Disclaimer: These communications are intended for the employees of HB Global. We recognize that the general public will have access. The views expressed in these communications represent Bob Whalen in the context of HB Global and may not apply to broader audiences.
On any team, every role is important. This is true both in competition and in the office, but sports give us a very clear demonstration of this concept.
Most players, especially at higher levels, have a primary position that they focus on. This allows them to master the concepts and execution that is specific to that role.
Let’s take Tom Brady as an example. He is arguably one of the greatest football players of all time. He knows the quarterback position inside and out and performs in that role at an exceptionally high level. Brady wouldn’t see this level of success if he’d decided to spend some games playing offensive tackle instead. Similarly, Brady wouldn’t see the same level of success if he didn’t have offensive linemen and receivers specializing in their roles to perform at a high level as well.
Athletes specialize in a position so they can best support the team. The workplace is no different. Each area of our business requires unique knowledge and skills, which is why we so highly value the diversity in backgrounds, experiences, and educations that our employee owners possess.
Our Value Systems and Worldviews
Our values and views of the world are a result of our upbringing and experiences. These are what make each of us unique. Even those of us who have similar backgrounds will have varying perspectives because our everyday experiences, and the world views we gain from those will develop differently.
Our values system impacts how we interact with others and what we ultimately see as meaningful in our lives. It can help shape the causes and activities that we’re passionate about and how we prioritize different areas of our lives.
The unique skills and perspectives that we gain from our unique backgrounds are necessary to our society as a whole and to the success of our company. If we all excelled in one area and we all believed the same things, we wouldn’t be able to serve our customers effectively and we wouldn’t be able to learn and grow to continue getting a little bit better each day.
Our diversity in beliefs and backgrounds rooted in us is so crucial for our success, fulfillment, and growth as a company and as individual employee owners; it’s important that we are respectful of one another and always assume positive intent. By giving each other grace, we have the opportunity to learn from differing perspectives.
Diverse Backgrounds Add Value
Our diverse backgrounds not only lead us to develop distinct viewpoints, but they also lead us to develop unique skillsets and knowledge. Some of us find a passion and skill for the trades and decide to pursue that path early on. Others of us pursue higher education and excel in roles specific to that schooling. Yet, some of us have had a less linear path, trying our hand at different jobs and industries.
We need all of these backgrounds and skillsets. Having a degree or not having a degree doesn’t make anyone “better than” or “less than” anyone else. We need all individuals in our company to excel in their roles to be successful and fulfilled as an entire group.
We all have something to learn from each other. Those of us who went to school for finance don’t have in-depth knowledge of the trades, and those of us specializing in the trades early on may not be as well-versed in financial analysis. We can both learn from each other to be better at our jobs.
Yes, we still need team members to focus on their positions. However, someone specializing in the trades can use some general knowledge of financial analysis to better understand as an employee owner how their division is doing. A financial analyst can use a better understanding of work in the field to make better sense of what’s happening in the financial statements.
Abundant Growth Opportunities
Our company sees the value in all backgrounds and skillsets, which means there are growth opportunities for all. You don’t need a Master’s degree to progress to senior leadership, and you don’t need to have grown up in the trades to be able to provide strategic direction on a project.
We’ve had members of our team start off as apprentices out of high school and make their way up to senior leadership using on-the-job training and mentorship. We’ve had others advance their careers through earning a Master’s degree in their field. There’s no “right” or “wrong” approach to advancing your career.
Because we have core values like Team and Growth, we create an environment where we can learn from each other. When we are able to grow and help others grow, we open up even more opportunities within our organization. If you are aligned with our mission and values, try to get a little bit better every day, are receptive to feedback, and can respectfully provide feedback, then there’s a growth path for you.
It takes all of us to fulfill our mission and vision. When we embrace what makes us different, we can all get better together and create opportunities for future generations.
Have your own thoughts or questions about how each unique role is essential to HB Global? Send them to [email protected].