You can’t miss them. The words “a sense of urgency,” “respect of human dignity,” “independence” and “optimism” are strewn in front of you as you enter the headquarters of the Sheakley Group of Cos.
The words decorate department walls and occupy computer screensavers. The words make up the set of values by which Larry A. Sheakley, CEO, leads the 47-year-old company that specializes in business services, such as payroll, human resources solutions and workers’ compensation.
Keeping your values literally in front of your employees is essential, especially for the less tenured.
“In a company our size, you’re always getting new employees,” Sheakley says. “They need to see it’s important. If they don’t see it anywhere after their first day of orientation, then why would they think it’s important? It’s extremely important.”
Your values can be written over and over and over again. They can constantly catch your employees’ eyes. Your employees can recite them forward and backward.
Still, there’s a difference between knowing the values and living the values. You, as the leader, must be the prime example of how to live the values.
“It’s just a constant reinforcement,” Sheakley says. “It all comes back to leadership, whether it’s from me or the business unit leaders or anyone within the company. If they don’t show those leadership values every day, then the words on the piece of paper aren’t going to mean anything. Again, it’s living by those standards, believing in them, and showing people that that’s what leadership is.”
Dedication to the company values has led Sheakley to continual growth. The company’s revenue reached $122 million in 2009. In March 2010, it acquired the assets of GatesMcDonald HealthPlus Inc. and Gates, McDonald & Co.’s state fund workers’ compensation third-party administrator business.
Here is how Sheakley incorporates the company values of urgency, respect, independence and optimism when it comes to leading his 2,200 employees and meeting customers’ needs.
