The Benefits Of People-First Businesses
Imagine putting people before numbers, KPIs, and other targets. Well, that is what many businesses are doing, and they are reaping the rewards associated with this people-first approach. Read on to find out more.
Pictured is our Aries-inspired Empress Template from our astrology-inspired collection of DIY Squarespace website templates. Image source: Premium product mockups by Moyo Studio (GET 15% OFF + 4 free mockups using our affiliate link).
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What is a people-first business?
In contrast to a numbers-first, or sales-first business, a people-first company puts the human touch above everything else. This means that they offer good wages, fair management, decent work-life balance, and things like mental health support to their employees.
A great example of this is the outdoor clothing business Patagonia, who offer things like on-site childcare, 100% of health insurance premiums for their workers, and flexible schedules, not to mention surfing breaks when the waves are good! All of which helps to contribute to their low employee turnover.
It also means that they focus on solving real customers' problems over making quotas, offering genuine quality, and building authentic long-term relationships. A good example of this is the company National Debt Relief. Run by Alex Kleyner, National Debt Relief offers a compassionate approach to financial services dealing with debt as not only a technical issue but a personal and emotional one as well. This means they focus on their customers' well-being as well as their wallets, and so make dealing with debt that much more effective.
Last of all, a people-first business will also focus on how they impact the community and environment around it. This means sourcing materials and labour ethically, using environmentally responsible practices, and engaging with and adding value to the communities in which they operate. An example of this in practice is the US grocery giant Costco, as they focus on sourcing only sustainable products, reduces packing waste, and is committed to using solar energy. All of which have a positive impact on local and global communities and the environment.
Here are The Humanista Co., we are all about putting humans first in business. That’s why we created our own DIY collection of website templates (pictured above) that put human beings at the forefront. If you have a conscious business that is aligned with these values, and want to elevate your website, take a look at our user-friendly, high-end, astrology-inspired collection of Squarespace website templates.
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What are the benefits of people-first businesses?
So, what's the big deal about running a business in a people-first manner? Well, first of all, when you treat your employees well, they are much more likely to stay with you over the long term, which means reduced employee retention costs.
Secondly, when you treat employees well and genuinely care for them, they will be more engaged and so more productive, making your business more efficient.
Then there are the advantages you can reap in terms of your customers. Firstly, when your employees show they genuinely care about a customer's problem and work to solve it, it encourages that customer to be loyal and to come back to your business time and time again.
Pictured above are some examples from our astrology-inspired Squarespace website template collection to show you how you can display testimonial sections on your website as you continue to collect customer feedback over time. It’s important to keep this section updated as your business grows.
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How to make your business a people-first one
Happily, there are many tactics you can use to make your business a more people-first one.
In terms of your employees, getting anonymous feedback and changing things in line with this is a great start. Also, making sure you are paying fair wages and asking reasonable things of your employees never hurts.
When it comes to your customers, making sure you have plenty of opportunities for them to offer feedback is crucial. In fact, this is just about the most important information you can get for your business, because it will show you directly where you are going wrong and how you can better center people in your business processes.
