AssetBook is Featured in the 2021 WealthManagement Mid-Year Report

AssetBook is excited to be featured in the 2021 WealthManagement Mid-Year Report with an original article from CEO Marwa Zakharia entitled “Three Tips for Creating a People First Culture.”  

You can view the full report and read the full article here.

You can also read the article below. 

Most successful business owners and executives I know have a “people first” mentality when it comes to business. Foundationally, I believe that placing emphasis on developing, growing, and nurturing employees is also the best way to develop, grow, and promote a company. I knew
early on in my career that I wanted to help people; I just wasn’t sure where that would lead me. I’ve spent most of my career in leadership roles and one constant remains the same, people. Without the right ones, organizations suffer. We can get in our way at times believing it’s profit, then people, but that is simply not accurate. The right employees are the foundation of every successful business. Their happiness and success matter. You achieve this by creating a People-First Culture and focusing on these critical elements:

Tip 1: Stand side-by-side with your staff.

If you want your team to believe they are your top priority, you must show them. Communicate. Be transparent. Know where to draw the line. Getting too involved will only stifle your teams’ engagement. In my experience, creating an environment built on trust and openness has consistently resulted in motivated individuals wanting to achieve our company goals together. 

It is also essential that employees feel they have a voice. Encourage employee feedback by creating a safe environment and empower them to make impactful decisions. I’ve heard stories about past experiences where employees had been asked to provide feedback only to be chastised about it later. This behavior only displays insecurity and poor leadership besides being a sure-fire way to destroy trust and morale.

As leaders, we must understand that feedback is gold. Feedback is the currency to building a better organization. It is a tool that can improve a product, service, or work environment and is essential to the success of making sure our employees are happy and satisfied. Ensuring that staff understands their feedback is not only welcome but heard and appreciated without fallout is the key to earning trust and creating a culture of growth and respect.

Tip 2: Growth and development.

2020 was a challenging year for companies and employees alike. However, employees haven’t magically started feeling less stressed or anxious solely because it’s a new year and the pandemic is receding. As leaders, we should always do our best to know how our employees are doing and how they are feeling. Engage your workforce and challenge them. This could be
through cross-training or “role swapping”, mentoring programs, conducting lunch and learns, book clubs, online training, and industry events.

I like to focus on a few key areas when thinking about team growth and personal development.

• Put an emphasis on well-being.  A good start would be to consider offering flexible work
  schedules, encouraging travel, enforcing a minimum time-off policy or sabbatical that allows employees to disconnect and fully recharge. Doing so goes a long way in building trust and loyalty, letting your employees know we value their wellbeing.
• Personal development is just as important as professional development.  Ongoing communication such as regular one on ones is imperative. This is also a great way to learn about your employee’s goals and tailor job-specific training, career advancement and help
  your employees become better professionals. After a year like 2020, it is vital to encourage employees to get out! Whether it’s attending continuing education courses, networking events, conferences. Be supportive of their interests and above all, stay tuned in.

Tip 3: Recognition goes a long way.

Employee recognition has a positive impact on workplace culture, that is a given. But did you know that this effect is magnified during challenging times? At a time where the pandemic has caused many organizations to take a hard look at their financials and consider budget cuts, don’t make employee recognition one of them. In addition, be sure to let your employees know your appreciation by recognizing their hard work amongst their peers at a town hall meeting or even an internal communication channel. A featured employee of the month publicized to the clients in a newsletter or social media post is another way to say, you make a difference and I am proud to let the world know it!

A people-first culture is not just a saying.

At the end of the day, we are all human and it feels good to be recognized for who we are and the work we do. I’ve often been asked by colleagues, “How do you know your employees feel they are part of a people-first culture?” My answer is always the same. Simple, ask them.

Marwa Zakharia is the CEO of AssetBook. She has extensive upper management experience, holding positions such as CEO, COO, VP, and providing guidance to companies in various industries as a business strategyconsultant. Marwa has worked in the financial services industry and FinTech space for over 20 years, helping companies increase their market share and develop revenue growth processes. She is well-versed in human resources, operations, and overall strategic planning. Learn more about Pulse by AssetBook, a portfolio management tool for advisors, at www.AssetBook.com.