a career is “a field for or pursuit of consecutive progressive achievement especially in public, professional, or business life”.  Now, that’s something that you can hitch your wagon to.  That’s something that you can aspire and inspire to be.  From our administrative team to our engineers, to our young and old architects, we want their time of employment to always be progressing, always trying to achieve.

We do this through our efforts for cultural significance, open dialogue and professional growth opportunities. 

We routinely have extracurricular activities and events for our employees.  Whether it’s our weekly wiffleball games, happy hours, a peddle pub tour around downtown Springfield, or our annual company float trip, we try to provide a personal outlet for our employees to enjoy time outside the office.  This time allows us to bond and learn about each other on a more personal level. 

Three times a year, we get the whole office together from both our locations to give a snapshot of where the company is, both financially and physically.  We highlight our achievements, talk about our growth trajectory and give thanks and praise to our employees. 

And, once a year, we have a multiple day retreat for the entire organization, where we get together and talk about the future of the company.  We give each employee a chance to learn and listen about what we did well that prior year, and what we plan to do to build, grow and course correct for the following year.  We ask for input, suggestions and feedback.  These type of open book meetings provide opportunities for our employees to feel like they’re part of the bigger picture, and have ownership in the future of the company and their career with Buf. 

I also personally make an effort to meet with each of my employees individually each month…..what I call my “monthly chit chats”.  I use this time to be an open book and an attentive ear.  I want my employees to feel comfortable with me.  I want them to feel heard.  I let them know that it’s a time to get things off their chest.  No judgement, no repercussions.  Sometimes we just talk about family, and I learn about their upbringings.  Sometimes they vent about a problem or challenge they’ve had at work.  Sometimes they ask for advice, and sometimes I ask for their feedback.  But, when you boil it down, its really just a medium for me to build a trust with my employees and deeply seed our culture.  These monthly meetings aren’t particularly profitable from a financial perspective, but time and emotional support is an investment I’m willing to give.  A great leader in business, here in Springfield once said “you’ll never regret investing in your employees”. 

We also highly encourage our staff to grow professionally.  Professional growth can come in many forms.  Sending an employee to a conference, or paying for them to become certified or to gain a professional distinction.  Growth could simply be, allowing them time during the day to serve on a board or committee.  If it’s something that an employee is passionate about or that we see is a benefit to the company or their growth, we’re willing to spend the time, money and effort to make it happen. 

Be a place where people thrive.  Be a place where people matter.  Be a place where your younger self would say “I want to work there when I grow up”. 

So, Springfield…..just be better.