Culture of Care Chronicles: Transform your Business – Blog Series Introduction – Technologist

In the fast-paced world of business, where competition can sometimes overshadow compassion, it’s easy to let business strategy take precedence over culture. As Peter Drucker said, however, “Culture eats strategy for breakfast.” At Vigilant we take these words to heart and invest heavily in creating a Culture of Care. It has become a way of life and a key driver of our success. In this series, I will delve into the profound impact of cultivating a Culture of Care and the pillars that give it life.

Others Before Self: A Guiding Light
Our commitment to cultivating a Culture of Care was born from our core value – “Others Before Self.” This value is not a slogan. It is the driving force behind every decision we make. We’ve been in business a long time, since 1960, and yet have only in the past 10 years consciously articulated and held ourselves accountable to this core value and culture. In doing so we have experienced a transformation that has rippled through every facet of our organization. From hiring and firing decisions to financial performance, member (i.e. customer) retention and staff direction setting – the impact of a Culture of Care is undeniable.

Joy and Reward in the Workplace
For many of us, part of this impact has been greater joy in and reward from our work. Our purpose in cultivating a Culture of Care is to authentically serve others knowing that our attitudes and behaviors are driving contributors to creating such a culture. We strive to put others’ success before our own. We maintain our caring values, with “Others Before Self” at the core, even when making difficult personnel and business decisions (especially when making difficult personnel and business decisions). The dividends this pays in creating a more effective, productive, and enjoyable organization are immeasurable.

“We maintain our caring values, with “Others Before Self” at the core, even when making difficult personnel and business decisions (especially when making difficult personnel and business decisions). The dividends this pays in creating a more effective, productive, and enjoyable organization are immeasurable.”

A Deeper Motivation
Vigilant’s Culture of Care is not merely a strategic move; it’s a heartfelt commitment rooted in something deeper than business. For me, it’s rooted in a profound belief in God’s love, and each of us have our own beliefs that drive a deeper purpose. If we’re living the Culture of Care correctly, it is impossible to separate our deeper beliefs from the way we behave towards others.

Pillars to Encourage Discussion
Please join me in future posts where I will unravel the four key pillars that have guided us in cultivating a Culture of Care at Vigilant. I do so with the hope our experience may be helpful to you as you explore and cultivate your own culture. The goal is to encourage discussion, not provide a tactical step-by-step guide. The pillars are:

• Embracing a caring mindset;
• Practicing mindful caring;
• Going beyond the ordinary; and
• Sustaining a Culture of Care in the messy real world.

In a world that often glorifies cutthroat competition and getting ahead at any cost, we stand tall in embracing compassion and care in business to the same degree as sound strategies, high performance standards, and tangible results. I invite you to join me as I explore each pillar leading to a workplace where care is not just a concept but a reality.