Running a small-to-medium business can feel like sailing a ship. The leader holds the wheel and steers the course, but the crew’s effort and skills are the fuel that drive the vessel forward. Just as a well-coordinated and dedicated crew is essential to a successful journey, your team plays an integral role in driving your brand forward. As your business grows, your crew grows too, from a small cohort to a bustling community. In this transition, your role evolves from being the sole navigator to becoming the compass, guiding your team in their journey of embodying and championing your brand.
Your team – brand risk or brand opportunity?
Your team – your brand ambassadors – have the power to either propel your brand to new heights or pose a significant risk to your brand’s integrity and reputation. The decider is how well they understand, connect with, and communicate your brand’s vision, values, and promises.
When your team members truly resonate with your brand, they become more than just employees – they transform into a community of vibrant brand ambassadors who contribute to the authenticity and visibility of your brand.
Moving beyond team-building and training: turning your teams into brand ambassadors
So, how do you turn your team into shining brand ambassadors?
The process involves more than just training sessions or team-building activities. It requires an in-depth, strategic approach that aligns your team’s individual visions and values with your brand’s. This alignment creates a magical cohesion that transforms your team into a community of brand ambassadors.
Let’s walk through a six-step strategy to accomplish this:
Step 1: Define your vision, mission, and values
Your vision, mission, and values are the foundational pillars of your brand. They provide the ‘why’, the ‘what’, and the ‘how’ of your business. When these elements are clearly defined and communicated, they become a guiding force that drives every decision, interaction, and initiative within your organisation.
Your vision is your ‘north star’, guiding you towards your aspirational future. It fosters a sense of shared purpose, energises your team, and motivates them to strive towards a common goal.
Your mission is the purpose that fuels your journey. It provides direction and motivation, helping your team understand why they do what they do and how their role contributes to the bigger picture.
Your values are the moral compass guiding your journey. They shape the culture of your company, influence behaviour, and set the standard for how your team interacts with each other and your customers. When your team deeply connects with these values, they naturally embody them in their roles, providing a consistent and impactful brand experience.
Step 2: Position your brand
A well-defined brand positioning sets your business apart from the competition. It encapsulates your unique offering and value in the marketplace. A powerful positioning statement is grounded in the vision and values of your company, creating a clear picture of who you are, who you serve, and how you uniquely meet your customers’ needs.
Your team must understand and resonate with your brand positioning. It gives them a clear sense of what sets your brand apart and how to communicate that uniqueness to the world. A strong positioning helps them confidently and accurately answer the question, “What does your company do?”
Step 3: Craft a compelling value proposition
Your value proposition is the promise you make to your customers. It’s the unique blend of products, services, and benefits that your company offers and articulates clearly what your customers can expect when they choose your brand and what sets you apart from the competition.
In a growing business, it’s crucial that every team member understands this proposition, is able to articulate it and motivated to deliver on it. When your team members fulfil the brand promise in every interaction with your customers, they create a positive brand experience that enhances customer loyalty and drives business growth.
Step 4: Develop a shared brand language
Language is a powerful tool. It can unify, inspire, and engage. When your team shares a common language – a lexicon of terms and phrases that reflect your brand’s personality, culture, and values – they can more effectively and authentically express and embody your brand.
Developing a shared brand language helps ensure consistency in your brand communication across all touchpoints. It helps your team articulate your brand’s vision, values, and promises in a way that resonates with your audience. This shared language also fosters a sense of community within your team, reinforcing their collective identity as brand ambassadors.
Step 5: Align your marketing strategy with your vision and goals
Your marketing strategy is the roadmap that guides your brand’s interactions with the world. A well-defined and implemented marketing strategy can propel your brand towards its vision and goals. However, for your strategy to be effective, it needs to be deeply rooted in your company’s vision and values.
When your marketing strategy aligns with your vision and goals, it empowers your team to communicate your brand’s message effectively. It also enables them to make decisions that align with your brand’s direction, creating a seamless brand experience for your customers.
Embed your brand into your people, performance and culture processes
More and more our work as brand strategists extends to working with people and culture teams to embed the brand in the heart and soul of the organisation. This supports every team member to become part of your brand’s story: not just working for your brand, but living your brand. This deep-rooted connection empowers them to become genuine brand ambassadors who reinforce and enhance the brand at every touchpoint. Here’s how:
Recruitment
The first step is to ensure your brand’s vision, mission, and values are at the heart of your recruitment process. This starts with crafting job descriptions that clearly outline not only the roles and responsibilities but also how they align with your brand’s vision and values. When potential candidates understand the ‘why’ behind the ‘what’, they are more likely to connect with your brand on a deeper level.
During the interview process, assess candidates for cultural fit as well as for skills and experience. Ask questions that uncover their values, motivations, and aspirations. Do they align with your brand’s? Remember, skills can be trained, but values are inherent.
Training
Once you have recruited the right people, your brand’s vision, mission, and values can form the foundation of your training programs. These programs will not only equip your team members with the skills and knowledge they need to perform their roles effectively but also inspire them to live and breathe your brand.
This could include activities and discussions that deepen their understanding of your brand’s vision and values, role-playing exercises that demonstrate how to embody these values in different scenarios, and continuous learning opportunities that keep these values fresh and relevant.
Mentoring
Mentoring provides a powerful platform to help your team deeply understand your brand’s vision, mission, and values. As leaders or experienced team members guide and nurture your team, they provide an opportunity to model and reinforce your brand’s values.
Mentors can also help mentees understand how their individual roles and goals align with the brand’s vision and mission. This deeper understanding fosters a sense of belonging and purpose, empowering mentees to contribute more effectively to your brand’s journey.
Performance Management
Your performance management process is another crucial avenue for embedding your brand’s vision, mission, and values. Performance criteria provides a golden opportunity to not only assess what team members achieve (their outcomes) but also how they achieve it (their behaviours).
Reward and recognition systems provide an opportunity to celebrate team members who consistently embody your brand’s values in their work. This reinforces the importance of these values and motivates others to live them as well.
Keep on keeping on
Creating a community of brand ambassadors is not a one-time task; it’s an ongoing journey. As your business grows, your team grows with it, continually learning, adapting, and embodying your brand. Your role as the leader is to guide this journey, providing the direction and tools your team needs to become vibrant brand ambassadors.
This process can seem daunting, but with the right approach, you can create a magical cohesion between your team and your brand. By connecting their individual visions, purpose, and values with those of your brand, you transform your team into a community of brand ambassadors that not only uphold your brand’s promise but also contribute to its growth and success.
So grab that compass, set the course, and embark on this exciting journey. The destination – a team of shining brand ambassadors – is well worth the voyage.