In Good Companies

Last week, Mohammad Anwar and Chris Pitre introduced us to the concept of “Love as a Business Strategy” and showed how beneficial it is to leaders. But leaders aren’t the only ones in a business. So, what does a culture of love bring to employees? The answer: a lot! They have just as much to gain from a culture of love as leaders do. Love as a business strategy empowers teams and makes them more efficient.

While leaders are essential in implementing a culture of love, employees are key in sustaining one. So how do you make that happen? Well, it starts with hiring the right people–and they may not be who you expect. Once they’re in the door, you establish connections and make them feel secure–because when people feel safe they can be honest. “Honesty over Harmony” is one of the foundational tenets of Love as a Business Strategy. Honest communication cuts down on time; honest criticism leads to better products; and honest feedback opens the door to accountability.

On this episode, you’ll hear all about how Mohammad and Chris encourage these behaviors and build them into their business; small changes that can make a culture of love much easier to maintain. So join us, as we explore the labor of love.


Highlights:
  • Defining Love as a Business Strategy (3:29)
  • What leaders don’t understand about employees (5:02)
  • Empowered employees (6:19)
  • How a culture of love makes employees more efficient (7:08)
  • Hiring: Culture add vs. culture fit (9:13)
  • Hiring: Capability over competence (11:32)
  • How Softway builds connections between employees (13:47)
  • Creating a feeling of security in employees (15:30)
  • Honesty over harmony (16:43)
  • Silence is the biggest cost that’s not on your balance sheet (19:15)
  • Culture vultures (21:00)
  • Holding each other accountable (23:09)
  • How a culture of love sets you up for the future (26:18)
  • Seneca Leaders (28:57)

Links:

Feedback:
If you have questions about the show or topics you'd like discussed in future episodes, email our producers, sheena.cochran@cadencebank.com or danielle.kernell@cadencebank.com.

What is In Good Companies?

Starting and running a business or managing one isn’t for the faint of heart. You’re balancing internal and external forces in a continually changing landscape. You’re building strategies, and banking on the future – no matter what it holds. This is where Cadence Bank’s In Good Companies comes in. We share our wealth of knowledge, and insights from noted industry experts, to guide you through the forces shaping business today.

We’re back for Season 6, and this time, we’re setting our sights on the future of work. We’re asking the big questions, like:

What will your career look like in 2030? Or 2050, even?
How is ESG shaping the future of companies?
And how can we leverage AI to our advantage?

We bring together experts from across the board, from Silicon Valley to multinationals like EY, to help you stay on the cutting edge of business. And we get to know those who are building the future of our companies; because at Cadence Bank, we want to hear the human side of every success story.

Hosting our stellar range of guests this season is our new host, Ari Marin. He is a Cadence Bank Senior Vice President and family enterprise advisor, whose specialty is consulting with family-owned and small businesses. Ari’s idea of “good company” is being around creative, insightful people with unique and inspirational stories. For Season 6, he brings in his curiosity and ambition to In Good Companies, to lead discussions with our guests, and bring listeners across the U.S. all the information they need, in one place, in under 30 minutes.

Ready to launch into the future? Then join us!